Japan vs NZ

...Great start from Japan ...Jordie doing his best to play himself out of next years RWC gifting a try to Anise...

Japan leading 7 -3

Bad error from Mo'unga missing touch trying to bite off too much...

TRY Dane Coles seagulling out on the wing just like old times..

Great sideline conversion from Mo'unga ...NZ 10 - 7

NZ playing their strongest 15 Brycy?

TRY Mo'unga busting the line...his first TRY in the AB jersey 17 - 7

TRY Laumape....off Naholo's chip kick

 TRY Tui Japan  ...Banzai...24 -14

TRY Tahuriorangi makes amends...NZ 31 - 14

TRY Laumape has a double ...38 - 14

TRY Lafaele for Japan right on half time...38 - 19

This ref is VERY generous to Japan and tough on the All Blacks - that last penalty was puzzling and his miss of the ball going from one Japanese player to another that is offside for their 2nd last try was totally ignored. What a farce.

Jodie Barrett continues to make the same silly mistakes.

I do not know why - but this match was not on any SA TV channel.  Sorry to miss it - and thanks for the report.   

I am sure that it is largely a NZ trial match - nothing to take too much from it.    I will try and make an assessment from your reports and the match stats to see whether any of the trialist should make the grade.

....Live link...

https://www.vipleague.lc/1-japan-vs-new-zealand-live-streaming

...TRY Bridge with his first touch on debut ...Bridges on for NMS

Mo'unga makes it 45 - 19

I looked at the comments again and at the available match stats and wish to make the following observations:-

*   Jordie Barrett seems to be hyped up as a player and is not test standard.

*    Laumape and Naholo are top class and proved it again.

*    Mo'unga seems to have potential to develop further - but is at times questionable.

*    TTT needs a lot to get up to test standard

*    Coles moonlighting  on the wing is good - as a tight 5 player he is worth near to zero.  I think he has gone backwards from what he used to be  - too many serious injuries caused the problem

*    Bridge - what  player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another great Try from Japan...Tamura does a NZ on NZ and kicks wide to the open winger  45 - 24......mass substitutions for NZ

...Bridge with a brilliant chip and chase sets up another TRY for Proctor...57 - 24

....TRY hattrick Laumape after chip and chase... 64 -24

TRY George Bridge...having a blinder...69 - 24

...TRY Sunwolves centre Lafaele has a double ...Japan not giving up 

So far my assessments are 100% correct.

I cannot see how Bridge can be left out of the AB top team much longer.   Even though Naholo is top class on attack - the other elements of his game is not all that good, while Bridge is real rugby magic.    

Congrats to both sides on an entertaining game played flat out !

Hansen with more selection head aches ,the kind other coaches would love to have 

.... 43 700 crowd numbers they're saying.... 100 points scored between the teams...

NZ 10 Tries to Japan's 5.... NZ 69 -31 Japan

Cheers guys ,hey Brother Hakwa hows the fishing been lately ?Ya been out ans about Bro ?

Bro Wardad - Nah I haven't been fishing lately - last fish I caught last month was afew Tailors

Is that so?