USA thwart Japan fightback in thrilling clash

Japan 26 USA 39

Fans were served up a treat as the United States got the better of Japan in a stirring battle with World Cup honour at stake.

It may not have had the finesse of the All Blacks, the fitness of England or the physicality of South Africa.

But two sides from the third tier of the game went through the full 80 minutes as if their lives depended on it - and by the end it was the USA celebrating the end of a record 10 successive World Cup defeats.

You could tell how riveting it was; there was no sign of the Mexican wave which has made an appearance at almost every other game in the tournament so far, and both sides left to a well-deserved standing ovation at the end.

There was no hint of the thrills to come as USA shot into an early 14-point lead.

Fly-half Mike Hercus, the man whose last-gasp conversion miss cost his country a shock win over Fiji in their opening game, sidestepped past Shin Hasegawa and dashed 20 metres to the line for the opening score. Centre Phillip Eloff charged home shortly afterwards.

Hercus converted both, and if he had landed the long-range penalty which followed a couple of minutes later the Americans would almost have been out of sight.

As it was, 19 points from winger Turu Kurihara launched a Japanese fightback which briefly stalled before the interval, then hit full throttle again after the break as the Cherry Blossoms closed to within a single point.

With the delirious, flag-waving - and largely Japanese-supporting - crowd engrossed, the United States rallied.

When Hercus created space for himself with a neat dummy Kort Schubert was on hand to take the scoring pass.

If the USA thought they could just close out the game they were sadly mistaken as Japan scorched to the other end with a magnificent break which Daisuke Ohata finished off with a flying run.

As tiredness took hold, both sides had breaks halted by despairing tackles - and the search for victory went on.

Japan fly-half Andrew Miller failed with a penalty from just inside his own half, although it appeared at that stage his team were the more likely victors.

But from somewhere, the USA dragged one more mighty effort from their aching bodies. Long-serving captain Dave Hodges led the forward charge, and Riaan van Zyl skipped through the shattered Japanese bodies to score a try which sealed victory before hooker Kirk Khasigian extended the lead beyond what was fair with the final touchdown.