Pool A - Japan v Samoa
-
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Shout of this world – Jamie Joseph, the head coach of Japan, roars his approval to Keita Inagaki after the victory over Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group A
Hooping it up – Japan players gather to celebrate the victory over Samoa in the Pool A match. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Hailing their heroes – ecstatic Japan fans roar their appreciation of the players' stunning performance in the victory over Samoa. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group A
TOYOTA, JAPAN - OCTOBER 05: Fans show their appreciation as the players applaud them following the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Japan and Samoa at City of Toyota Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Japan fans in the crowd applaud Samoa players for their efforts despite the defeat by the host nation. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Fabulous finale – Japan players celebrate victory in the Pool A game against Samoa at City of Toyota Stadium . (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Joy for Japan – supporters erupt with excitement as Japan defeat Samoa in an action-packed match at City of Toyota Stadium. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Triple treat – Kenki Fukuoka of Japan scores his team's third try in the Pool A victory over Samoa at City of Toyota Stadium. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Trouble ahead – but Pieter Labuschagne has plenty of back-up from his Japan team-mates as he surges forward. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Kazuki Himeno of Japan celebrates with team-mates after scoring his side's second try against Samoa in the Pool A match. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Pull and push – Lomano Lemeki of Japan is tackled by Samoa's Henry Taefu for control of the ball in a forceful start to the match. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
On the move – Samoa's Ed Fidow spots a gap in the Samoa defence and decides to try to exploit it. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Gripping stuff – Japan's Kotaro Matsushima struggles with Ulupano Seuteni for possession of the ball. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Mind the gap – Samoa players move together to try to prevent Yu Tamura of Japan kicking the ball through the space between them. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
He will not be Kot – Japan's fleet-footed Kotaro Matsushima takes the ball and runs clear of a chasing Samoa player. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Having a Laf – grinning Japan players surround team-mate Timothy Lafaele to congratulate him for scoring the team's first try in the match with Samoa. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Japan juggernaut – Timothy Lafaele is tackled by Alapati Leiua of Samoa but he goes on to score his team's first try. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Lam blast – Samoa's Seilala Lam slams into a tackle by the Japan defence as he tries to gain ground for his team. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Hooray Henry – Samoa's Henry Taefu kicks the ball upfield to deny a Japan opponent the chance of a charge down. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Missed me – Japan's Lomano Lemeki skips past a despairing lunge by Piula Faasalele of Samoa and sprints off towards the try-line. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Challenge – Samoa's players perform the siva tau prior to their match with Japan in Pool A at City of Toyota Stadium. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Rising sons – Japan increasingly talented group of players proudly sing the national anthem before taking on Samoa in the Pool A match. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Chris Vui of Samoa wears the 'Keep Rugby Clean' t-shirt during the warm-up for the Pool A match against Japan. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
If you want to get ahead, get a hat – these Japan supporters certainly do as they don strange headgear to the match against Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Samoa players wearing 'Keep Rugby Clean' t-shirts emerge from the dressing room to walk to the pitch for their pre-match warm-up. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
A Japan supporter savours the atmosphere in City of Toyota Stadium in the build-up to the match with Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Japan fans proudly show off their colours as they head for the match against Samoa City of Toyota Stadium. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
A general view of Japan dressing room, with the country's emblem on the wall, ready for the players' arrival. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
A general view of Japan dressing room, ready for the arrival of the players for the match against Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
The shirt is displayed in the Samoa dressing room prior to the Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool A game between Japan and Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
The shirts worn by Samoa players are hung in the dressing awaiting the players. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Victory only is on the mind of this young Japanese fan as he heads to City of Toyota Stadium for the match against Samoa. (Photo by Francois Nel - World Rugby via Getty Images) -
Japan v Samoa - Rugby World Cup 2019: Pool A
Samoa players and officials line up for a team photo on the eve of their match against hosts Japan at the City of Toyota Stadium on 5 October. (Photo by Team photographer)