International scores
were off our mistakes, so the positive way to look at it is that if we just fix that then we’re alright,’’ Mo’unga said. ‘‘We expected an awesome Japanese team. They’re such a hard team to stop when they have that momentum and when we can’t slow their ball down, it just shows how much of a threat they are.
‘‘It’s tough playing away from home here in Japan, and when they have the momentum the crowd’s very vocal and it can be quite daunting. It was an awesome effort from the lads the way they came back.’’ ❚ In Tokyo: New Zealand 69 (N Laumape 3, G Bridge 2, D Coles, R Mo’unga, T Tahuriorangi, W Naholo, M Proctor tries; Mo’unga 7 con, pen, Jordie Barrett con), Japan 31 (T Lafaele 2, S Anise, H Tui, J Henry tries; Y Tamura 3 con). Ht: 38-19
❚ In Cardiff: Wales 21 (G North, J Davies tries; L Halfpenny con, 3 pen), Scotland 10 (S McInally try; A Hastings con, pen). Ht: 14-10
❚ In London: England 12 (O Farrell 3 penalties, E Daly penalty), South Africa 11 (S Nkosi try; H Pollard 2 pen). Ht: 6-8
❚ In Chicago: Ireland 54 (J Larmour 3, T Beirne 2, L McGrath, S Cronin, G Ringrose tries; J Carbery 5 con, R Byrne 2 con), Italy 7 (M Campagnaro try; C Canna con). Ht: 14-7.
❚ NZ Maori 59 (R Ware, M Karpik, A Dixon, B May, I Walker-Leawere 2, R Thompson, J Lowe, S Stevenson tries; O Black 5 con, J Ioane 2 con), USA 22 (R Matyas, T Maupin, C Dolan tries; W Hooley pen, 2 con). Ht: 26-8.
The easiest way to run the clock down when you’re playing with 13 men is to score tries and Ma¯ ori did just that with a classic score 18 seconds into the first half.
Right winger Jonah Lowe made a break from the re-start and he set lock Isaia Walker-Leawere galloping free on a 50 metre run to score his side’s fifth try.
Walker-Leawere wasn’t content with one try and six minutes later he was in for his second.
Jonah Lowe, Rob Thompson and Shaun Stevenson also crossed in the second half.
USA had their moments in the match and didn’t disgrace themselves given they were missing a handful of their regular starters.
Locks Parkinson and Walker-Leawere were both dominant figures on defence as was blindside flanker Reed Prinsep.
As the home of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field has seen plenty of big humans bumping off would-be defenders and Akira Ioane added a slightly different chapter to that narrative.
The big No 8 took less than two minutes to stamp his mark on the match with his first powerful run and he also provided a steady stream of lineout ball.
New Zealand-born Tony Lamborn – who played for Southland in this year’s Mitre 10 Cup – was one of USA’s best.
The openside flanker, who was promoted to captain following the late scratching of Nate Augspurger, gave his all in a beaten pack.
Tim Maupin, who only came into the side late to replace Augspurger scored one of the USA’s secondhalf tries with the other going to No 8 Cam Dolan.
New Zealand Ma¯ori, who will head to South America to play against Chile and Brazil, are now at minuscule odds to finish the tour unbeaten.