Japan bow out of Women's Rugby World Cup with Spain win / Photo: Paul ELLIS - AFP
Japan bow out of Women's Rugby World Cup with Spain win
Japan overturned a nine-point deficit at half-time to beat Spain 29-21 in the teams' final match of the Women's Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
Both sides were bidding for their first win of the tournament after defeats by world champions New Zealand and Ireland had ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals out of Pool C before they kicked-off in York.
Japan opened the scoring though Sora Nishimura's sixth-minute try but Spain then hit back through tries from Cristina Blanco Herrera and Monica Castelo to lead 14-5 at the break.
But a rejuvenated Japan scored three tries in 16 minutes in the second half before Spain lost Anne Fernandez de Corres to a yellow card.
Japan scored again through Jennifer Nduka before Spain had the final say with Victoria Rosell Martinez's try after Claudia Pena's impressive burst and offload.
Japan coach Lesley McKenzie was proud of how her side regrouped at half-time.
"(I told them) to collect all the positives, which were numerous in the first half, and keep some patience and we will get the rewards in the second half," she said.
"We were in control in terms of territory and possession but a little impatient, which is one of our vices... have some faith in the process, and we got there."
Spain coach Juan Gonzalez added: "It was a very hard game and in the second half, we didn't do well.
"Congratulations to the Japanese team, they did really well."
All four quarter-final places in Sunday's half of the draw have been decided before the final round of pool matches, with Ireland looking to repeat last year's shock WXV win over world champions New Zealand.
South Africa, into the last eight for the first time, meet France in Pool D.
Italy and Brazil will be looking to leave the World Cup with a win in Northampton.
A.Huber--BVZ
