Rugby World Cup 2023: England qualify for quarter-finals as Japan beat Samoa in Toulouse

England qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup after Japan defeated Samoa 28-22 on Thursday evening.

The Pool D result in Toulouse means that England cannot be leapfrogged in their position at the top of the group.

Japan had tries from Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno to help them to their win, with an impressive Rikiya Matsuda kicking performance.

The defeat for Samoa means that the best they can hope for is second place in the group to progress to the quarter-finals. They will play England on October 7 in their final match.

England may now rest players ahead of their quarter-final, with Fiji currently on course to be their opponents.

Japan scored on their first serious attack, after 13 minutes, when Labuschagne scored following strong work from Lomano Lemeki. Leitch then added another try, with Jonathan Taumateine given a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle in the build-up.

The numbers were evened up when Shota Horie, Japan’s hooker, was also sent to the sin bin, and Seilala Lam scored a try for Samoa.

Ben Lam was the next player to get a yellow after a dangerous tackle, with the punishment then changed by the referee to a full red, and Himeno scored another try for Japan.

Samoa earned a bonus point after Duncan Paia'aua and Christian Leali'ifano scored tries, but they remain unlikely to qualify - which would be confirmed should Argentina beat Chile this weekend.

Japan take on Argentina on October 8 with the winner from that match likely to join England in the next round.

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