![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/vdsA.jpg?resize=640%2C452&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The All Blacks XV have shaken off some first half wobbles to take a comfortable win in the first game of their short Japan tour.<\/p>\n
A stronger second half featuring some free-flowing attack that put on 27 points and a disciplined defence that didn’t allow any response from the hosts led to a final scoreline of 38-6 in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Jack Goodhue, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Alex Nankivell and Folau Fakatava all found the chalk in the second half after what would have surely been a few stern words from coach Leon MacDonald at the break.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks XV went to the sheds holding on to a slim 11-6 lead – an advantage that could’ve been even less had Stephen Perofeta not added a penalty after the hooter to end the shoddy first half.<\/p>\n
It was untidy and at times even ugly as the two sides wrestled for control of the match with a high error count proving to be just as much an opponent as the opposition.<\/p>\n
But the All Blacks XV were the more threatening. Perofeta gave his side an early lead as he sniped a hole off on an early scrum to find the line and a penalty kick soon after made it 8-3 but the Japan XV – featuring 18 capped players and led by longtime Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch – kept themselves in the contest.<\/p>\n
Having opened the scoring with an early penalty, Rikiya Matsuda’s boot kept his side in it in the first half as he chipped over another three points to make it 8-6 heading into the break although the New Zealand scrum allowed Perofeta to make a little more breathing room.<\/p>\n
Perofeta opened the second half with another penalty to push that lead further before the All Blacks XV started to get on a roll with Goodhue’s try off the back of a 70m counter-attack.<\/p>\n
It was a good summary of how the second half would pan out; the New Zealand defence wouldn’t budge, Japan would eventually make an error one way or another and that would allow the All Blacks XV to strike.<\/p>\n
That isn’t to say there weren’t still errors stunting the All Blacks XV’s momentum but they made the most of some key moments and with their defence holding up at the other end, it was enough to get them home.<\/p>\n
Nanai-Seturo was the first to stroll on off a dodgy attack from a scrum before Nankivell went over minutes later off a much-cleaner move near the right wing.<\/p>\n
A Fakatava special from a spilled lineout after the final hooter sealed the result and with it a winning start to the men’s international rugby calendar for New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks XV will know they have plenty to work on before taking on the Brave Blossoms for real next Saturday – both to ensure they come away with a 2-0 record in Japan and to continue pushing their personal cases for higher honours with Ian Foster.<\/p>\n
All Blacks XV 38\u00a0<\/b>[Stephen Perofeta, Jack Goodhue, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Alex Nankivell, Folau Fakatava tries; Stephen Perofeta 3 pen, con, Cameron con]<\/p>\n
Japan XV 6<\/b>\u00a0[Matsuda 2 penalties]<\/p>\n
HT:<\/b>\u00a011-6<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The All Blacks XV have shaken off some first half wobbles to take a comfortable win in the first game of their short Japan tour. A stronger second half featuring some free-flowing attack that put on 27 points and a disciplined defence that didn’t allow any response from the hosts led to a final scoreline…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"NEWS | All Blacks XV overcome early wobbles to take win in Japan\r\n\r\nThe All Blacks XV have shaken off some first half wobbles to take a comfortable win in the first game of their short Japan tour.\r\n\r\nREAD MORE https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-4ZC ...","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/vvvvss.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-4ZC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22617,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2025\/06\/28\/maori-all-blacks-finish-strong-in-tokyo\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":0},"title":"M\u0101ori All Blacks finish strong in Tokyo","author":"admin_hland","date":"June 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The M\u0101ori All Blacks opened the Ross Filipo era with an emphatic 53-20 win over the Japan XV in Tokyo, piling on six unanswered tries in a dominant second-half display. A second-half rere t\u0101rewa (stampede) powered the M\u0101ori All Blacks to a 53-20 victory over the Japan XV in Tokyo.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/nzmaoriaa.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/nzmaoriaa.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/nzmaoriaa.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/nzmaoriaa.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/nzmaoriaa.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19180,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2023\/07\/06\/all-blacks-xv-team-named-for-first-clash-against-japan-xv\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":1},"title":"All Blacks XV team named for first clash against Japan XV","author":"admin_hland","date":"July 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The All Blacks XV team has been named to play Japan XV at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday 8 July, kick-off at 5.00PM JST (8.00PM NZST). The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport. The matchday 23 is as follows (Super Rugby Club, Province) Xavier Numia (Hurricanes,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/358090306_228053123401302_6775096571402841327_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/358090306_228053123401302_6775096571402841327_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/358090306_228053123401302_6775096571402841327_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/358090306_228053123401302_6775096571402841327_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/358090306_228053123401302_6775096571402841327_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19230,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2023\/07\/13\/all-blacks-xv-team-named-for-clash-against-brave-blossoms\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":2},"title":"All Blacks XV team named for clash against Brave Blossoms","author":"admin_hland","date":"July 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"IMAGE CREDIT: Action Press \/ Smartframe by Toru Hanai CAPTION: All Blacks XV Stephen Perofeta\u00a0 scores try against Japan XV,\u00a0 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, July 08, 2023. The All Blacks XV team has been named ahead of their match against the Brave Blossoms at EGAO Kenko Stadium in Kumamoto\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ab15ddxx-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ab15ddxx-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ab15ddxx-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ab15ddxx-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/ab15ddxx-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19091,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2023\/06\/18\/all-blacks-xv-squad-named-for-japan-tour\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":3},"title":"ALL BLACKS XV SQUAD NAMED FOR JAPAN TOUR","author":"admin_hland","date":"June 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The 30-strong All Blacks XV squad was selected by the All Blacks coaching team of Ian Foster, Joe Schmidt and Jason Ryan for the 2023 Lipovitan-D Challenge Cup against Japan XV and Brave Blossoms. The squad\u00a0includes nine players with Test experience including Aidan Ross, Asafo Aumua, Akira Ioane, Pita Gus\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-1441167999__FocusFillWyItMC4xMiIsIi0wLjQ5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-1441167999__FocusFillWyItMC4xMiIsIi0wLjQ5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-1441167999__FocusFillWyItMC4xMiIsIi0wLjQ5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-1441167999__FocusFillWyItMC4xMiIsIi0wLjQ5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/GettyImages-1441167999__FocusFillWyItMC4xMiIsIi0wLjQ5IiwxMTAwLDQzMF0.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17333,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2022\/11\/11\/new-zealand-xv-team-named-for-clash-with-barbarians\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":4},"title":"New Zealand XV team named for clash with Barbarians","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The New Zealand XV team has been named to play the Barbarians at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday 13 November, kick-off at 2.00PM GMT (3.00AM Monday 14 November NZDT). The matchday 23 is as follows (Province\/Super Rugby Club) Aidan Ross (26, Bay of Plenty \/ Chiefs) Brodie McAlister\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/vdd.jpg?fit=1024%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/vdd.jpg?fit=1024%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/vdd.jpg?fit=1024%2C634&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/vdd.jpg?fit=1024%2C634&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21824,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2024\/11\/08\/all-blacks-xv-team-named-for-match-against-georgia\/","url_meta":{"origin":19196,"position":5},"title":"All Blacks XV team named for match against Georgia","author":"Kevin Hare","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"IMAGE CAPTION: Du'Plessis Kirifi and Quinn Tupaea, All Blacks XV v Munster, Thomond Park Ireland. IMAGE CREDIT: Ben Brady \/ Inpho. The All Blacks XV team has been named ahead of their second match of the Northern Tour against Georgia at GGL Stadium, Montpellier, France on Sunday 10 November, kick-off\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "RugbyHeartland News"","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/xv24.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/xv24.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/xv24.jpg?fit=650%2C433&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19196"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19200,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19196\/revisions\/19200"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}