Manu Samoa fought back bravely but went down 28-22 to Japan in their third pool match at the Rugby World Cup in France.

Samoa played most of the second half with 14-men as Ben Lam was red carded for a head high tackle, however this did not deter Manu Samoa to fight back and come close within six points of Japan and gather a bonus point.

The result means that England have qualified from Pool D and now the fight is for the second spot.

Japan drew first blood in the 13^th minute with a try to flanker Pieter Labuschagne to lead 7-0. Samoa replied a few minutes later through a penalty to get on the board to have the score at 7-3.

Japanese fly half Rikya Matsuda was on point as he finished off another penalty to give the Brave Blossoms a 10-3 lead.

This was followed by a try to Michael Leitch in the 32^nd minute for Japan to go ahead 17-3.

In the 34^th minute halfback Jonathan Taumateine was shown a yellow card for a cynical shoulder barge.

Three minutes later Japan forward Shota Horie was shown a yellow card for a head to head tackle and it was 14 versus 14.

Manu Samoa kicked for touch, won their lineout and Seilala Lam scored through a driving maul. The first half ended with Japan leading 17-8.

In the 49^th minute Japan won their line-out and a maul quickly developed, allowing the Cherry Blossoms to bulldoze over and Kazuki Himeno to go over at the bottom of a massive pile on for Japan to extend their lead to 22-8.

Ben Lam is initially shown a yellow card for a head to head tackle but after a bunker review, the red card is flashed.

This means that Samoa played 30 minutes with 14 players. Another penalty allowed Japan to extend their lead before Theo McFarland puts on an impressive display where he makes the yard, gets up from the ruck and acts as a halfback and a quick ball allows Duncan Paia’aua to score. A conversion gets Samoa closer 25-15.

Japan took advantage of another penalty to extend their lead however with the inclusion of Melani Matavao on the field, the momentum of the game changed.

In the 78^th minute Christian Leali'ifano stretches over. He then turns around and makes a quick, easy conversion to have the score at 28-22.

After the restart, Samoa kept possession and got a penalty which they kicked for touch; however, the lineout was scrappy and Japan turned possession over and put the ball into touch and the game out of Samoa’s hand.

Samoa’s captain Fritz Lee said: "The atmosphere here tonight, our fans that came out tonight even though we did not get the job done, they are still behind us.

 "The effort was there, the basics of the game I thought let us down. Japan were more clinical than us and we had to respect the ball more than we did. Our penalty count did not help us in the end."

Samoa now has six points while Japan has nine. To qualify for the quarter-finals Samoa need a bonus point win over England and hope Argentina beat Japan without a bonus point from either side and in the slimmest chance, Chile beat Argentina.