What a thriller ... Japan trumps Samoa again to stay in Rugby World Cup quarterfinals hunt

Samoa's Jonathan Taumateine, centre, tackled by Japan's Lomano Lemeki during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Japan and Samoa, at the Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023.Japan won 28-22. - (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

TOULOUSE, France (AP): Japan teamwork trumped Samoa individual power and won their Rugby World Cup match by a 28-22 scoreline that was more comfortable than it looked on Thursday.

With Argentina expected to earn a bonus-point win against Chile on Saturday, Japan's last Pool D match with the Pumas next week will be a winner-takes-all fight for a quarterfinal spot.