Japan boosted their hopes of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time with victory over Samoa in Milton Keynes.

The Brave Blossoms, who beat South Africa in their opening match, led 20-0 at the break thanks to a penalty try, Akihito Yamada's score and Ayumu Goromaru's boot.

Goromaru's two penalties extended the lead before Paul Perez's try for Samoa.

But Japan held out to win a second game at a World Cup for the first time.

They had lost 11 of their previous 14 meetings with Samoa, and conceded at least two tries in every World Cup match they had played in.

Victory for Eddie Jones' men against the three-time quarter-finalists puts them in a great position to qualify from Pool B, with their last match against the United States - yet to earn a point - next weekend.

(BBC)