Billy Proctor lights up Japan with four tries in All Blacks XV win

At Kenko Stadium, Kumamoto: All Blacks XV 41 (Billy Proctor tries 8min, 29min, 37min, 51min; Stephen Perofeta try 11min, AJ Lam try 42min; Perofeta 4 con, pen) Japan 27 (Kotaro Matsushima try 24min, Semisi Masirewa tries 53min, 58min; Seungsin Lee 2 pen, 3 con). HT: 29-13

There’s something about New Zealand midfield backs lighting up Japan.

Billy Proctor couldn’t quite match Marc Ellis’ six-tries blitz during the 1995 World Cup, but he did run in four tries against the Brave Blossoms on Saturday night.

Brother of former All Black Matt Proctor, he did his damage in the All Blacks XV’s 41-27 win against Jamie Joseph-coached Japan in Kumamoto, as the New Zealand A side wrapped up their brief tour with a bang.

In warm, energy sapping conditions, the All Blacks XV needed his 20 points, too, as the hosts threatened to mow down what was a 41-13 lead when Proctor took a short ball from pivot Stephen Perofeta and went over untouched for his fourth with 29 minutes to play.

Error-prone and on the back-foot up until that point, Japan flicked a switch and started resembling the fast-paced and well-drilled team they’ve been under much of Joseph’s tenure.

With rapid ball to work with, and Leon MacDonald’s All Blacks XV showing the effects of the heat, wing Semisi Masirewa scored twice in the space of five minutes to cut the lead to 14.

They created plenty more chances down the stretch, too, only for a lack of execution to creep back into their game.

Some dogged defence also deserves credit on a night Jack Goodhue, Stephen Perofeta and Brad Weber issued All Blacks selectors a reminder.

Wing Jona Nareki, who missed much of Super Rugby with the Highlanders through injury, also flashed his speed in open space, and a very handy left-boot.

The Goodhue-Proctor combination was quality, as the latter had a hat-trick in the bag a few minutes before halftime.

That was secured after hooker George Bell scooped up a Japan mistake and Nareki sizzled some 50 metres before Proctor touched down.

It was all class, as was Perofeta’s first half try, when he ghosted through a lazy defensive line, but the try of the day belonged to wing AJ Lam.

Having resumed the second half with a 29-13 lead, fullback Ruben Love uncorked a bomb from inside his own 22 and expertly gobbled it up on the half, before promptly putting boot to ball.

Lam burnt off the trailing defenders and hacked it forward, before diving on the loose ball and well and truly putting the visitors on their way.

The big moment

There was a couple shortly after a couple of Masirewa tries pulled Japan back to within 14 points and gave them a full head of steam. However, handling errors inside the 22 denied them the opportunity to potentially flip the game on its head.

Match rating

8/10. There was no shortage of quality tries, and that’s despite the difficult, humid conditions.

MVP

It would be rude not to go with Proctor, although midfield partner Goodhue and pivot Perofeta were also outstanding.

The big picture

The good news for the Brave Blossoms is they’ve got four more matches to find some form before the World Cup, starting against Samoa next weekend.

As for the All Blacks XV, they’re done. Minus an All Black call-up, the NPC looms for the squad members next month.