adminJust when they thought they had done it, the Asians killed it with a last minute unconverted try from second half fullback substitute Yutaro Murai.
So dedicated to win the game were the Young Sables that they showed it from the first whistle as captain Sean Linfield led from the front with the opening try after a fumbled ball by the Japanese defence.
It was the last minute try by the Japanese in the right corner that shattered the dream start for Zimbabwe losing by two points in the end having exhibited their finest performance in the three editions they have taken part in so far.
The Young Sables took a 7-0 lead through Linfield and the Japanese were quick to find the equaliser while winger Justin Coles put up a good run after he was set up by an equally good Takudzwa Chieza to place for another converted try.
This was the last time Zimbabwe found the goal as they went on to concede three consecutive tries that, however, were not converted, leaving Zimbabwe with enough room to recover.
In total, Zimbabwe scored five tries, four of them converted and a penalty by Linfield while Japan had seven tries with two of them converted for them to walk away with the win, making it their second in a row over Zimbabwe.
By half time Japan had taken a 22-14 lead and it was midway through the first half that the Zimbabwe defence started giving in to the pressure the Brave Blossoms were pilling on but their tries were not supported by the bonus points as they kept on missing the posts.
But it was early in the first half that Zimbabwe set the pace to take a 14-7 lead that was orchestrated by scrummy Dylan Coetzee after he broke loose to set up the fast-paced Coles on the outside.
However, Japan managed to get their act together and showed a lot of fighting spirit that was supported by three tries before the end of the first half and it was Hayato Nishiuchi who found the Zimbabwe defence napping and placed on the left, leaving Zimbabwe trailing 14-17.
It was just before the half time mark that Japan added another try through Seiyu Kohara and again, the Asians were not able to collect the bonus points. And Japan continued where they had left from in the first half as they added another quick try early in the second half.
It seemed the game was now set for a runaway score as this try made sure that 27 points had gone past the Zimbabwe defence without a reply with the score standing at 34-14 to Japan.
Led by coach Brighton Chivandire, the Young Sables technical team made three intelligent substitutions that turned the game around with the introduction of Mclean Muhambi in the midfield.
Coetzee then came to the rescue for Zimbabwe off a five-metre scrum as he scored a try that led to his side attacking like bees, scoring a massive 22 points without reply from the Japanese.
And like in all of his previous kicks, Linfield took the conversion with accuracy to reduce his side’s arrears before the diminutive eighthman Tapiwa Tsomondo split the Japan defence to leave the score at 34-28 with a converted try.
With seven minutes to go, it all looked like it was going for Zimbabwe all the way as Tyran Fagan brought Africa’s representatives closer to victory with a try on the right but this time Linfield’s boot went off the mark, leaving them a point adrift.
With time running out, Zimbabwe got a penalty and Linfield gathered his concentration on the kick that was meant to be the difference between the Young Sables and the Brave Blossoms.
Surely the kick went through, sparking wild celebrations on the Zimbabwe bench and in the ground, but it was not to be as Murai turned out to be the saviour for Japan with a last minute try.
And what could have turned out to be a historic win for the Young Sables only but became another sad day in office, they were so close yet so far leaving, them with nothing but dejected faces.
The Young Sables will have to fight another day.
Zimbabwe squad
Forwards: Tyran Fagan, Kudakwashe Makuvire, Ian Muza, Thabani Ndaba, Dalroy Sibanda, Andries Van Heerden, Simbarashe Chirara, Mathew Lawson, Graham Logan, Joshua Smallbones, Tonderai Chigumbura, Tawanda Chowe, Michael Sinclair, Tapiwa Tsomondo
Backs: Dylan Coetzee, Michael MacIntosh, Robert Sargeant, James Forrester, Sean Linfield, Takudzwa Chieza, Richard Morkel, Mclean Muhambi, Joshua Broomberg, Justin Coles, Tarisai Ndudzo, Victor Mushoriwa.
Coach: Brighton Chivandire
Assistant: Godwin Murambiwa
Assistant: Garry Hewitt
Manager: Colleen de Jong
Online Reporter