By the way, Samoa are back up to 14 men. Faifili Levave - the first of their sinners - comes back on to the pitch. He knows he has cost his side seven points - sure his coach Stephen Betham will remind him at the break too.

Samoa finally get their attacking game together, pinning back the Japanese in their own half. But as they work the ball out to the right, lightning-fast wing Ken Pisi - who plays for Northampton of course - is crunched. And that allows Japan to win the turnover and ease the pressure. Cue huge roars from the crowd.

Dave Sommerville: Good to see such a big crowd for Japan vs Samoa. Even if England go out tonight, they've run a brilliant World Cup.

Andrew Priestley: Samoa's discipline has been awful at the start of this game. Japan need to capitalise with these Samoans in the sin bin.

Ollie Phillips: Epic atmosphere at MK Dons stadium!

Image source, Reuters

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

"Samoa's ill-discipline is really getting the better of them here. After Japan are awarded that penalty try Kahn Fotuali'i squares up to his opposite number nine Fumiaki Tanaka before the Japanese player is pulled away by his team-mates. The Pacific Islanders need to cool down."

Japan batter the Samoa line, but somehow the Pacific Islanders manage to hold out. First they try to punch a hole down the middle before spinning the ball out left. However, Kotaro Matsushima's greasy hands spill it as the whitewash enters his eye-line.

Early indiscipline from the Samoans, who are two men down with Failfili Levave and Sakaria Taulafo sin-binned. That's six penalties conceded from Samoa (white and red circles) compared to only two from Japan (black and red circles).

Image source, Opta

Yellow cards are being dished out like confetti to the Samoans. Bulky prop Sakaria Taulafo  is the next to be told off by ref Craig Joubert, rightly so for smashing into Japan full-back Ayumu Goromaru as collected a high ball. Japan's 15 men have got to find a gap in the 13-man Samoan defence. Surely?

Japan kick to the corner, which brings huge cheers from the Japan-supporting Milton Keynes crowd. But they are penalised for interference and can't punish the Samoans further.

Hang on! All the good Japanese work is not undone. Samoa number eight Faifili Levave crashed into Shota Horie there - illegally as it turned out. "Go and cool off for 10 minutes," ref Craig Joubert tells Levave. Or something along those lines as he wafts the yellow card in his face.

Image source, Getty Images

Still all Japan. The Brave Blossoms are, er, really blossoming in these early stages. Silky stuff from the Asian side, hooker Shota Horie offloading neatly as they go wide. But they are penalised for holding on and all the good work is undone...

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

Ayumu Goromaru was practising kicks from that exact position during the warm-up, with varying degrees of success. One in fact hit both posts and bounced straight back out.

"Aaaaah," groans the majority of Stadium MK. Ayumu Goromaru wraps his size nine around the kick too much, the ball swinging out left and past the wrong side of the posts.

And now Japan have another chance to extend their lead. Samoa are punished for offside. Ayumu Goromaru nods at the referee and grabs hold of the ball. He's going for goal...

So an early lead for Japan to go with their dominance in the possession.

Image source, Opta

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

"Joy in Stadium MK quickly turned to bewilderment as to why the try was disallowed. This crowd is very much up for a great game of rugby."

Japan coach Eddie Jones is shaking his head. He isn't happy that with decision. However, his team do settle for three points as Samoa are punished for an earlier offence. Ayumu Goromaru - the nation's record points scorer - slots over the kick for a deserved early lead.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan lose their own line-out before Samoa concede another turnover. The Japanese are back on the attack, quick hands out wide ends in Ayumu Goromaru crashing over. But wait! Referee Craig Joubert reckons Male Sa'u's pass to Goromaru was forward. Ooooh, only just.

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport at Stadium MK

"The 'cheat-sheet' we media types get before these matches always makes for useful reading, but today Japan's provides an entertaining insight into their 31-man squad.

"Apparently, Eddie Jones' team includes a qualified whiskey expert, a hooker affectionately known as a 'complete fat-man' and a 'Bachelor of the Year winner'. If you're wondering who has that coveted final title, it's Australia-born Craig Wing."

Image source, Phil Shepka

Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi picks up the ball for the first time and strides forward like a hungry rhino. Crash - one Japanese would-be tackler is scattered. Bang - centre Harumichi Tatekawa takes another big hit. Tatekawa looks dazed and confused.