GOSFORD, Australia --They say good things come in threes. Following Sunday's games that saw England and Ireland win two wonderfully competitive games, the United States and Japan produced a pearl of a match at a sold-out Central Coast Stadium on Monday evening.

News photoDaisuke Ohata of Japan scores a try during a Rugby World Cup Pool B match against the United States in Gosford, Australia.

In the end the U.S. was too strong and powerful for the Japanese, winning 39-26 but the hair-tingling farewell given to the Cherry Blossoms was a fair indicator of just how many friends they have won over since arriving in Australia, despite the fact that they leave Australia without a win.