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RWC 2019 is the most unpredictable of all-time. This can already be said despite the competition being far before half complete. In today’s second match hosts Japan shocked Ireland in completing a 19-12 win. Last week Ireland were 1st in the world, nine places above Japan.
For Japan the victory significantly boosts their chances of a historic appearance in the Quarter Finals. Their remaining matches are against Samoa, and Scotland and right now the Japanese are top of Pool A.
The early play in Shizuoka saw Ireland claiming a 12-3 lead. It was a bright start with the Irish crossing for two tries as center Garry Ringrose and fullback Rob Kearney both touched down.
Japanese fly half Yu Tamura was a stand-out performer. His early penalty was Japan’s only resistance to Ireland’s strong opening. He would then land two further penalties to set-up a 12-9 half-time scoreline.
Ireland’s three point lead would last almost one quarter of play. Then on 58 minutes winger Kenki Fukuoka crossed for Japan. With Tamura landing the conversion Japan went 16-12 ahead to give fans around the world a thrilling final quarter.
The one remaining score of the match also came via the boot of Tamura. His 71st minute penalty put Japan a converted try ahead, meaning Ireland needed to find a way to score a try and kick the goal or they would lose.
Japan’s commitment stood tall as Ireland attacked only for the Japanese to turn over the ball. A break from Rikiya Matsuda then saw Ireland retreating to cover and save a try. It saw the clock winding down from which all Ireland could do was kick for touch.
Full-time was blown and Japan claimed a major scalp. The win over Ireland may not have been the same magnitude, or surprise, as that over South Africa from RWC 2015 but it was more important. It places Japan top of Pool A and well positioned for a Quarter Final.
Next up for Japan is Samoa in seven days time in Toyota. Between now and then Samoa face Scotland in Kobe on Monday. Ireland’s next match will be against Russia in Kobe on Thursday.
SCORING
JAPAN
Try: Fukuoka
Conversion: Tamura
Penalty: Tamura (4)
Ireland:
Try: Ringrose, Kearney
Conversion: Carty
TEAMS
JAPAN
1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Shota Horie, 3 Ji-Won Koo, 4 Luke Thompson, 5 James Moore, 6 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (capt.), 8 Amanaki Mafi, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 10 Yu Tamura, 11 Will Tupou, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Ryohei Yamanaka
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Isileli Nakajima, 18 Asaeli Valu, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Lomani Lemeki
IRELAND
1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best (capt.), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Iain Henderson, 5 James Ryan, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 CJ Stander, 9 Conor Murray, 10 Jack Carty, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Chris Farrell, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Keith Earls, 15 Rob Kearney
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Tadhg Beirne, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour
