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Just hours after Typhoon Hagibis wreaked havoc on the main island of Honshu in Japan, the Brave Blossoms produced a magnificent performance to beat Scotland 28-21 in front of a virtually sold out crowd at International Stadium in Yokohama. The result is historic, clinching first place in Pool A for Japan and a spot in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals for the first time.
Japan had Scotland on the back foot almost immediately with their high-tempo offense but a penalty against the run of play gave Scotland an opportunity to attack. They took full advantage as Finn Russell sliced through the line to take an early 7-0 lead.
The next 40 minutes were all Japan. After Yu Tamura missed a long-range penalty attempt, the Brave Blossoms broke through down the left flank. Kenki Fukuoka danced past one and offloaded to Kotaro Matsushima, who burst free to score under the posts.
Keita Inagaki was next to score, the prop taking a final offload from Lappies Labuschagne to crash over with Matsushima setting up the position with more brilliant footwork. A third try would come on the stroke of halftime as Fukuoka snatched up Timothy Lafaele’s grubber to send shockwaves through the Scottish side.
Within two minutes of the restart Japan had the bonus point try. It was Fukuoka again, this time all on his own. The flying winger showed his strength to rip the ball away from Scottish hands and regather, sprinting home from halfway with the help of an enormous roar from the partisan crowd.
Now trailing 28-7, the Scots responded with the desperation required. WP Nel went over from in close after a chance for points was turned down. Gregor Townsend rang the changes immediately and the fresh legs conjured another score through replacement prop Zander Fagerson. Suddenly Scotland were within reach but the clock was ticking.
There would be no comeback. Japan held their nerve and held off the Scottish advances, with line speed forcing handling errors that cost the Kilted Warriors dearly. None of the 15 further points required would be captured by Scotland and Japan would hold possession in the final moments, kicking the ball into touch as the country burst into ecstasy.
The Brave Blossoms will step into uncharted territory next Sunday as they take on South Africa at Ajinomoto Stadium with yet another upset in their sights. Scotland return home with little to celebrate and new confidence needed for the Six Nations that is just a few short months away.
SCORING
JAPAN 28
Tries – K. Matsushima (18′), K. Inagaki (26′), K. Fukuoka 2 (39′, 42′)
Cons- Y. Tamura 4/4 (19′, 27′, 40′, 43′)
Pens – Y. Tamura 0/2
SCOTLAND 21
Tries – F. Russell (6′), W. Nel (49′), Z. Fagerson (55′)
Cons – G. Laidlaw 2/2 (7′, 50′), F. Russell 1/1 (56′)
TEAMS
JAPAN
1 Keita Inagaki (17 Isileli Nakajima 57′), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 73′), 3 Ji-Won Koo (18 Asaeli Valu 21′), 4 Luke Thompson, 5 James Moore (19 Uwe Helu 52′), 6 Michael Leitch (capt) (20 Hendrik Tui 73′), 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Fumiaki Tanaka 51′), 10 Yu Tamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 12 Ryoto Nakamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 75′), 13 Timothy Lafaele, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Will Tupou (23 Ryohei Yamanaka 51′)
SCOTLAND
1 Allan Dell (17 Gordon Reid 52′), 2 Fraser Brown (16 Stuart McInally 52′), 3 WP Nel (18 Zander Fagerson 52′), 4 Grant Gilchrist (19 Scott Cummings 52′), 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Magnus Bradbury (20 Ryan Wilson 66′), 7 Jamie Ritchie, 8 Blade Thomson, 9 Greig Laidlaw (21 George Horne 52′), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Darcy Graham (22 Pete Horne 61′), 12 Sam Johnson, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Tommy Seymour (23 Blair Kinghorn 52′), 15 Stuart Hogg
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistants: Mathieu Raynal (France) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Attendance: 67,666
