Japan have topped Pool A of the Rugby World Cup after a 28-21 victory over Scotland in what was a stunning showdown this afternoon.
Needing a win to progress to their first ever quarter-final the hosts went one better by securing a bonus-point victory over a determined Scottish outfit.
Scotland got off to a perfect start when Finn Russell stepped into a gap in the Japanese defence five metres out from the line and shrugged off tacklers to get over for a try. Laidlaw converted to make it 7-0 after seven minutes.
Ten minutes on and having missed a penalty kick Japan made a fantastic break down the left-hand touchline, showing great hands, before getting the ball to winger Kotaro Matsushima who went over for his fifth try of the tournament. Yu Tamura slotted over the conversion to bring the scores level.
With 26 minutes on the clock Japan struck once again, with some more wonderful handling and offloading leading to prop Keita Inagaki barging over under the posts to put the hosts in front. Tamura smashed over the extras to make it 14-7.
Tamura was off with another penalty with two minutes left until half-time. However, from a resulting Scottish 22 kick-out Japan came charging forward and centre Timothy Lafaele sent a beautiful grubber kick through the opposition 22 where winger Kenki Fukuoka gather and scored a try for the third game running. Tamura made no mistake with the kick from the left-hand touchline with the last action of the half as the home side went in 21-7 up at the half-time whistle.
Japan flew out of the blocks in the second-half and had their bonus-point try after just three minutes as Fukuoka ripped the ball in a tackle before racing away to touch down under the posts. Tamura provided the extras as they went 28-7 up.
Scotland clawed their way back with half an hour remaining as WP Nel powered over for a try beside the posts following a number of phases. Laidlaw swept over the extra two to give Scotland a lifeline.
Five minutes later and Scotland dug further into the lead as some brilliant offloading eventually saw replacement prop Fagerson charge over the line for the try. This time Russell converted from the right-hand side to put his team within seven points of the hosts.
However, despite pushing the Japanese for the remainder of the game Scotland couldn’t break through as the tournament’s host nation saw through the win.
Due to their position as pool winners Japan will now face South Africa in the quarter-finals of the competition next Sunday while for Scotland it is the end of the road.
Scotland Player Ratings
Starting XV:
Stuart Hogg (8), Tommy Seymour (7), Chris Harris (8), Sam Johnson (7), Darcy Graham (6), Finn Russell (8), Greig Laidlaw (8); Allan Dell (6), Fraser Brown (7), Willem Nel (8), Grant Gilchrist (7), Jonny Gray (8), Magnus Bradbury (8), Jamie Ritchie (8), Blade Thomson (7)
Replacements (9)
