YOKOHAMA, Japan: Japan produced a scintillating display of attacking rugby then withheld a spirited Scottish fightback to triumph 28-21 on a memorable night in Yokohama and reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday (Oct 13).
Wing Kenki Fukuoka led the way with two tries, while Kotaro Matsushima and Keita Inagaki also scored as the hosts held off a fierce second-half assault from a team they had lost against in all seven of their previous meetings.
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When Japan beat South Africa four years ago – having won only one of their previous 24 World Cup matches – it was considered the greatest shock in rugby history. This time, having already beaten Ireland three weeks ago, it did not even feel like a real surprise.
They were faster, sharper, more inventive and, roared on by the vast majority of the delirious red-clad 72,00 crowd, absolutely relentless in everything they did as they became the first tier-two team to reach the last eight since Fiji in 2007.
Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2019 – Pool A – Japan v Scotland – International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan – October 13, 2019 Japan's Kenki Fukuoka celebrates scoring their third try with Pieter Labuschagne and team mates REUTERS/Kevin Coombs
Having won all four of their matches to top Pool A, they will face the Springboks again in the quarter-finals and the twice-champions will be taking absolutely nothing for granted.
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The result also meant that Ireland, through as runners-up, will play New Zealand.
"Tonight we went another level," said Japan coach Jamie Joseph. "They wanted it as much as the Scots and gave as much as they could. This is what it takes to win big test matches."
The match was given the go-ahead only on Sunday morning after an inspection of the damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis and proved a wonderfully uplifting occasion for the country after the death and destruction wrought by the storm.
"Whilst we are celebrating tonight there are a lot of people who aren't," Joseph said.
Captain Michael Leitch said that the victory owed more to heart than skill and while that might be true of their mighty defensive effort in the final quarter, no team in the tournament so far has come close to matching the pace and directness of Japan's first-half assault.
READ: Japan-Scotland match goes ahead after Typhoon Hagibis
EXPLOSION OF NOISE
Scotland were first on the board with a Finn Russell try after seven minutes but Japan hit back with a brilliantly-worked, high-tempo score that set the tone for the night.
Fukuoka tore down the left and as he was tackled to the floor, slung a one-armed pass into the arms of the supporting Matsushima to go over and detonate an explosion of noise.
Japan's wing Kotaro Matsushima (centre) scores a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Japan and Scotland at the International Stadium Yokohama on Oct 13, 2019. (Photo: AFP/William West)
If that was good, their next score was a contender for try of the tournament. Fukuoka and Matsushima again put on the afterburners and then a mesmerizing series of off-loads and side-steps ended with Shota Horie presenting supporting prop Inagaki with an unmissable opportunity.
Japan were playing with a speed and intensity that the Scots just could not live with and got a third try at the end of the half when Tim Lafaele slipped through a deft grubber that bounced perfectly into the arms of the Fukuoka.
