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Japan prove they're the real deal - again

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Roar Rookie
13th October, 2019
43

To state the obvious yet again, the Cherry Blossoms are the real deal.

Japan dominated the first half with 79 per cent possession, scoring three tries to one. Japan’s ability to move the ball quickly and efficiently out to the back three of Will Tupou, Kotaro Matsushima and Kenki Fukuoka, allowed them to exploit the space Scotland conceded to them in the outer channels.

This effort was matched by the Japanese forwards, who handled the ball well and used their brute force to get over the gain line.

Japan’s third try on the stroke of half time was a thing of beauty, a neat chip in behind by the five-eighth Yu Tuamura cleverly juggled and then collected by Fukuoka who then proceeded to burn past the helpless Stuart Hogg to dot it down.

After the Scots’ early try, they looked shellshocked by the intensity and concentration of the Japanese.

A moment that briefly threatened to ruin the exhilarating competition on display, relates to a tackle by Johnny Gray in the 30th minute.

A slightly falling Shota Horie had his head split open thanks to a hard hit by the Scottish lock. In terms of narrating this tackle. The first point of contact was between Johnny Gray’s head and the head of Shota Horie.

Gray clearly wrapped his arms, with his wrap sliding up onto Horie’s neck at the tackle completion. After a TMO review, referee Ben O’Keeffe chose not to penalise the incident, much to the relief of Gray.

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I appreciated the common sense attitude that O’Keeffe showed, who stated he was happy that it was a rugby collision and so decided not to act rashly and keep his cards safe in his pocket.

What I believe must be said, however, is that if instead it was Gray’s shoulder that had made the impact with Horie’s head, there is no doubt that O’Keeffe would have shown the Scottish player a red card.

Therefore, we now have a new high tackle precedent. If you don’t want to get penalised when making a tackle, make sure you get your head in the way.

Given the Wallabies’ awful record with high tackles at this World Cup, I hope they were watching.

Japan started the second half as if the first hadn’t ended. Japan’s final try gave the match a sense that the team was surely heading to the knockout stages.

Yukuoma’s ability to strip the ball in the tackle, maintain possession and race 40 metres to score was absolutely sublime.

The most pleasantly shocking thing about Japan at this World Cup has been the skill and technical ability of the players.

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Japan’s passing has been accurate and the team has managed to execute high-risk, high difficulty passing, offloads and counter-attacks with a low error margin. It’s been superb to watch.

Scotland’s two try comeback put the match on a tender-hook and made it ever more enthralling to witness. But the Japanese response was immense and the team’s performance clearly worthy of a victory.

For Scotland, this was not how Gregor Townsend and his men had envisioned this tournament to go. After that lifeless performance against Ireland, the Scots have officially been bundled out at the first hurdle, with the trip home all that is left.

The Japanese go on to face the Springboks in the quarters with the following question on everyone’s lips: they couldn’t beat the Boks again, could they?

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