Japan
28
Match Complete
Scotland
21
| 55 |  | F. Russell | ||
| 54 |  | Z. Fagerson | ||
| 50 | | G. Laidlaw | ||
| 49 | | W. Nel | ||
| Y. Tamura | | 43 | ||
| K. Fukuoka | | 42 | ||
| Y. Tamura | | 41 | ||
| K. Fukuoka | | 39 | ||
| Y. Tamura | | 26 | ||
| K. Inagaki | | 25 | ||
| Y. Tamura | | 19 | ||
| K. Matsushima | | 17 | ||
| 7 | | G. Laidlaw | ||
| 6 | | F. Russell |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 4 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Match result:
Japan have produced a scintillating display of attacking rugby before holding back a spirited Scottish fightback to triumph 28-21 to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.
Final score
Japan 28
Scotland 21
Match preview:
Hosts Japan meet Scotland in their massive final Pool A match before the knockout stages begin, to decide who goes through to the quarter-finals. Join The Roar from 9:45pm (AEDT) for this clash.
As the table stands at this point Japan are second in the group on 14 points, Scotland are third on 10 points and Ireland are top on 16.
The Scots have to win, and with a bonus point, to stay alive in this World Cup.
Japan are in the box seat after their amazing upset over the Irish. This should be a classic.
It is the Celts who have the edge when it comes to past meetings. The two nations have met seven times before in full Test matches and Scotland have been victorious every time.
Scotland beat Japan 45-10 in Gloucester in the 2015 World Cup, preventing Japan from going through to the knockout stages.
The Brave Blossoms have never been to the quarter-finals – can they make history today?
This is a different team to that of four years ago, and arguably better. They also have the benefit of local crowd support.
Scotland have dropped captain Stuart McInally, with Fraser Brown starting at hooker.
With Sean Maitland injured, wings Darcy Graham and Tommy Seymour are the only survivors from the 61-0 win over Russia.
For Japan Michael Leitch returns as captain, while hooker Shota Horie, second-row Luke Thompson, winger Kenki Fukuoka and full-back William Tupou are included.
Prediction
These two teams are evenly matched and both have all to play for. But the local support and the romance is with the hosts.
Japan to win by three points.
Join The Roar from 9:45pm (AEDT) for the play by play.
When: 9:45pm (AEDT)
Where: International Stadium Yokohama
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Japan $1.50, Draw $12, Scotland $1.70
Japan
Tupou, Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Fukuoka, Tamura, Nagare, Inagaki, Horie, Koo, Thompson, Moore, Leitch, Labuschagne, Himeno.
Replacements: Sakate, Nakajima, Ai Valu, Helu, Tui, Tanaka, Matsuda, Yamanaka
Scotland
Hogg, Seymour, Harris, Johnson, Graham, Russell, Laidlaw, Dell, Brown, Nel, Gilchrist, Gray, Bradbury, Ritchie, Thomson.
Replacements: McInally, Reid, Fagerson, Cummings, Wilson, G Horne, P Horne, Kinghorn.
Drew
Roar Rookie
True, I guess I was just so enthralled in how targeted their approach seemed. Don't get me wrong there are general trends and we saw similar with Ireland where they also played a high retention game plan, but the way they kept attacking that left wing just made it so apparent that they had picked apart and isolated something in Scotland’s defensive structure. There was a number of little tells for some very specific adjustments made for this game. It will be interesting to see if they have a similarly unique adjustments for SA. Of all the teams I feel the AB's have kept their cards closest to their chest with the way they have had so many permutations to their team makeup in the tournament so far. It will make them a much harder team to break down.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Oh don't get me wrong, I think they will have ideas, but it's unlikely that you would spend a lot of time developing, training something specific for a team when you are unsure of who you will be and coming up against. I'm sure they have a range of tricks in their bag, but it will now be a question of seeing if they can adapt them to this next game. Knowing 'exactly' who you are playing and when always allows you to be a little more specific with your approach and planning.
TP12
Roar Rookie
No
AndyS
Guest
That proves the point then...can't have Perth in the comp either. ;)
ScottD
Roar Guru
I think that the tried and tested philosophy of " take the ball off the other team and don't give it back to them for the rest of the game" is always a winning one. The Japanese do it with as much skill as any team in the world and unlike most other teams they make very few mistakes. It is a mistake to forget that Ireland were #1 in the world and Scotland were #7 in the world and Japan beat them both by taking the ball off them and not giving it back. I don't think they have the depth to win the next 3 games but I'm sure not putting any money on it because they potentially could!
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Nah, he doesn’t comment enough on how well they’ve trained or how the Refs have their knives out for his team.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Neither team had their best 15 on the park that day, it was more like a limber up session. Pros and cons for both teams - Boks will not have played for 2 weeks and Japan has a week to recover and prepare, although Jamie Joseph has likely done his homework on potential 1/4 finals opponents and will apply his psychology skills on his boys.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
John, I seem to remember reading some time ago (maybe when Japan was announced as the hosts for 2019) that rugby has had a big following at university level in Japan for some years.
TP12
Roar Rookie
Completely on another level. And they pretty much always had support
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I was thinking this morning .... six sigma, elimination of error, repeatability .... Only one QF next week has the world's attention. After years of misery forced upon me by Australian rugby administrators I have so much to be excited about this RWC. The game they play in heaven!
Wandering Aloud
Guest
Kudos to Ben O’Keefe. In a World Cup where the referees have too often been the focus of attention he did his best to be invisible. He read the game beautifully, communicated well, and allowed it to flow.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
I live in Japan and the country went nuts last night - rugby has gone through the roof. Soccer got a huge boost after they hosted the 2002 World Cup and I predict the same for rugby. The way Japan plays has a lot of appeal - lots of passing, support play and chancing their arm. There were people literally dancing in the streets....thanks heavens today is a public holiday.
Peter
Guest
Drew, don’t you think that a team that can “plan meticulously” for four opponents for four years just might be able to say “Hmmm. If all goes to plan in the group, who else might we face? I know, let’s look at them as well!” The sort of approach the allegedly “run at all times at all costs” Australian team might have considered trying. Bu no. Better to crossee finger trustee luck.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Japan were offside more than once. But Scotland I have to say had more ‘luck’ with the ref.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Japan and Perth are not time apart at all no?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Another win for the Aussie Super Conference!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
The only tears I saw were Japanese tears of joy.
adam smith
Guest
I meant back to back wins at the World Cup. :happy:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Apparently he did train well enough. But not enjoying it enough, alas.