After four days up
on cloud nine, Japan has been rudely brought back down to earth.
After pulling off arguably the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup
history at the weekend with victory over two-time champion South Africa, Japan
were then taught a lesson by Scotland, who ran out 45-10 winners Wednesday.
Saturday's
stunning result suggested the "Brave Blossoms" might be able to
record just a third ever Rugby World Cup win and a first over Scotland, yet
they went on to be put to the sword at the Kingsholm Stadium as its opponent
secured victory -- and a bonus point -- in its opening game of the tournament.
It was a valiant
effort from Japan, who came into the match sitting above Scotland in 11th in
the world rankings, but Vern Cotter's men were ultimately the superior outfit
-- and the fresher, having last played a game on September 5.
"Happy days with that result, but that is just the start
hopefully for this team," Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw told ITV.
"We talked
at length about playing for 80 minutes and we have done that. I thought we were
outstanding for the duration."
Following
Japan's heroics over South Africa, Scotland came into the match under enormous
pressure -- but it proved to be the kind of pressure it was able to deal with.
Laidlaw, playing
at his home ground in Gloucester, ensured through his kicking that Scotland
headed into the break with a 12-7 lead, although Japan did hold a brief
first-half advantage after Amanaki Mafi scored the game's opening try, driving
over following a line-out from five meters out.
Mafi, one of six
changes to the Japan side made by Eddie Jones following the win against the
Springboks, was stretchered off through injury just after the break -- and
things continued to get worse for his side from that point onwards.
Moments later, Scotland had landed its first try of the 2015
Rugby World Cup through John Hardie -- his first at international level -- as
he dived over the line after Cotter's side recycled an attack the flanker
helped create.
Mark Bennett
then added a second seven minutes later, before Tommy Seymour ran half the
length of the pitch to touch down, putting the game out of sight for Japan in
the process.
To rub salt into
the Japanese wounds, Bennett went on to touch down again to secure Scotland the
bonus point, while Finn Russell added a fifth try six minutes from time as
Laidlaw kept things ticking over, kicking 20 points in total.
The bonus point
was secured with Scotland scoring at least four tries, meaning it picks up five
points overall, rather than the four that comes with a win.
"Credit to Japan though, they were awesome against South
Africa and really tough opponents again," Laidlaw added.
"That win
against South Africa blew the group wide open and meant it was important for us
to win today."
The victory
moves Scotland to the top of Pool B on five points, with the side that finished
bottom of this year's Six Nations without a win next taking on United States
Sunday.
As they did for
the South Africa clash at the Brighton Community Stadium, Japan fans once again
turned up in their droves in hope of witnessing another famous victory for
their side -- boosting the attendance at the Kingsholm Stadium to 14,354 --
although it was not to be.
But Japan will
take heart from its first-half display and may still hold ambitions of
advancing to the quarterfinals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time ever,
with Samoa next up on October 3.
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