GIANT KILLERS
Japan stun Ireland — and the world!
The Miracle of Brighton has a sequel. Japan shook up the World Cup with another seismic result by beating Ireland 19-12 last night.
Finding Ireland vulnerable on the edges and employing suffocating line speed that checked the Irish attack, Japan pulled off an even bigger surprise than their famed upset of South Africa at the 2015 World Cup in Brighton, England.
Ireland, unlike the Springboks four years ago, weren’t taking the Japanese lightly. They knew exactly what was coming but the team ranked No 1 just a week ago was still overcome.
The Irish led 12-3 after scoring two tries in the first quarter and looked to be rolling. But Japan, emboldened by their raucous home fans, found the Irish weak on the wings and began to pin them back in their own half, earning pressure penalties that firstfive Yu Tamura slotted.
Japan trailed only 12-9 at halftime, which came as a relief to Ireland.
If Ireland expected to turn things around, there was no respite. When star winger Kenki Fukuoka, a late addition to the reserves after recovering from a calf muscle injury, crossed in the 59th minute, the try and Japan’s first lead in the match was richly deserved.
Tamura converted and added a penalty, and minutes later, fulltime was greeted by a roar probably heard 180km in the capital Tokyo.
Having beaten Scotland and lost to Japan, with a losing bonus point in the bag, Ireland have it all to play for in their final pool games against Samoa and Russia.
If Japan beat an out-of-sorts Scotland and Samoa, they’ll top the pool and make their first ever appearance in the World Cup playoffs.
“We’ve been focusing [on last night’s game] for the last year at least, probably three years subconsciously, and Ireland have been thinking about it since Monday,” Japan coach Jamie Joseph said post-match.
“All teams go to a pattern under pressure. When we got ahead, Ireland tried to take us on physically. We were prepared for that. The players showed real courage.”
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt bemoaned the penalty count.
“Three or four of them were for offsides that we felt were pretty tough,” Schmidt told ITV Sport. “It just gave them the front foot and they didn’t button off.”
Japan 19 (K. Fukuoka try; Y. Tamura con, 4 pens) Ireland 12 (G. Ringrose, R. Kearney tries; J. Carty con). HT: 9-12.