HOW THE HOSTS HAVE BLOSSOMED
4 NATIONS outside tier one have now made it out of a World Cup pool. Japan join Fiji (2007), Samoa (1991) and Canada (1991). 500 JAPAN are just the second side (after South Africa) to make 500-plus metres at this World Cup. 21 POINTS Japan scored in the first half against Scotland — the most they have managed in a World Cup game.
6 CONSECUTIVE World Cup wins for Japan. They beat Samoa and USA at the end of the 2015 World Cup and have now overcome Russia, Ireland, Samoa and Scotland this time. Before that they had lost 22 out of 26 World Cup Tests, drawing twice.