Japan makes last eight ...
Japan’s Kenki Fukuoka celebrates a try with teammates as the host nation reached its first RWC quarter-final after beating Scotland.
YOKOHAMA, Japan - Japan produced a scintillating display of attacking rugby to beat Scotland 28-21 and reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday, lifting the nation still reeling from the deadly impact of Typhoon Hagibis.
On an emotional and unforgettable night at the Yokohama Stadium, Kenki Fukuoka (2) Kotaro Matsushima and Keita Inagaki scored the tries before the hosts then held off a fierce secondhalf assault from a team they had lost against in all seven of their previous meetings.
When Japan beat South Africa four years ago - having won only one of their previous 24 World Cup matches - it was considered the greatest shock in rugby history. This time, having already beaten Ireland three weeks ago, it did not even feel like a real surprise - they have now won seven of their last eight.
They were faster, sharper, more inventive and, roared on by the vast majority of the delirious red-and-white-clad crowd, absolutely relentless in everything they did as they became the first tier-two team to reach the last eight since Fiji in 2007.
Having won all four of their matches to top Pool A with 19 points, they will face the Springboks again in the quarter-finals and the twice-champions will be taking absolutely nothing for granted.
The result also meant that Ireland, through as runners-up on 16 points, will play New Zealand.
“Tonight we went another level,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph. “They wanted it as much as the Scots and gave as much as they could. This is what it takes to win big test matches.”
The match was given the go-ahead only on Sunday morning after an inspection of the damage caused by the typhoon and proved a wonderfully uplifting occasion for the country after the death and destruction wrought by the storm.
“Whilst we are celebrating tonight there are a lot of people who aren’t,” Joseph said. Captain Michael Leitch concurred. “This is just another opportunity to inspire Japan and at this time Japan needs that,” he said.