Japan overpower debutants Chile in Rugby World Cup opener
TOULOUSE, France: Japan embraced the role of giants in the Toulouse pressure cooker on Sunday, surviving an early strike by inspired Chile to brush aside the World Cup debutants 42-12.
Chile fly-half Rodrigo Fernandez had given the newcomers a dream start and a shock sixth-minute lead. But Amato Fakatava scored a brace of tries as the Brave Blossoms’ pack bludgeoned their inexperienced opponents, scoring five of their six tries.
“Chile came with a really spirited performance, really hearty, tackled like demons, turned our ball over, really put us under pressure. We had to deal with that,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph.
Chile started each half with an early score but wilted in the 32degree Celsius heat.
“We were OK for 60 minutes but in the last 20 minutes we missed a little bit the control of the game and that was tough for us. They made us run,” said Chile coach Pablo Lemoine.
But Lemoine said that what mattered most was his team had been a part of the global extravaganza.
“Amazing day for Chile rugby, for our rugby history and for the World Cup also with a new country coming in. The first game for Chile rugby is the most important point today,” the former Uruguay prop said.
“The way Japan run the ball we thought it was better to keep it if we could. The strategy worked for about an hour.”
Joseph was impressed. “The support for their team was amazing. They cheered for everything, as the Japanese do. I’ve learned... that the first adventure in the World Cup is when you get the emotion,” said the Japan coach.
Yutaka Nagare, who took over as captain when forward Kazuki Himeno was forced out with a calf injury before kickoff, said Japan’s plan had been to dominate possession.
“We just wanted to play our game and occupy the 22metre zone and retain the ball and maintain pressure on the opposing team,” said the scrumhalf.
Chile showed no signs of nerves as they struck first in a fearless start to the match.
On six minutes, fullback Inaki Ayarza sliced through Japan’s wide defence at halfway before scrum-half Marcelo Torrealba tried to go alone. He was stripped in the tackle with players either side of him screaming for a pass but Fernandez, scorer of the 2022 world try of the year to get Chile to the World Cup, was following up and dribbled the ball past the defence to touch down.
“I feel really happy. I was in the right place at the right time,” said the scorer.