Scotland slay giant killers

MARK Bennett scored two tries and captain Greig Laidlaw kicked 20 points as Scotland destroyed World Cup giant killers Japan 38-10 yesterday.

Japan’s heroics at the weekend beating South Africa 34-32 left them exhausted and after a bright start with a brilliant Amanaki Mafi try, they just could not keep up with the dark blues.

Leading 12-7 at half time, Scotland took complete control after the break. Two tries by Bennett and one each from flanker John Hardie, Tommy Seymour and Finn Russell crushed the spirited Japanese.

The Scottish skipper gave a clinical display of kicking on his Gloucester home ground.

“We hung in there and competed well for an hour but we just ran out of energy,” Japan captain Michael Leitch said.

Laidlaw paid tribute to the Asian champions. “They gave us a good workout for our first game,” he said. “It was tough despite the scoreline.”

The Scots did not make the same error as Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers as Laidlaw opted to go for goal with their first penalty rather than kick for touch. The Scottish captain slotted over for a 3-0 lead after two minutes and soon added a second.

Japan stayed true to their attacking instinct. Star fullback Ayumu Goromaru kicked right into the corner from a penalty and from the ensuing throwin No 8 Amanaki Mafi drove over for a brilliant try to get Japan back into the game.

Goromaru -- scorer of 24 points against the Springboks -- added the conversion for 7-6 and Laidlaw added two further penalties to take it to 12-7.

Japan repeatedly got on the wrong side of Irish referee John Lacey. Lacey’s patience ran out and he flashed a yellow card in the 23rd minute at Japanese wing Kotaro Matsushima for ripping the ball from Scottish opposite number Sean Lamont after tackling him. Laidlaw missed the resulting penalty.

The Japanese came bursting out of the blocks in the second half, Mafi bullocking his way deep into the Scots’ 22 before being brought to the ground and had to be stretchered off with a leg injury.

Goromaru kicked a penalty -- the Scots having gone offside -- to move the Japanese to within two of the Scots at 12-10.

However, Hardie stretched the lead as fed by Laidlaw he went over.

A brilliant piercing run by fullback Stuart Hogg resulted in centre Mark Bennett going in under the posts with Laidlaw adding the conversion for 24-10.

It was game over just after the hour mark as Seymour intercepted a Japanese pass to touch down. Laidlaw converted for 31-10.

The weary Japanese failed to stop Bennett going over for his second try and Laidlaw added the conversion for 38-10.

ý France made it two wins out of two at the World Cup with a 38-11 Pool D victory over Romania at London’s Olympic Stadium last night.

A much-changed side from the one that beat Italy last weekend were made to work hard by a game Romania side before securing a bonus point. – AFP