{"id":9835,"date":"2019-09-28T07:00:38","date_gmt":"2019-09-28T11:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9835"},"modified":"2019-09-28T11:11:36","modified_gmt":"2019-09-28T15:11:36","slug":"japan-shock-ireland-in-19-12-victory-in-shizuoka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9835","title":{"rendered":"Japan Shock Ireland in 19-12 Victory in Shizuoka"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A, Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 28\/9\/2019Japan vs IrelandIreland’s Jack Carty with Ryoto Nakamura of JapanMandatory Credit \u00a9INPHO\/Dan Sheridan<\/figcaption><\/figure>Japan shocked the globe for the second time in four years by stunning Ireland 19-12 to light a bomb under Pool A and a fire under their home World Cup.<\/p>\n

The Brave Blossoms tore through Ireland time and time again in Shizuoka, triumphing through superior tenacity and supreme intensity.<\/p>\n

The world’s 10th-ranked team beat the second-best outfit, who entered this tournament ranked number one in the standings.<\/p>\n

Wing Kenki Fukuoka ran in the try that sealed Japan’s famous victory, immediately invoking memories of their breathless 34-32 win over South Africa in Brighton in 2015.<\/p>\n

Fukuoka was not even meant to be in the match squad, but stepped onto the bench when William Tupou picked up a late injury and Lomano Lemeki started.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old stormed in at the corner to send the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa into delirium though, and rip up the pre-written expectations for Pool A.<\/p>\n

Ireland failed to cope with Japan’s intensity and precision, and this defeat leaves their group wide open.<\/p>\n

Joe Schmidt’s men would have expected to move from their potent 27-3 win over Scotland and press through to top Pool A for a quarter-final against South Africa.<\/p>\n

If Japan could repeat this level of performance however, it could be the Brave Blossoms who top the pool, with the hosts having already bested Russia 30-10.<\/p>\n

That would leave Ireland and Scotland scrapping it out for second place, and a possible quarter-final against back-to-back world champions New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney bagged early tries as Ireland’s clear plan to expose Japan’s failings under the high ball paid good dividend.<\/p>\n

Jack Carty had a fine first-half in deputizing for Johnny Sexton on just his second Test start.<\/p>\n

But Japan refused to let Ireland gain any control through the dominance of possession, and the hosts’ relentless pace caught boss Schmidt’s men off guard.<\/p>\n

Japan will move on to face Samoa in Toyota on Saturday, with a brittle Scotland doubtless now very nervous about taking on the tournament hosts in Yokohama on Sunday, October 13.<\/p>\n

Ireland meanwhile will take on Russia in Kobe on Thursday, with much wound-licking to come between now and then.<\/p>\n

Tamura missed a regulation shot at goal as Japan opened the clash at a furious pace.<\/p>\n

Once Ireland settled, Schmidt’s men set up Japan perfectly for Carty to bag full reward from a crossfield punt.<\/p>\n

Ringrose comfortably beat Lemeki to the high ball, fielding cleanly and finishing in style.<\/p>\n

Tamura’s first penalty had Japan on the board after Peter O’Mahony was ruled offside at a ruck.<\/p>\n

But Ireland bulldozed the Japan scrum, punted the penalty upfield for a good platform – and Carty again outfoxed the home defense with his kicking game.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old chipped over the line, tapped back – and full-back Kearney scooped up to barrel home for the try.<\/p>\n

A lost lineout put Ireland under huge pressure as Japan continued to race forward at a hectic pace. Conor Murray was pinged for killing the ball in his own 22, so Tamura posted the facile penalty to cut Ireland’s lead to 12-6.<\/p>\n

Another Tamura penalty allowed Japan to cut Ireland’s lead to just three points.<\/p>\n

And Ireland were so rattled by the Japanese onslaught that Carty sent the restart dead, handing the hosts a scrum on the halfway line.<\/p>\n

Japan stole the chance for one last attack in the half, plowing through 16 phases with time well and truly up.<\/p>\n

But just when the hosts looked to have broken Ireland’s defense, hooker Shota Horie’s grubber kick evaded the onrushing Lomano Lemeki – and Ireland tiptoed to half-time with that slender 12-9 lead.<\/p>\n

Japan continued to threaten, until Ireland won a scrum penalty and kicked to the corner rather than for goal. Ireland duly lost the lineout however, wasting the hard-won platform.<\/p>\n

Japan kept on coming, time and again, and eventually Fukuoka crossed in the left corner.<\/p>\n

CJ Stander collided with Chris Farrell in a bungled break from a scrum, gifting Japan the scrum deep in the Ireland 22.<\/p>\n

The pumped-up hosts lapped up the chance, powering through the middle before whipping the ball wide.<\/p>\n

Tamura’s fine conversion then put Japan into a 16-12 lead on the hour.<\/p>\n

Ireland emptied the bench and pressed for a score to turn the tide, but it never came.<\/p>\n

And when Tamura posted his fourth penalty for a 19-12 lead, Japan’s stunning victory was complete.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>