Japan 19-12 Ireland
Date:
Venue: Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Shizuoka
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Attendance: 47,813
Japan v Ireland Match Reports
Japan produced a huge upset to beat Ireland 19-12 in Shizuoka and take control of Pool A. Ireland scored two first-half tries through Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney, but Japan stayed in touch with three penalty kicks from the boot of Yu Tamura to end the half just three points adrift. Ireland were scoreless in the second half whilst a fired-up Japan scored a try through Kenki Fukuoka. A fourth penalty kick from Tamura sealed a famous win for the host nation. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Autumn Internationals: Hosts Japan shock woeful Ireland as the World Cup comes alive
- BBC: Ireland suffer surprise defeat as Japan fight back to win
- Guardian: Japan stun Ireland to pull off another famous Rugby World Cup upset
- Daily Mail: Hosts pull off yet another massive Rugby World Cup upset as they knock Joe Schmidt's men from top spot in Pool A
- Sky Sports: Brave Blossoms post incredible Rugby World Cup victory
- Irish Times: Japan's rising sons leave Ireland under a cloud
Japan v Ireland - Match Highlights
Japan v Ireland - Match Stats
Japan: (9) 19
Try: Fukuoka (59')
Conversion: Tamura (61')
Penalty: Tamura (18', 34', 40', 72')
Ireland: (12) 12
Try: Ringrose (14'), Kearney (21')
Conversion: Carty (22')
Man of the match: Shota Horie (Japan)
Japan v Ireland - Team Line-ups
Japan Team
Forwards
- 1 Keita Inagaki
- 2 Shota Horie
- 3 Jiwon Koo
- 4 Luke Thompson
- 5 James Moore
- 6 Kazuki Himeno
- 7 Pieter Labuschagne (Captain)
- 8 Amanaki Mafi
Backs
- 9 Yutaka Nagare
- 10 Yu Tamura
- 11 Lomano Lemeki
- 12 Ryoto Nakamura
- 13 Timothy Lafaele
- 14 Kotaro Matsushima
- 15 Ryohei Yamanaka
Replacements
- 16 Atsushi Sakate
- 17 Isileli Nakajima
- 18 Asaeli Ai Valu
- 19 Wimpie van der Walt
- 20 Michael Leitch
- 21 Fumiaki Tanaka
- 22 Rikiya Matsuda
- 23 Kenki Fukuoka
Ireland Team
Forwards
- 1 Cian Healy
- 2 Rory Best (Captain)
- 3 Tadhg Furlong
- 4 Iain Henderson
- 5 James Ryan
- 6 Peter O’Mahony
- 7 Josh van der Flier
- 8 CJ Stander
Backs
- 9 Conor Murray
- 10 Jack Carty
- 11 Jacob Stockdale
- 12 Chris Farrell
- 13 Garry Ringrose
- 14 Keith Earls
- 15 Rob Kearney
Replacements
- 16 Sean Cronin
- 17 Dave Kilcoyne
- 18 Andrew Porter
- 19 Tadhg Beirne
- 20 Rhys Ruddock
- 21 Luke McGrath
- 22 Joey Carbery
- 23 Jordan Larmour