Japan down to earth with a bang

Scotland, who held a narrow 12-7 lead at half-time, turned on the charm after the break to race away and record a commanding 45-10 win at Gloucester on Wednesday and race to the top of Pool B.

Japan, after their big upset win over South Africa at the weekend, just did not have the gas to play two big matches inside four days.

Japan coach Eddie Jones claimed his side would win this game if they were in touch at half-time but, while the Brave Blossoms were only down by five points at the break, it was Scotland who dominated in the closing stages.

Tries from John Hardie, Mark Bennett (two), Tommy Seymour and Finn Russell in less than half an hour blew away the Japanese.

Greig Laidlaw, the Gloucester scrumhalf, put Scotland six points ahead from the tee and was happy to repeatedly challenge Japan with the up-and-under as the Scots applied their dominance at the set piece early on.

Against a changed Japan front row, Scotland had the Brave Blossoms penned in their own half for long periods and looked dominant.

That was until Grant Gilchrist, the Scotland second row, was caught offside at the breakdown and gifted Japan a penalty on halfway.

Fullback Ayumu Goromaru, the man Japan have taken to calling their 'comic book hero' following his sensational try on Saturday, found touch five metres from the Scotland tryline. It was uncertain whether the ball had crossed the whitewash before it went dead and, although the touch judge felt it had, his decision was overruled by referee John Lacey, who awarded the line-out.

Japan took the set piece cleanly and rumbled over for the first try of the game – No.8 Amanaki Mafi rising from the base of the strong Japanese driving maul with a quarter of an hour gone.

Goromaru split the posts with the conversion but Japan's two-point lead was short-lived as Laidlaw struck twice more from the tee.

He looked comfortable in familiar surroundings at Kingsholm but couldn't find his target on the fifth occasion after Lacey sent Japan wing, Kotaro Matsushima, to the bin for illegally stripping the ball as his opposite number, Sean Lamont, powered forward.

The yellow card was a blow, but it invigorated the Brave Blossoms, who suddenly found their groove and caused Scotland problems.

Goromaru missed an attempt at the posts but the onslaught continued. Japan crept closer and, while camped on the Scotland tryline, missed an opportunity to score at the base of the uprights.

Failing to take more points for their efforts, it was Japan's turn to retreat and they were under threat during the final moments of the first half. Laidlaw dummied and almost crossed the line but, as the overlap for Scotland looked ominous, Goromaru chased down Scotland wing Seymour and hit him into touch to end the half.

Much like their efforts against South Africa, the Japanese managed to stay in touch by the half-time break.

As their head coach Eddie Jones had predicted, Japan came out of the blocks quickly at the beginning of the second 40 minutes.

Mafi charged down the left wing and put in a grubber kick which was swept up by Scotland's birthday boy and flyhalf Russell. Mafi came again moments later, the powerful Shining Arcs forward breaking the line for a second time.

Scotland were penalised on the retreat and Goromaru finally cut the deficit to two points, but only after a brief stoppage as Mafi was withdrawn from play through injury.

As Japan found themselves back within two points, Scotland split them open with a cleverly worked move that released Stuart Hogg. Japan recycled but Laidlaw saw flanker John Hardie on the left, who found the whitewash and put Scotland seven points clear.

Laidlaw missed the conversion from the touchline and then Japan almost scored again after replacement lock Richie Gray climbed high but missed the Japanese restart.

Japan came back for a penalty but Goromaru hit the uprights and Laidlaw cleared Scotland's lines.

Hogg then burst through the flailing Japanese defence to give Scotland the platform before Bennett stormed under the posts. Laidlaw converted to extend the lead to 14 points but Japan, although beginning to flag, refused to give in.  

The Brave Blossoms pressed but, as they tried to spread the play, a pass intended for centre Male Sa'u was intercepted by Seymour, who ran in from 60 metres out for Scotland's third on 65 minutes.

Shortly after, Bennett showed pace to burn to score his second and secure the bonus point, before Russell dipped under the posts for Scotland's fifth.

Man of the Match: Amanaki Mafi was easily the best player on the field before he had to leave the field with injury. He broke the line consistently and carried the ball up the field strongly, adding to the try he scored. However Mark Bennett came through for Scotland in the second half with two excellent tries, a number of line breaks and a magical offload.

Moment of the Match: The injury to Amanaki Mafi stopped Japan's forward momentum and it allowed Scotland to dictate the game from that point on.

Villain of the match: Nothing nasty. Kotaro Matsushima's yellow card was a professional foul, nothing villainous.

The scorers:

For Scotland:

Tries: Hardie, Bennett 2, Seymour, Russell

Cons: Laidlaw 4

Pens: Laidlaw

For Japan:

Try: Mafi

Con: Goromaru

Pen: Goromaru

Yellow card: Kotaro Matsushima (Japan, 23 – professional foul, ripping the ball illegally)

Teams:

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 David Denton, 7 John Hardie, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 William Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Richie Gray, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Sean Maitland.

Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Male Sa'u, 12 Yu Tamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Justin Ives, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.

Replacements: 16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Shoji Ito, 21 Hendrik Tui, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Karne Hesketh.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)    

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)             

TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)