TOKYO: Rugby fever swept through Japan on Friday as fans flocked to Tokyo Stadium where their Brave Blossoms defeated unfancied Russia 30-10 to open the 2020 Rugby World Cup.
Kotaro Matsushima scored a hat-trick of tries as the hosts overcame a strong bout of nerves. The pacey right winger’s finishing proved the difference as Japan was otherwise very sloppy against a lowly ranked but tenacious Russia.
The Tokyo Stadium crowd was stunned after four minutes as fullback William Tupou missed a routine catch under no pressure to allow left winger Kirill Golosnitsky an easy converted try. Another first: The quickest opening-match try in tournament history.
Japan equalised seven minutes later, as Tupou’s looping pass set up Matsushima in the right corner, followed by a woefully botched conversion attempt from flyhalf Yu Tamura.
Pockets of Russian fans — including a handful dressed as Soviet-era astronauts — were louder than the home crowd watching in silent anxiety as the home nation dropped high balls or fumbled them.
It could have been even worse but this was not New Zealand attacking them. After Japan again carelessly gave the ball away, centre Vladimir Ostroushko burst through midfield but kicked ahead aimlessly instead of waiting for support.
Matsushima thought he had a second try five minutes from halftime, but fullback Vasily Artemyev made a brilliant captain’s tackle and video review showed Matsushima spilling the ball inches above the ground. Referee Nigel Owens ruled it out, drawing jeers.
Moments from the interval, Matsushima made it count as Japan finally established a period of sustained pressure and center Ryoto Nakamura fed him an overlap pass for an easy converted score.
After Tamura’s penalty settled nerves in the second half, the anxiety lifted when flanker Pieter Labuschagne stripped Andrei Ostrikov before scampering 40 metres over for an unconverted try.
Russia battled away, still, and flyhalf Yuri Kushnarev’s penalty cut the deficit with 20 minutes left after Japan infringed at the ruck.
Matsushima finished Russian resistance off, breaking a weak tackle as he overlapped again down the right.
The tournament arrived in Asia for the first time with a lavish opening ceremony inspired by Japanese-style festivals and Kabuki dance.
Taiko drums set the beat as the names of the 20 participating countries were projected onto a likeness of Mount Fuji. Huge cheers went up for defending champions New Zealand but the biggest, of course, were reserved for the hosts.
A choir of children sang the World in Union theme before former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw raised the Webb Ellis trophy to rousing cheers from the 50,000 capacity crowd.
“The stage is set … to make this the best World Cup ever,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.
Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino declared the tournament, which will run until Nov 2, officially open.
Fans squeezed on to trains for the journey to the stadium on the western edge of the city, then drank beer, had their faces painted and sang songs as they walked from the station to the venue.
”I couldn’t sleep well and woke up early in the morning. I’m so excited,” said Hiroshi Moriyama, who painted his upper body in the colours of the Japan uniform with the message “Welcome RWC 2019 Japan” on his back.
Setefano Siu Magele and Maia Siu Magele, fans from New Zealand, showed their support for Japan by donning Japan headbands and red T-shirts.
“So excited, can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome and the atmosphere has already been awesome so yeah all dressed in the gear, ready to go. Go Japan!” said Maia, pumping her fist in the air.
Many fans also said they were excited to see the blockbuster clash between New Zealand and South Africa on Saturday, a sign that local fans’ interest in the World Cup will spread well beyond the home team’s matches.
Strong support for the tournament will be welcome news for World Rugby, who took a major risk in awarding the tournament to Japan 10 years ago, taking the World Cup out of the sport’s traditional heartlands for the first time.
Japan, ranked 10th in the world, are looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time after coming oh-so-close in 2015 in England, where they scored one of the sport’s biggest ever upsets with a victory over South Africa.
In Pool A they will also face Ireland, Samoa and Scotland.