Hosts Japan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history as they beat world number two-ranked Ireland 19-12 in Shizuoka.

Tries from Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney saw Ireland lead at the break, although three Yu Tamura penalties kept the game to within one score.

Replacement Kenki Fukuoka dived over in the corner on 59 minutes to put the Brave Blossoms in front.

Tamura’s 72nd-minute penalty sealed a monumental win.

Not since Japan’s win over South Africa four years ago in Brighton has rugby witnessed a result that will resound around the world in the way this one will.

This was not a result borne of Irish indiscipline or stage fright, but of a truly stunning Japanese performance in front of a cacophonous crowd that lifted their side with a stunning noise that greeted every metre gained, tackle made and turnover won.

It is a result that will, regardless of what happens in the next six weeks of rugby, leave a legacy for generations to come, and will send rugby into a new stratosphere of popularity within the country.

Hosts stay true to attacking philosophy
From the start, it became clear that Japan had no interest in curtailing their fast-paced, free-moving mantra against one of the game’s most-respected defences.

Only a bad bounce denied Kotaro Matsushima an opening try after four minutes as the hosts stretched Ireland’s defence from left to right before Tamura’s kick behind nearly paid off.

It looked as though Ireland had weathered an early storm, as Ringrose and Kearney’s tries eight minutes apart looked to have bought the favourites some breathing space that could have quietened the Japanese majority inside Stadium Ecopa.

However, the fans and the team were unrelenting and Japan did not turn to a Plan B.

Another lightning-fast move from left to right, a slick one-handed offload from Timothy Lafaele and a kick in behind saw Matsushima again denied by a bouncing ball which this time favoured Josh van der Flier, who did well to set up an Irish exit from under their own posts.

The introduction of Michael Leitch, Japan’s already legendary captain whose relegation to the bench was the cause of some controversy in the build-up, sent excitement levels in the stadium to a new level after 31 minutes.

Leitch responded immediately with a shuddering clear-out of Rob Kearney as Japan pressed forward, carrying the momentum towards half-time.

The pressure was eventually rewarded as van der Flier was pinged for impatience at the breakdown, allowing Tamura to narrow the gap to three points at half-time.

The second half carried on in the same way the first had ended: Japan attack, Ireland repel.

The familiar signs that tend to crop-up when Ireland are not functioning began to re-appear – missed line-outs, dropped catches and a knock-on after winning a scrum inside their own 22 as the pressure continued to build.

From the scrum, Japan went left and Fukuoka was sent over in the corner.

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Source: BBC

Thomas du Toit will make a mad dash from France to replace prop Trevor Nyakane in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup squad after the latter tore his calf in Saturday’s opening 23-13 loss to New Zealand in Yokohama.

Nyakane, who recently made the switch from loose-head to tight-head prop, lasted just 21 minutes as a replacement in the Pool B defeat before needing to be helped from the field in obvious discomfort.

“It’s very tough on Trevor,” Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said. “He has had a great season and added value whenever he took the field.

“It’s a blow to him and the team, but it’s also an opportunity for Thomas and Vincent (Koch), who now have the chance to step up.”

Du Toit had signed a short-term deal to play for French Top 14 side Toulouse during the World Cup but is now expected to link up with the Bok squad at their training base in Nagoya on Tuesday afternoon.

The 24-year-old won the last of his 10 caps in the 24-18 victory over Argentina in Pretoria on Aug. 17, which was also his only international start. The Boks are next in action against neighbours Namibia in Toyota City on Saturday.

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Mothusi Magano may be one of the most famous faces on TV, but he says a lack of gigs in Mzansi is one of the biggest challenges.

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Source: eNCA

England’s World Cup campaign got off to a spluttering but winning start as they fought their way past unfancied Tonga.

Two first-half tries from the buccaneering Manu Tuilagi and a second-half rumble from Jamie George off a driving maul opened a gap, Owen Farrell landing three penalties and two conversions.

Replacement hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie grabbed the bonus-point fourth try late on but the expected avalanche of points never materialised.

Tonga had shipped 14 tries to New Zealand earlier this month and had won only one of their last seven coming into this tournament.

But they caused England problems at the breakdown, and despite a solid defensive display coach Eddie Jones will want much more from his side as they look to win the Webb-Ellis trophy for only the second time in their history.

In the early exchanges, Tonga had more than matched England, the men in white shipping five penalties in the first 24 minutes and Sonatane Takulua landing one from 30 metres to level up Farrell’s early effort.

Jones’ fury was visible in the stands but it was Tuilagi who stampeded to the rescue with a brace of tries that illustrated why he is so critical to England’s World Cup hopes.

He fought and twisted through three tackles to wrestle the ball over the line for his first and then took an inside pass from Jonny May after Elliot Daly had put the winger away down the left to run away for the second.

Farrell landed another penalty after a series of drives from close in almost led to a third try, but England had paid a price for their 18-3 half-time lead.

Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson were both crunched in huge challenges but it was Zane Kapeli’s hit on Billy Vunipola that topped them all, England’s number eight knocked backwards by the open-side’s tackle.

Although Farrell stretched that lead with his third successful penalty the precision was still not there, England’s handling errors mounting despite conditions under the roof being almost perfect.

Jones threw Ellis Genge on for Joe Marler and then Henry Slade at full-back with Daly taking May’s place on the left-wing.

With George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam and Willi Heinz also coming on England went back to basics, setting up a driving maul from 15 metres out that ended with George touching down.

Still, the fluidity did not come, the vast open spaces under the curving roof sucking in the noise from the large English support and the game becoming increasingly disjointed.

Slade, in his first competitive outing since the Premiership final after an injury to his left knee, limped away from another big tackle, a concern for Jones after the role the Exeter centre played during the Six Nations.

When Farrell switched to 10 with Jonathan Joseph at outside centre another promising move ended with a knock-on from Maro Itoje, one of 14 handing errors in the 80 minutes.

But Joseph then made a lovely outside break to ghost into space, drawing the last man before slipping Cowan-Dickie in on his right.

With the USA in Kobe on Thursday England’s next game, they have time to hit their straps before the tougher challenges of Argentina and France.

And Jones will demand more after an opening weekend when the All Blacks and Ireland both produced far more impressive performances.

Absent four years ago through ill-discipline and injury as England went at the group stage, the revitalised centre made 93 metres with the ball in hand and beat six defenders, a constant threat to the Tongan defence.

England World Cup winner Matt Dawson on Radio 5 Lives: “England won’t be happy with that. Ten penalties I made it, numerous handling errors. That’s unacceptable for the standards that Owen Farrell and Eddie Jones have set. They’re the sorts of things that you can fix and work on but I’m hoping they don’t flog them to death.

“One thing that did stand out that was that England looked a little bit leggy. We didn’t see much of Billy Vunipola or Maro Itoje or Kyle Sinckler crashing forward. There wasn’t much fizz.”

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The Irish went over in their first two incursions into the Scottish 22, James Ryan and Rory Best ploughing over to put them 12-0 ahead after 15 minutes.

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Source: News365