Ireland v New Zealand date, time and venue confirmed…

Ireland v New Zealand date, time and venue confirmed for World Cup quarter-final after Japan beat Scotland to top Pool A

Ireland will have to beat New Zealand if they are to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals for the first time after Japan topped Pool A with a 28-21 win over Scotland today.

Joe Schmidt's side recovered well from their shock defeat to Japan in Shizuoka to register bonus point wins over Russia and Samoa that temporarily put them top of the pile again.

But, any suggestions that the Brave Blossoms victory over Ireland was a fluke, have been well and truly squashed after Japan again played dazzling attacking rugby to hammer Scotland.

Typhoon Hagibis threatened to cancel the final match of the pool in Yokohama but it got the green light after a stadium inspection today and there was an electric atmosphere in the stadium from the off.

Kenki Fukuoka of Japan breaks clear to score their fourth try (©INPHO/Craig Mercer)

Scotland got the opening try through fly-half Finn Russell but, like their Six Nations rivals Ireland, they struggled to handle the pace, skill and offloads from Japan.

Perfectly executed tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Keita Inagaki and Kenki Fukuoka gave Japan a 21-7 at half-time and when Fukuoka ripped the ball out of Scottish hands and ran half the length of the pitch, the host nation secured a bonus point.

But Scotland didn't cry off and came back into the game with tries from WP Nel and Zander Ferguson drawing them just seven points behind with over twenty minutes to play.

Yet, the host nation were not be denied and they hung on for a famous and deserved victory to the delight of the crowd.

It all means that Japan, with a 100% record, have topped the pool on 19 points and will take on South Africa in the last eight.

Runners-up Ireland will play the All Blacks on Saturday, 19 October (11.15am Irish time) at the Tokyo Stadium, as Scotland have been knocked out of the tounament.

If Joe Schmidt's side manage to repeat their historic victory over New Zealand from last November they will take on the winners of England v Australia in the last four.