Right, that seems like a good a place as any to leave it. After a stunning morning I am in need of a well-earned break. Thanks for all your emails and tweets, hope you enjoyed our coverage.
Great reactions at full time:
UNBELIEVABLE!
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2019
On home turf, Japan have achieved an incredible win over Ireland! Shizuoka is rocking!
FT: Japan 19-12 Ireland #RWC2019 #JPNvIRE pic.twitter.com/ng798ka6gp
There is more action in Japan this morning. Lee Calvert is on South Africa v Namibia:
Bevan Jones writes in:
Can the Guardian please not refer to Ireland as not taking their opponents seriously... Japan absolutely got their tactics and game plan spot on. Ireland didn’t underestimate Japan, the opposition was just better. Great game!
I do not think anyone here will be taking anything away from Japan. I was at the game in Brighton four years ago and this was a different type of win for Japan. There was an element of smash and grab then but after the first 15 minutes, this was a dominant performance from Japan that exploited Ireland’s weaknesses to perfection.
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More bad news for Ireland. Jack Conan has fractured his foot and will head home.
The Japanese Croydon Box Park is very polite:
Fanzone in #RWCTokyo goes mad as Japan beat Ireland at Rugby World Cup 2019 #RWC2019 #JPNvIRE pic.twitter.com/g1a5IZWZUD
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2019
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Jamie Joseph speaks!
The Japanese head coach is clearly bouncing:
We’re ecstatic about the result, we’re very proud of the players. We had a plan and have trained for a long time, we have been thinking about this game for quite a long time and obviously Ireland have only been thinking about it for the last six or seven days. For us it’s been a great performance.
You have to be carful before the game, you don’t want to come across too arrogant and cocky. We had a lot of belief in our game plan and knew how strong Ireland were. Credit to my coaching team, at the set piece we were able to hold theirs.
Now it’s phase two, we’ve got another couple of games to go but we’ll enjoy tonight I reckon.
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Paul Rees is at Shizuoka Stadium and witnessed another miracle. Here is his report:
Rory Best speaks!
The Irish captain is magnanimous in defeat:
We knew how tough it was going to be. Anyone that thought was utterly shocked hasn’t seen how good they are.
We came in a game plan and we felt we were really prepared. Give credit to them, they played really well and we made a few mistakes, a few unforced errors and were on the wrong side of the penalty count. They posed a lot of questions and we couldn’t come up with he answers.
1 - Ireland have lost to a non-Tier 1 nation at the @rugbyworldcup for the first time, they’d won each of their previous 15 such games. Shocked.#JPNvIRE #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/PwDExydT4z
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 28, 2019
With that win Japan go top of Pool A. Check on the tables following this morning’s games here:
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Schmidt offers his post-match thoughts and whilst the Ireland head coach is gracious he questions the penalty count. Unsubtle deflection, Joe.
In a momentous moment that shows the growth of world rugby, we have had emails in from Canada (the Yukon and British Columbia), Somalia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Italy and the Balearic Islands. Talk about a dedicated following!
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Labuschagne speaks!
A fe words from an overawed Japanese captain:
We’re really happy, proud of every boy.
[Brighton] was a great game, but we came into this game knowing what we wanted to do and we’ve done it.
We heard the crowd, especially in the last ten minutes.
Bizarre end to the game as Ireland. With the hooter gone boot they ball out of play, the chances of a turnaround were slim but that a baffling decision.
Full-time: Japan 19-12 Ireland!
JAPAN WIN!
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80 mins: Last minute now...
79 mins: Tanaka waits to put in and lets the clock tick away some more.
78 mins: Kenki Fukuoka intercepts and it looks like the game as he sprint some 60 metres but Earls somehow catches the Japanese replacement five metres from the Ireland line. It is a knock on though and Japan have a scrum under the posts.
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75 mins: Japan pinged for not rolling away in the ruck, Carbery’s kick is poor though. Ireland lineout inside the Japan half, they need something now.
74 mins: Japan scrum as Ireland knock on. This will kill the clock some more.
Penalty! Japan 19-12 Ireland (Tamura, 72 mins)
Japan have a seven point lead! They get their reward for bravery in their own half, passing their way out and forcing a penalty. The fly-half’s kick is drifting but it it through.
71 mins: From the scrum Japan burst forward again and Murray is pinged for offside. Tamura with a decent chance to extend this lead!
This might be a first, Adil from Mogadishu writes in:
Worried for Ireland, Japan are moving and passing menacingly. If Japan can turn the momentum, it’s all up for grabs. I’m following from Mogadishu! The city is on the road to recovery and with a few fortunate penalties and tries, Japan could be on the road to glory!
69 mins: A hole opens in the middle for Kearney but it closes quickly. A pass forward from Murray a few phases later and Japan have a chance to slow this down. Little over ten minutes left and these moments will be vital if w are to get (another) famous upset.
66 mins: Great kick from Tamura to get his side up the halfway, knocking back the marker flag.
65 mins: Huge cheers as Japan hold firm and win a penalty five metres from their own line to turn the ball over.
64 mins: How can the Irish respond? Japan are still coming up so quick to the line but Ireland are trying to match them. This is great to watch. Thompson goes off for Japan, Wimpie van der Walt is on. Nakajima on for Inagaki too.
62 mins: Cronin and Carbery are both as Schmidt starts to empty his bench.
Try! Japan 16-12 (Kenki Fukuoka, 59 mins)
59 mins: Accidental offside from the Irish and it is a scrum for Japan 15 metres out. Fukuoka pounces after neat handling across the Japanese line, Lafaele in particular. Tamura knocks over the extras. What are we seeing here?
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58 mins: Rhys Ruddock is on in the back row for Ireland.
57 mins: Japan are rumbling. They string together ten phases before losing the ball forward deep in the Irish half. Nagare goes off for the experienced Fumiaki Tanaka.
55 mins: Tamura bangs it from distance but gets his line wrong as they kick drifts left.
52 mins: Matsushima’s wonderful side step takes Japan from behind their own line all the way to halfway. That was electric from the wing and Ireland look a little rattled as a knock-on inside the Irish half is followed by another mistake giving Yamanaka a chance to level.
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48 mins: Yamanaka goes up unchallenged for a Murray kick and comes down without the ball. Scrum Ireland in the Japan half, but that is a soft one.
47 mins: Andrew Porter on for Tadhg Furlong and David Kilcoyne on for Cian Healy as the Irish make replacements in the pack.
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46 mins: Japan playing fast and loose in midfield to start the half, this suits the hosts a lot more than the Irish. No fear from the Brave Blossoms who seem prepared to play through the hands and offload even in their own half.
43 mins: Early Irish scrum in their own half but Carty kicks deep into Japanese half. This is clearly where Schmidt wants his side to play in the second half.
Peeeep!
41 mins: The second half is underway.
Charlie is at the game in Fukuroi City:
At the game with my mum and what an electric atmosphere! Genuine hope for Japan here especially with Fukuoka coming off the bench - he will cause some damage. Ganbare Nippon!!!
From Canada to Japan, you are welcome.
@Tbassam Small group here in sports bar in Kanazawa following your live feed — thanks!
— glīdan (@alfmcm) September 28, 2019
In a feat of extraordinary internet coverage, Yukonyourownway emails in from a remote Canadian location:
Following your blog sitting in a tent in the Yukon surrounded by bears (much like the swarming Irish offence). To me there’s only one outcome here. Stay strong Japan, they look in their element (unlike me with only a steak knife for protection).
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Half-time: Japan 9-12 Ireland
Japan have Ireland on the ropes as the first half ticks into extra time, putting together their most phases of the game. A cute grubber kick through almost releases Yamanaka on the left but the full-back cannot quite keep it in play and with that the half ends.
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Penalty! Japan 9-12 Ireland (Tamura, 40 mins)
After missing one early the Japanese fly-half makes amends as his kick bows back from left to right to dissect the post.
38 mins: Japan probe in midfield and earn a penalty as they make their way in increments up the field. Tamura now with a chance to cut the lead to just three points...
35 mins: Ireland scrum from a Japan knock on. Huge roar as Brave Blossoms trample the Irish and earn a penalty against the head.
Penalty! Japan 6-12 (Tamura, 34 mins)
Conor Murray holds on in the ruck and Tamura is able to knock over an easy kick from close range. Japan are keeping this close.
31 mins: James Moore errs in the ruck as he tries to pick and go from the ruck, slightly unlucky. Michael Leitch is on for Amanaki Mafi as Japan are forced into an early change. That is a blow for the hosts, though the captain is very capable replacement.
29 mins: Defensive scrum for Ireland, 15 metres out from their own line.
27 mins: Tim Lafaele’s little flick lifts the crowd creates a chance for Japan as Matsushima chases a kick behind. Whenever Japan get on the front foot they look fast and dangerous. Ireland may have two ties and the lead but they are not having it all their own way.
3 - Garry Ringrose has now crossed for a try in each of his three appearances against Japan, his three tries against the Brave Blossoms are more than he has against any other Test nation. Arigato.#JPNvIRE #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/bUMDr4gpJH
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 28, 2019
24 mins: The cross kick is clearly the order of the day for Ireland, they go to it straight from the restart and make good ground before a Rory Best knock-on eases the pressure.
Try! Japan 3-10 Ireland (Kearney, 21 mins)
There is a quick check for a knock-on as Rob Kearney gets on to Ringrose’s paddle back from another speculative Carty kick from near the try line to allow the full-back to bundle over. The TMO is happy and this time Carty converts.
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19 mins: Ireland dominate the game’s first scrum as Inagaki rolls around the corner. Carty kicks for the corner.
Penalty! Japan 3-5 Ireland (Tamura, 18 mins)
It is not the prettiest kick you have ever seen but it is over and Japan strike back.
16 mins: Tamura will get a chance to cut the deficit almost immediately as Stander is pinged for offside. Straight kick from shorter range this time.
Try! Japan 0-5 Ireland (Ringrose, 14 mins)
Carty knows he has a penalty in his pocket and from 15 metres in the front of the posts the fly-half dinks a lovely cross kick towards the right wing, where Ringrose gets above his man and spins over. Carty cannot convert though.
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12 mins: A muscular run from Stockdale as Ireland work it right to left, offloading to Ringrose who almost beats his man around the outside. Japan hold firm but their attempt to run it out does not get far and Ireland continue to pile on the pressure.
9 mins: Jack Carty tries the spectacular with a flat cross kick from a penalty trying to pick out Keith Earls. The winger cannot quite pull off the spectacular finish and Japan breathe again. Bold intent from Ireland, turning down easy points.
6 mins: Big opportunity missed by Japan to take an early lead as Yu Tamura hooks a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts left. You feel these are the chances that have to go the hosts way.
3 mins: If you want to see an upset then this start Japan needed. Confident handling and a rapid tempo from the Brave Blossoms creates the first chance as a little dink rolls towards the Irish line and Ryoto Nakamura is desperately unlucky as he does not get the bounce of the ball..
Peeeep!
1 min: And we are underway. Ireland earn an early lineout from the kick off.
Five minutes until kick-off and the team are heading down the tunnel. Steely faces all around at the Shizuoka Stadium.
Team news
Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Chris Farrell, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Carty, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, David Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Tadh Beirne, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour.
Japan: Ryohei Yamanaka; Kotaro Matsushima, Timothy Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Lomano Lemeki; Yu Tamura, Yutaka Nagare; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Koo Ji-Wan, Luke Thompson, James Moore; Kazuki Himeno, Lappies Labuschagne, Amanaki Mafi.
Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Isieli Nakajima, Asaeli Ai Valu, Wimpie van der Walt, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rikiya Matsuda, Lomano Lemeki.
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Preamble
This is where the test of Japan’s credentials really starts then. After dispatching Russia in empowering but ultimately expected fashion the second best team in the world are in town to ruin the dreams of the Brave Blossoms. Jamie Joseph’s men have enjoyed a seven-day turnaround never usually reserved for the second tier sides at a World Cup and will have needed every minute to prepare for Joe Schmidt’s side.
Perhaps a grain of hope can be found for Japan in that they are not facing an Ireland team able to draw on the talents of their world class fly-half, Johnny Sexton. Jack Carty will start at ten as Ireland make four changes to the side that brushed off Scotland. Although, that they could make such light work of of their Six Nations rivals without the need for Sexton to kick rom early in the first half is ominous.
Japan captain Michael Leitch is the shock omission from their starting XV, with Joseph opting to bring fit-again Amanaki Mafi into the back row, with flanker Lappies Labuschagne taking over as skipper. For the sequel to the Brighton Miracle, the Shizuoka Shock will need to be equally well executed. In England four years ago, Japan never let South Africa out of their sight, always retaining a measure of control over the scoreline and to earn a repeat would take something similar.
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