Japan launched Asia's first Rugby World Cup with a victory the host nation craved as they beat Russia 30-10 at Tokyo Stadium.
Four years after causing the World Cup's biggest shock by beating South Africa, Japan again took centre stage, but they were made to work hard by an unheralded Russian outfit. Russia, making a first appearance on rugby union's global stage since 2011, led for most of the first half following wing Kirill Golosnitskiy's early try, but hat-trick hero Kotaro Matsushima sparked Japan into life.
The elusive wing claimed a try double before the break, then flanker Lappies Labuschagne dealt Russia a major blow by collecting an opportunist touchdown early in the second half.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup opening ceremony, as well as the first fixture of the tournament: host nation Japan against Russia.
It's here!
Four years of build-up are over and the 2019 Rugby World Cup has arrived!
To the Far East rugby's showpiece tournament forays for the first time, with the World Cup in a second-tier rugby nation for the first time, ensuring an all together different experience for the 20 teams in Japan.
To kick things off this morning, have a read of Jack de Menezes's big preview of the tournament - the runners, the riders, the contenders and the pretenders, and everything else to expect over the next six weeks:
We begin in Tokyo, with the typically fun fanfare and festivities that any opening ceremony brings, followed by our opening game - hosts Japan against Russia in Pool A.
Japan is a country of great culture and colour, and organisers have promised a spectacular beginning to the tournament - this could be some fun. We are expecting it all to get underway at 10.30am BST, so about an hour and fifteen minutes from now.
And what of today's curtain-raiser - well, it isn't perhaps the marquee game some would like, but Japan vs Russia is a fixture layered with intrigue nonetheless.
The Brave Blossoms were among the stars of the last World Cup, stunning South Africa in Brighton and very nearly reaching the quarter-finals. They are even better now than they were in 2015, and have prepared for their home tournament with an impressive Pacific Nations Cup win, and will be looking to establish themselves as the best of the Tier Two nations at the tournament. Though they were somewhat lacklustre in their final warm-up against South Africa, a summer win over Fiji shows what they are capable of.
Here's everything you need to know about Jamie Joseph's side:
And Russia? Well, Russia have only made the tournament after a number of eligibility muddles saw Romania, Belgium and Spain given point deductions and thus knocked down the Rugby Europe qualifying ladder. And their warm-up efforts suggest it may be a real struggle for them in Japan.
The Russians have been beaten by both Irish club Connacht and second-tier English side Jersey Reds in the last month - not the best preparation for a major tournament. With Samoa, Ireland and Scotland also for company in Pool A, a win looks beyond Lyn Jones' side, but they'll be looking to make a better fist of themselves, and have excellent opportunity to do so in front of the eyes of the world today.
Here's our guide:
Have you seen our Rugby World Cup 100, the definitive ranking of the 100 best players in World Cup history?
No? Here you go! Who would you rank as number one?
Right, there are still more than two hours until kick-off, but let's get into some team news for today's opener...
Team News - Japan
The hosts are without two of their best, controversial number eight Amanaki Mafi (who will go on trial after allegedly punching a Melbourne Rebels team mate after the World Cup is concluded) and dangerous wing Kenki Fukuoka.
Michael Leitch is a man of vast experience and a wise leader in the back row, and this pack has come on leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. Look out for hooker Shota Horie.
Lomano Lemeki will bring a blend of speed and power in Fukuoka's stead on the left in a backline that is always keen to play rugby and isn't afraid to get creative off set piece and in broken play.
Team News - Russia
Fans of Sale Sharks willbe familiar with a couple of Russia's stars, with prop Vladimir Morozov and now-departed second row Andrei Ostrikov both members of Steve Diamond's squad last year.
Yuri Kushnarev and Vasily Artemyev bring experience and control at 10 and 15, and if Russia are to produce a first-shock, it is through their two foremost creators that it is most likely to come.
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PODCAST!
The Indy Rugby Podcast is here, and with you several times a week throughout the Rugby World Cup, with insight from our writers and other rugby experts out in Japan.
Jack de Menezes and Samuel Lovett are your hosts for the fourth episode, which looks at Rob Howley's howler, and asks how a World Cup win would change the legacies of Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland.
Available on your preferred podcasting outlet, or via this link:
Here's what the 20 teams are all playing for: the William Webb Ellis Cup.
Or if you want a slightly more artistic interpretation:
Switching lanes for a moment, this is a particularly interesting breakdown of what it takes to prepare a rugby team for an event like the World Cup in 2019, from Sam Peters:
Right, hello all! After much back and forth, I'm finally in place here at the Tokyo Stadium. We've got 15 minutes until the opening ceremony gets underway and already the crowd have got a Mexican wave going. Not too sure what to make of that... safe to say all those packed in here are excited for what's to come.
We’ve already been treated to a performance from the Blue Impulse, Japan’s equivalent of the Red Arrows. Given I’ve been trapped inside an accreditation centre for the past hour or so, I unfortunately missed such a spectacle. I’m told it didn’t last particularly long…
Not long to go now, folks. The atmosphere is slowly building as the Chemical Brothers' 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' blasts through the speakers. Japanese music at its finest!
Oo, we've got movement down below. To give you a picture of what I'm looking at, a great white canvas, with a black frame, is covering the majority of the pitch while groups of people dressed in black and red take up their position around the edges. Let's see what they've got to offer.
This is it! The 60-second count down is under way.
And we're off! The 2019 Rugby World Cup is officially under way!
A traditional start, as to be expected A group of performers clad in white have taken to the centre of the canvas and are currently delivering what looks to be an an ancient ritual as drums bang ominously in the background.
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