Rugby World Cup: Savvy Scots cut down Brave Blossoms

GIANT killers Japan couldn’t repeat the dose in their second Rugby World Cup match, falling flat in the second half against Scotland.

GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Tommy Seymour of Scotland goes over to score his teams third try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Japan at Kingsholm Stadium on September 23, 2015 in Gloucester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)

SCOTLAND made a mockery of its label as a first-half team by Eddie Jones by scoring five tries in a second-half onslaught against his Japan side to win 45-10 in the Rugby World Cup on Thursday (AEST).

Coach Jones’ comments were typical goading of a side Japan has never beaten, and fitness had a major bearing on the match.

With only six changes from the side which stunned the Springboks 34-32, and a four-day turnaround, Japan did well to cling to Scotland into the second half.

But then it lost No 8 Amanaki Mafi, who was in inspiring form and tearing up the Scottish defence, and the lack of enough rest began to tell.

Scotland centre Mark Bennett led the way with two tries, while flanker John Hardie, right winger Tommy Seymour, and flyhalf Finn Russell got the others as they recorded their biggest Cup win since beating Romania 42-0 in 2007.

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Japan led 7-6 in the 15th minute after a masterclass rolling maul off a lineout ended in a try for Mafi.

But that was as close as the Brave Blossoms got, as the Scots carved gaps in midfield and punched holes through a Japanese defense that resembled wilting blossoms.

“We gave them the opportunities to score tries and we weren’t clinical enough in their 22,” Jones said.

“I was impressed by Scotland, there were times when he had them but their recovery defence was impressive.”

Many of the fans at Gloucester’s compact Kingsholm Stadium were decked out in cherry-and-white jerseys — the local colours and Japan’s — and most of the support was for the underdogs.

It was the right stadium for another upset, too, with Georgia beating Tonga 17-10 there last week.

Not this time.

Although it was laborious stuff from Scotland initially, Japan wasn’t as sharp as it was against South Africa, and kept giving away penalties.

Laidlaw kicked over four penalties from five attempts to put them 12-7 ahead at the interval.

“We traded blows in the first half,” Scotland coach Vern Cotter said.

“Hats off to Japan, I thought they were a very difficult team to play against. They’re deft passers of the ball and change angles well.”

Mafi went off in the 45th, and taken to hospital.

“He dislocated his hip eight months ago and made an incredible recovery. We hope it’s not something similar,” Jones said.

Even without him, Japan was still in it.

But the goalkicking of Ayumu Goromaru, flawless against South Africa, wasn’t tuned in.

He struck the post with a 52nd-minute penalty, and that was the reprieve Scotland needed.

Tommy Seymour of Scotland goes over to score his team’s third try.

Instead of leading 17-13, the Scots soon had a 24-10 cushion, as Bennett burst through weak tackling to touch down between the posts, with extras from Laidlaw, who tallied 20 points.

After Japan attacked again, Shota Horie’s pass to centre Male Sa’u was too short, and Seymour streaked away for 31-10 with 15 minutes to play.

The relief in the Scotland side at a job well done was evident as fullback Stuart Hogg pumped his clenched fist toward a section of Scottish fans as he came off near the end.

“We were under pressure and we have to say that,” Cotter said.

“We were happy to come out on the positive side of the scoreboard.”

Bennett notched the team’s bonus-point fourth try, and his second of the match, and Russell, who had an impressive match, side-stepped his way to the posts.

Japan’s desperation and determination forced Scotland to make 192 tackles, almost twice as many as Japan, and that effort could yet have a bearing on its second match, in four days, against the United States in Leeds.

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Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Savvy Scots cut down Brave Blossoms