JPN
No.Name
15Ryohei Yamanaka, -
14Kotaro Matsushima, -
13Timothy Lafaele, -
12Ryoto Nakamura, -
11Lomano Lemeki, -
10Yu Tamura, -
4
9Yutaka Nagare, -
1Keita Inagaki, -
2Shota Horie, -
3Jiwon Gu, -
4Luke Thompson, -
5James Moore, -
6Kazuki Himeno, -
7Pieter Labuschagne, -
8Amanaki Mafi, -
Replacements
16Atsushi Sakate, -
17Isileli Nakajima, -
18Asaeli Ai Valu, -
19Wimpie van der Walt, -
20Michael Leitch, -
21Fumiaki Tanaka, -
22Rikiya Matsuda, -
23Kenki Fukuoka, -
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa
3:15 AM, September 28, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'19-12 End of second half
80'15 seconds to go. Japan camped on the Irish line -- but they've knocked on! Ireland have the ball and an advantage, but the best they can manage is a draw. Nope, that's it! It's over! It's OVER! JAPAN HAVE BEATEN THE NO.1 RANKED SIDE IN THE WORLD! THE RUGBY WORLD CUP HAS JUST COME ALIVE!!!
80'The clock ticks into the final minute. Leitch implores his side to stay disciplined in the scrum. Time and distance are all very much against Ireland at this stage.
79'Joe Schmidt is furiously barking into his communication microphone, but it's not going to make much difference at this stage. Japan are 90 seconds from glory.
77'Such great discipline from Japan, who are not giving away any easy penalties. Stockdale again looking for a way through. Nothing doing. And then an intercept! Japan are flying forward, brilliant interception and the dash forward by Fukuoka is only thwarted by one of the fastest men in rugby, Keith Earls. How did Earls make up that ground?! Wow, what a moment. Scrum to Japan in front of the Ireland posts. Unbelievable scenes all round.
75'Irish lineout now in the Japanese half. Good hand in the back line opens up a chance for Stockdale on the left, and he's gained an extra 10 metres in barging forward under the tacklers. Murray trying to find some way through for Ireland, who are at the eighth phase of this move.
75'Big kick downfield by Japan and Stockdale tries to make some much needed ground. Ireland have not scored a point since the 22nd minute.
74'Scrum to Japan, 10 metres inside their own half. It goes down quickly, and this will leak off more valuable seconds from the clock. This is really going to happen, isn't it?
72'Silence around the stadium. It's left-ish again but Tamura converts. It's a seven-point lead with eight minutes to play. Ireland need something very very fast indeed!
72'19-12 Penalty goal - Yu Tamura , Japan
71'Japan make a lot of ground from the scrum in their own territory, and they'll have a penalty in the Irish half. Their belief is rocketing by the minute. Conor Murray, of all people, is the man caught offside at the ruck, and Tamura will have another shot at goal from around 25 metres, just in line with the right post. This would make it a seven-point lead and Ireland would need something very, very fast indeed.
71'Drop goal-missed
69'Player substituted - Rob Kearney , Ireland
69'Substitute on - Luke McGrath , Ireland
68'More open rugby from Ireland, and Japan nearly give away a penalty through Labuschagne. It's a scrum for a knock on, and Kearney needs some attention for a bruise just below the left eye.
67'Turnover ball for Ireland on halfway, with Tadhg Beirne (only just on the field as a substitute) causing the damage. Ireland are a long way from where they need to be though, so Carbery kicks high to test the Japanese backs. It works, with the contested ball dropping kindly for Kearney, who still needs to show smart hands to gather it in. Ireland are on the attack here.
66'Good kick from Tamura, but perhaps more importantly it took fully a minute to take that (pretty straightforward) penalty. Easy time to leak off the clock, and great sensibility from Japan to realise they could get away with it.
66'Player substituted - Iain Henderson , Ireland
66'Substitute on - Tadhg Beirne , Ireland
64'Great lineout, and Ireland roll forward to the Japanese five-metre line. Good recycling at the ruck. Good forward play all round. Ireland know how to do this, they just need to focus on the fundamentals and execute properly, which they've failed to do for the past 30 minutes of play. Here comes the wide attack. Carberry brought to the turf heavily and in the ensuing panic, Ireland are penalised for not releasing. Another huge Japanese roar. They're 15 minutes from glory.
64'Ireland into the teens in terms of phases on this possession, and the grubber forces Matsushima to scurry back and carry the ball into touch. It will be an attacking lineout for the Irish, around 15 metres from the Japanese line. They need something, soon.
64'Player substituted - Luke Thompson , Japan
64'Substitute on - Wimpie van der Walt , Japan
64'Player substituted - Keita Inagaki , Japan
64'Substitute on - Isileli Nakajima , Japan
62'Ireland desperately, desperately need something here. They're working through the phases in Japanese territory, but they need some of the invention that Carty in particular brought in the first 20 minutes. Can they find a moment of inspiration?
61'Substitute on - Jordan Larmour , Ireland
61'Player substituted - Chris Farrell , Ireland
61'Substitute on - Joey Carbery , Ireland
61'Player substituted - Jack Carty , Ireland
61'16-12 Conversion - Yu Tamura , Japan
61'Substitute on - Andrew Porter , Ireland
61'Player substituted - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
61'Player substituted - Rory Best , Ireland
61'Substitute on - Sean Cronin , Ireland
60'Oh wow! Great, GREAT conversion from out on the left by Tamura, and the crowd goes absolutely wild. Ireland look stunned.
59'Smart play by Tanaka, only just on at scrumhalf, as he gets the ball in and out quickly in the scrum and Japan are now laying siege to the Ireland line. They've got numbers out wide... they've got a penalty advantage... they're going to score a TRY! TRY JAPAN! WOW! Kenki Fukuoka is the man to dot down, but that's a glorious team try and Japan are at it again -- another World Cup, another huge, huge, monumental shock is brewing!
59'14-12 Try - Kenki Fukuoka , Japan
57'Another penalty against Ireland at the scrum, as two players run into each other. They've lost their composure, and Japan smell an upset.
57'Player substituted - Yutaka Nagare , Japan
57'Substitute on - Fumiaki Tanaka , Japan
56'Japan building well in the Irish half, and every loose ball is going their way. Nagare, the scrumhalf, is working well and probing this Irish defence. But it's the veteran back row, Michael Leitch, who knocks on in the maul. Probably because he's sustained a shoulder injury in the process. He's now being attended to by a doctor.
55'Fiercely contested ball at the Japanese lineout, with Ireland looking to have stolen it, only for Japan to steal it back in the air. This is ferocious stuff all round.
55'Player substituted - Andrew Porter , Ireland
55'Substitute on - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
55'Player substituted - Peter O'Mahony , Ireland
55'Substitute on - Rhys Ruddock , Ireland
54'Penalty to Japan! It's a long way out again, and Tamura, on the angle, hooks it left again. Sighs from the Japanese fans, sighs of relief from the Irish. The belief with which the Irish started this game has absolutely evaporated.
54'Substitute on - Asaeli Ai Valu , Japan
54'Player substituted - Jiwon Gu , Japan
51'One of the best bits of play in the entire tournament as Matsushima has to scurry back to get a grubber on his own line, then skips past one, two, three challenges and kicks ahead to give his team a chance of a counter. Ireland deal with it well, but that was superb individual skill from the Japanese winger.
51'Great steal at the lineout by Japan! They'll have the ball in their own 22, but it's a huge turnover and a bad miss by the Irish.
50'It's gone a bit quiet as a scrum takes an absolute age to set and then a nanosecond to fall apart. Ireland penalty, which Carty kicks deep into the Japan 22.
50'Player substituted - Ryohei Yamanaka , Japan
50'Substitute on - Kenki Fukuoka , Japan
47'Japan have frightened the life out of Ireland here. If they can just manufacture a chance or two, then they've got a real chance of knocking over the world No.1.
46'A kick by Japanese fullback Ryohei Yamanaka is too deep, and rolls harmlessly over the Irish line. Drop out from the 22, and a chance for a breather for all concerned. Frenetic five minutes since the restart.
46'Substitute on - Andrew Porter , Ireland
46'Player substituted - Tadhg Furlong , Ireland
46'Substitute on - Dave Kilcoyne , Ireland
46'Player substituted - Cian Healy , Ireland
45'Scrappy, nervy play in the midfield by both teams at the moment, and it takes Chris Farrell to punt it forward for Ireland to try and gain some territory. It works, as Ireland turn Japan over on the edge of their 22, but Japan then smuggle the ball back with sloppy ruck play by the Irish. Fascinating opening exchanges in this second half.
43'A bit sloppy from Ireland and Keith Earls, who is making good progress in the Japanese half but then his offload goes to ground and to nobody in particular. Japan get it and are now looking to make some ground of their own.
42'Carty booms the ball into Japan's half. That's where Ireland need to be playing as much as possible.
41'Knock on by Japan as they contest the high ball from kickoff. Scrum Ireland, 15 metres inside their own half.
41'Ready for this second half? You'd better be. This is a match that is very much in the balance. Japan to kick off. Ireland looking like they've been given a good talking to at halftime.
41'+29-12 End of first half
40'So here's a thing -- at half time of South Africa vs. Japan, Rugby World Cup 2015, the score was... South Africa 12-10 Japan. Just sayin'...
40'A grubber kick forward is the end gambit, and it bounces harmlessly (if dramatically) into touch. A sigh of relief for Ireland, a gasp of despair for Japan. But wow, do we have a match on our hands here!
40'Japan keep coming and have the penalty advantage. They've gained great ground now, up into the Ireland 22.
40'Beautiful hands from Lafaele as the ball works its way left from the scrum. Japan trying desperately not to get turned over at each ruck. More nice work towards the left but they've almost gone too far and Ireland try to wrestle Lemeki into touch. No dice.
40'Mistake by Carty as he boots too far from kickoff, and Japan dot down behind their own posts, giving themselves a scrum on halfway. Can they launch one last attack?
40'9-12 Start of second half
40'9-12 Penalty goal - Yu Tamura , Japan
39'Tamura, if he's smart, will take his sweet time over this so the clock ticks past the 40 minute mark. Even he can't bleed it that far, in fact. So up he steps, needs a smooth kick -- and he's made it! It started off too far left and swerved back perfectly. And this is a bona fide Test match now!
38'Japan building through the phases just inside Irish territory. Josh van der Flier is trapped in the ruck and gives away a very obvious penalty. It's from around the same spot as the earlier miss by Tamura, so a decision to be made as it will likely be the last action of the first half. Yep, they're going to go for the posts.
35'Big moment, as Japan demolish the Irish scrum and win a penalty. Conor Murray looks aghast, he certainly wasn't expecting that. And the roar from the crowd (and the Japanese players) suggests this game has got a few twists and turns left in it yet.
35'And of course, Ireland have upped the pace. But a huge tackle by Jiwon Koo stops them in their tracks. It will be a scrum for Ireland on the edge of the Japanese 22.
34'6-12 Penalty goal - Yu Tamura , Japan
33'Credit to Japan, they're keeping at this and have forced another penalty, and another easy three points. Tamura only needs to convert from about eight yards, and does so. Ireland might need to up the pace again for the last five minutes of this first half.
31'Player substituted - Amanaki Mafi , Japan
31'Substitute on - Michael Leitch , Japan
30'Japan are putting together a good spell of possession and territory, but openings have been few and far between. This is why Ireland are among the favourites for the tournament -- not only can they strike clinically at one end, they can stifle any threat at the other end and take the pace right out of the game. They're in control here, no question.
26'Japan nearly create an opening, with another kick ahead bouncing towards the Ireland line, but it's brilliantly covered by van der Flier, who scurries back under pressure and snuffs out the trouble. Japan will have a lineout midway inside the Ireland half, but that's little consolation for them.
24'Carty's vision is a joy to behold. Another crossfield kick is perfect for Earls, who is in acres of space, and Ireland are into Japanese territory again with some ease. The move breaks down though when Rory Best, of all people, knocks on. It looked as though that went backwards, actually, but it was clumsy enough to be penalised!
22'Carty smacks the conversion over -- Ireland have this match under control.
22'3-12 Conversion - Jack Carty , Ireland
21'So let's take a look... Carty's kick forward is smart, and he even manages to get up and knock the ball backwards in the air, it goes to Kearney who slides over the line, and the officials are happy. Try Ireland, and Carty is having a blinder.
21'Japan are being stretched now by Ireland, who are swinging the ball wide at every opportunity. On this occasion, Stockdale looks as though he's clean through but superb covering defence spares Japan. Ireland are building in the Japan 22 though, and they have a penalty advantage. So Carty kicks over the top, it's knocked backwards and it looks as though Kearney might be in for a TRY! It's going to the TMO...
21'3-10 Try - Rob Kearney , Ireland
18'Tamura lines it up, he's puffing his cheeks out, trying to steady himself, knowing he can't afford another hook like the last effort. Silence descends again. Up he comes. It's a bit left again, but not too left and it's over the posts. Japan are on the board!
18'3-5 Penalty goal - Yu Tamura , Japan
15'Japan awarded a penalty for offside against CJ Stander. This one is much closer to the posts and should be an easy three points for the hosts.
15'Carty misses the conversion from out wide on the right, but he is taking full advantage of his chance in place of the rested Jonny Sexton, who applauds in the stands.
15'It had been coming -- TRY IRELAND! A period of possession leads up to a great crossfield kick by Carty, perfectly weighted, and Ringrose takes the ball out of the air like an NFL wide receiver, turns and dots down for the first try of the game. That was excellent, and Carty looks like an ace in the pack for Ireland.
14'0-5 Try - Garry Ringrose , Ireland
12'Best attack of the game so far for Ireland. Stockdale makes great ground on the left, then feeds Ringrose who tiptoes down the line before offloading to his support, but the move breaks down and eventually Ireland have to settle for another lineout.
10'Japan get a little lucky at the resulting lineout, with Furlong breaking things up but the ball bounces kindly for Horie and Japan scramble it away.
9'Penalty advantage for O'Mahony being taken out off the ball at the ruck. Ireland will have a look at the posts... no they won't! A quick kick across field by Carty towards Earls, but the ball bounces out into touch. Well, that was very aggressive from the Irish No.10, and perhaps a signal of their intent, too.
7'Japan have the ball again in midfield, but a bit of panic in the ruck means they are penalised for not releasing. Ireland breathe a sigh of relief, but they know they are in a proper match now!
6'Yu Tamura, the Japanese flyhalf, lines up the shot at goal. He's about 45 metres out, directly in front of the sticks. Silence descends on the stadium. Up he comes, hooks it wildly! Perhaps a little concerned he didn't have the range, he overhit it and snapped it wide left.
5'Penalty for Japan in Irish territory, with Ireland going in off feet at the ruck. There's going to be a look at the posts here.
4'This time around, they almost score the first try! A good grubber almost sets Matsushima through, but the bounce is unkind and Ireland's defence dots down in their in-goal area. Goodness me, what a start that would have been!
3'Japan are up to halfway and now a top break from Shota Horie, who gains 15 metres with a rumble through the Irish defence. Japan building through the phases confidently, and they've started this match far better than they did against Russia, where opening night nerves took hold and they conceded the first try.
2'Another solid lineout from Ireland, with Peter O'Mahony the target man that time. First line break comes from Ringrose, but the Japan defence swarms well and there's a super steal at the ruck by Japanese No.8 Amanaki Mafi.
1'Clean take from James Ryan at the top of the lineout, and Ireland will be able to get some early hands on the ball. A kick into the Japan 22 is booted out into touch at halfway. Rinse, repeat.
1'And we are underway! Ireland kick off, deep, and Japan immediately punt it out into touch at halfway.
1'Anthem time is complete, but goodness are there a lot of Irish voices in the crowd?! That rendition of Ireland's Call was almost as loud as anything you might hear in Dublin.
1'The teams are on their way out and the atmosphere in Shizuoka is absolutely electric! This has the makings of a memorable day...
1'Ireland, on the other hand, are heavy favourites for this match and also to knock over Russia and Samoa in their remaining matches. Joe Schmidt's side have one foot in the quarterfinals, really, but they dare not take this game lightly or an upset could be on the cards.
1'If -- and it's a big if -- Japan are able to emulate their 2015 RWC victory over South Africa by knocking over Ireland, the world's No.1-ranked team, then they would be firmly in the driving seat for a place in the quarterfinals. However, it shouldn't be forgotten that Japan won three matches four years ago and still fell short of progressing after losing to Scotland. They face the Scots in the final match of the pool phase on October 13, and the truth is that that match will likely be a decider for the knockout rounds. That is presuming Scotland take care of business against Samoa (on Monday) and then Russia.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of Japan vs. Ireland in Shizuoka.

Both teams won their opening matches in Pool A last weekend, with Japan overcoming Russia in the first match of the tournament, and Ireland easily dismissing Six Nations rivals Scotland in one of the most impressive performances of the tournament so far.
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2019 News