Scotland 32 Japan 11

Late tries flatter Scotland's scoreline

What a star of a Rugby World Cup match!  With a quarter of an hour to go the small, infinitely brave Japanese were within a score of the big, unimpressive Scots.  Then the Scots got three tries to win 32-11 and gain a bonus point.  The Japanese left the Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville with no points but with heaps and heaps of honour.  The Scots scored more points, the Japanese more credit.

Before the match Mark Ella, who had been helping Japan, said that they would be competitive.  They were more competitive than the final score suggests.

The difference in physical size between the two teams, most noticeably amongst the backs oddly enough, was almost frightening but the size of the Japanese hearts did much to compensate as they flew at Scottish ankles in defence and did all things with eager resolution.

Scotland led 15-6 at half-time, which did them little credit as they were content to play a kick and maul game, often with little regard for the niceties of angles and obstruction.  This was surprising after the nature of their first try which came after more than a dozen phases and ended leaving right-wing Chris Paterson with an easy trot in on the left.  He converted and Scotland led an comfortable 7-0 after five minutes.

But the Japanese are honourable and brave, and 10 minutes later points' machine Keiji Hirose kicked a penalty and made it 7-3.

Scotland tapped a second free-kick at a scrum, Simon Taylor drove and Scott Grimes took a popped pass to run 25 metres to score in the corner -- 12-3 after 19 minutes.  And four minutes later Hirose goaled another penalty to make it 12-6.

Japan had three wonderful breaks in this half.

First No.8 Takeomi Ito slashed through.  Then centre Yukio Motoki raced through and only a cover tackle by Kenny Logan from the right-wing bundled Hirotoki Onozawa out near the corner-flag.  For the third, right-wing Daisuke Ohata broke through and was close till Ben Hinshelwood blocked him.

The Scots also had their golden opportunity when Chris Paterson broke but he opted to go on a solo meander and a chance went begging.

In the second half the Scots had the wind at their backs and kicked, perhaps reluctant to run at the men who snapped at their ankles, perhaps believing that time and physicality would wear the Japanese down.

Apart from a great run by Jason White the Sots achieved little for the first 20 minutes of the second half while the Japanese delighted the world with a try.  Andy Miller, on for Hirose, broke.  The Japanese got into Scottish territory where they won a line-out.  A clever bit of running gave flier Onozawa an overlap and over he went in the corner.  Surprisingly the matter was referred to the Television Match Official, who took little time in deciding, unlike his other two calls, one of which went against Scotland and one of which went for them.

The one against came as Kenny Logan, who had a sterile match, footed through and diving sought to gather the ball as Ohata made things awkward.  He was judged to have knocked the ball on.

The second was just before the end when Simon Danielli, on for Paterson, footed through, gathered and went over.  That took a lot or deciding as he did not have the ball in hand when he went over.

But it was Paterson, who scored the try that won the match.  Simon Taylor broke off a wobbly Scottish scrum and ran wide to the tight, drawing three defenders with him, sending an inside pass to Paterson who got it in a juggle and had a clear run for the line.

Paterson, whose kicking was wonky, missed and the score was 20-11.  It did not budge again till the Scots actually spread the ball instead of going in for one-at-a-time bashing against men who did not yield.  The ball came wide to Taylor who powered over in Onozawa's tackle.

Then just before the end Danielli came on, footed the ball and scored.  Townsend converted.

Still the Japanese came back with enthusiasm but no more points.

Man of the match:  There were several candidates amongst the losers -- both wings Ohata and Onozawa and both centres Reuben Parkinson and Yukio Motoki, but in the end it was probably a contest between the two No.8s -- Takeomi Ito of Japan, who never stopped being busy and effective and won lots of line-out ball for the Japanese where they were surprisingly and effectively clever, and tall Simon Taylor, our choice as the most imposing player on the field.

Moment of the match:  Hirotoki Onozawa's try.  It was possibly the sweetest moment of the 2003 Rugby World Cup so far.

Villain of the match:  Nobody.  There was not even remotely a candidate in this match of excellent manners.

The scorers:

For Scotland:
Tries:  Paterson 2, Grimes, Taylor, Danielli
Cons:  Paterson, Townsend
Pen:  Paterson

For Japan:
Try:  Onozawa
Pens:  Hirose 2

The teams:

Scotland:  15 Ben Hinshelwood, 14 Chris Paterson (Simon Danielli, 78), 13 Andy Craig, 12 James McLaren, 11 Kenny Logan, 10 Gordon Ross (Gregor Townsend, 65), 9 Bryan Redpath (captain), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Jon Petrie (Martin Leslie, 56), 6 Jason White, 5 Stuart Grimes, 4 Scott Murray (Ross Beattie, 65), 3 Bruce Douglas (Gavin Kerr, 72), 2 Rob Russell, 1 Tom Smith.
Unused replacements:  16 Gordon Bulloch, 20 Mike Blair.

Japan:  15 Tsutomu Matsuda, 14 Daisuke Ohata, 13 Reuben Parkinson, 12 Yukio Motoki, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Keiji Hirose (Andrew Miller, 50), 9 Takashi Tauji (Yuji Sonoda, 50), 8 Takeomi Ito, 7 Takuro Miuchi (captain), 6 Naoya Okubo, 5 Adam Parker, 4 Hajimo Kiso, 3 Masahiko Toyoyama, 2 Masao Amino (Masaaki Sakata, 41), 1 Shin Hasegawa.
Unused replacements:  16 Masahito Yamamoto, 18 Hiroyuki Tanuma, 19 Yasunori Watanabe, 22 Toru Kurihara.