Rugby World Cup: Japan defeats Russia as Kotaro Matsushima shines on opening night

Japan overcame a nightmare start to its own Rugby World Cup to clinch a 30-10 victory over Russia in the tournament’s opening game Friday.

Inspired by the wonderfully fleet-footed Kotaro Matsushima, the first Japanese man to score a hat-trick at the Rugby World Cup, the host nation recovered from conceding a fourth-minute try to overcome a resilient and rugged Russian team that had threatened to ruin opening night.

Four tries, some exhilarating attacking play and the sight of Matsushima scoring three times to cement his place in Japanese rugby history thrilled the majority of the 50,000 fans packed inside Tokyo stadium.

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New Zealand players perform the Haka prior to their Rugby World Cup 2019 Group B game against South Africa.

South Africa's prop Steven Kitshoff (C) is tackled.

New Zealand's wing Sevu Reece catches the ball.

Franco Mostert of South Africa wins a line out against Kieran Read of New Zealand.

New Zealand has never lost a World Cup group game but were made to work for their 23-13 win by South Africa.

Also on Saturday, Australia beat Fiji 39-21. Adam Coleman of Australia is tackled by Josua Tuisova during their Group D game between Australia and Fiji at Sapporo Dome.

Peceli Yato of Fiji takes on Reece Hodge of Australia. At one point in the second half, Fiji led 21-12.

Australia's flanker Michael Hooper scores a first-half try for the Wallabies. "We know them very well, their players and that's what we expected," said Australia coach Michael Cheika. "Probably didn't expect to be as far behind!" he added.

Waisea Nayacalevu (R) of Fiji beats Christian Lealifano to the ball to score a second-half try. However, two tries from Australia hooker Tolu Latu in five minutes ensured the Wallabies avoided a huge upset.

Saturday's other World Cup game was a Group C match between France and Argentina at the Tokyo Stadium.

Argentina's Matías Orlando is tackled by France's Romain Ntamack.

Argentina's lock Guido Petti Pagadizabal (L) tackles France's scrumhalf Antoine Dupont. France survived a remarkable second-half comeback from Argentina to record a thrilling 23-21 win.

Matias Moroni of France fends off a tackle by Ramiro Moyano of Argentina. The Pumas had a chance to win the game but Emiliano Boffelli was unable to put over a last-minute penalty.

France's Virimi Vakatawa looks to pass the ball to a teammate. France led 20-3 at half-time.

The Rugby World Cup got underway on September 20 as host Japan played Russia in the tournament's opening match. Russia's Nikita Vavilin is tackled by Japan's Pieter Labuschagne.

Japan made a nervy start with Russia very much on top in the opening minutes.

Japan's Shota Horie, right, and Pieter Labuschagne, center, block a kick by Russia's Dmitry Perov.

The match between Japan and Russia was preceded by the tournament's opening ceremony.

Russia scored first and led 7-0, before Japan gradually grew into the match. Kotaro Matsushima of Japan touches down for a try under pressure from Vasily Artemyev of Russia, but it is disallowed.

Japan led 12-7 at half-time.

Japan's Matsushima, left, celebrates with Yutaka Nagare, center, after scoring one of his three tries.

Japan's Labuschagne, left, fends off Russia's Yury Kushnarev on his way to scoring the Brave Blossom's fourth try.

Russia, ranked 20th in the world, only qualified for the tournament in May last year after Spain, Belgium and Romania were sanctioned for fielding ineligible players.

Rugby World Cup 2019 in pictures.

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This victory had been expected, such has been the improvement in Japanese rugby, and the impact of the team’s performance at the 2015 World Cup.

Amid all the hustle and bustle of an international tournament and the hyperbole that often surrounds the country hosting it, perhaps it’s worth remembering just how far Japanese rugby has come.

Almost four years ago to this very day, Japan’s players arrived on the English south coast for a day that would transform the sport’s image across the country.

It was in Brighton that Japan produced one the most astonishing results the sport has ever witnessed, defeating the two-time champion South Africa courtesy of Karne Hesketh’s dramatic late try.

That 34-32 victory not only breathed new life into Japanese rugby, but brought with it a new generation of fans.

Before the 2015 tournament, Japan had not managed to win a single game for 24 years. Under then coach Eddie Jones, it became the first nation not to make the quarterfinal stage after winning three group matches at the competition.

A study conducted by YouGov in 2013 found that 21% of the Japanese population liked rugby – a figure that has no doubt grown somewhat with the team’s success and hosting of this tournament.

This result will also boost a tournament that, like so many large sporting events, often relies on the success of its host nation. England can attest to this after it was forced to watch the later stages of the 2015 edition on television after crashing out in the group stage.

For Japan’s players, the wait for the tournament must have felt like an eternity. Speaking ahead of the game, players confessed to nerves from the extra weight of expectation that been placed upon them.

Perhaps that explains the team’s opening to this contest against Russia, a team it had beaten in five of the six previous meetings between the teams.

Russia, ranked 20th in the world, only qualified for the tournament in May last year after Spain, Belgium and Romania were sanctioned for fielding ineligible players.

The third lowest ranked side in the tournament, its Welsh coach Lyn Jones believes Russia is a “sleeping giant of rugby.”

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Kirill Golosnitskiy of Russia dives to score his side's first try during the Rugby World Cup.

That may well be proved true, one day. But if sleeping giants could dream, then surely it would involve scoring the first try of the World Cup against the host nation.

Few had expected Russia to give Japan too many problems, so when Kirill Golosnitskiy ran through to score, easily converted by Yury Kushnarev, there were more than a few eyebrows raised.

Perversely, that setback appeared to ease Japan’s nerves. Gradually, those in the red and white began to move more freely.

It took seven minutes for Japan to score a try of their own with Matsushima touching down after Timothy Lafaele had created space with a wonderfully timed offload.

Though it missed the resulting conversion, Japan, by now playing at a level which Russia struggled to live with, was in full control.

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A young Japan fan cheers on the team before the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Japan and Russia.

Streaking clear

Where Russia had once looked sprightly and able to break in the opening half hour, its players now stumbled around the field, throwing arms at shadows as Japan danced to the beat of the Taiko drum – strong, fast and unrelenting.

As halftime grew nearer, Russia finally succumbed to the inevitable.

Having already seen a try ruled out for an infringement, Japan’s Matsushima took advantage of the extra space to run through for his second of the game. Yu Tamara’s conversion added an extra two points to give Japan a 12-7 lead at the break.

Buoyed by that try, Japan began the second half in similar fashion with Yu’s penalty extending his side’s lead to eight points.

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Pieter Labuschagne of Japan scores his team's third try.

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Two minutes later and Japan scored again, this time flanker Pieter Labuschagne grabbing the ball away from the Russians and charging for the line.

At last, daylight. Matsushima added his third try of the game with 12 minutes remaining to add some further gloss and extend Japan’s lead to 20 points.

That fourth try, which secured a bonus point, may yet prove crucial given the more strenuous tests that lie in wait for the host nation.

Ireland, the world’s No.1 ranked team, are next up a week on Saturday, with Samoa and Scotland also likely prove difficult opposition.

But then again, they also said that about South Africa. Japan will be ready.