Japan Stages Another Rugby World Cup Upset by Beating Ireland

Fukuroi, Shizuoka Pref., Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)--Japan beat Ireland 19-12 in their second match at the 2019 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, scoring another upset win over heavyweights in its World Cup history. Ireland took a lead with two tries in the Pool A match in the group stage at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi in the central Japan prefecture of Shizuoka, but three penalty goals by Yu Tamura of Canon Eagles helped Japan cut the losses to end the first half 9-12. In the second half, Japan topped Ireland thanks to a try by Kenki Fukuoka of Panasonic Wildknights. It was the Asian country's first win over Ireland, ranked 2nd in the world as of Friday compared to Japan's 9th, after its nine-straight losses to the European rugby superpower. The giant-killing followed Japan's 34-32 victory over South Africa, also a rugby heavyweight, in the previous 2015 World Cup in England. After beating Russia in their opening match on Sept. 20, Japan marked its first-ever two-win World Cup start and made a big step forward to achieve its proclaimed goal of reaching the last eight in the tournament. Roaring cheers filled the stadium over Japan's yet another historic victory, with many Japanese fans screaming and even crying for joy. "It was really the best when Japan turned the game around," Takumi Shinba, 47, a public employee who watched the Japan-Ireland match live, said with teary eyes. "Japan can keep going and I want to see the team go as far as they can." Akino Murata, a 32-year-old from Kanagawa Prefecture, said, "I'm truly moved." She said she wants to see Japan win the tournament. By contrast, many Irish supporters at the stadium could not hide their shock over Ireland's defeat to lower-ranked Japan. A 33-year-old Irish fan said he is very sad but wants to congratulate Japan because the team was great. The latest win put Japan to the top of Pool A with 9 points, ahead of Ireland with 6 points. Japan will take on Samoa at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Oct. 5 and Scotland at International Stadium Yokohama in the city of Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on Oct. 13. END