The Miracle of Brighton has a sequel. Japan shook up the Rugby World Cup with another seismic result in beating Ireland 19-12 yesterday.
Finding Ireland vulnerable on the edges through their zippy backs and employing suffocating line speed that checked the Ireland attack, Japan pulled off what some many consider an even bigger surprise than their famed defeat of South Africa at the 2015 World Cup in Brighton, England, one of sport’s great upsets.
Ireland, unlike the Springboks seemed to do four years ago, were not taking the hosts lightly. They knew exactly what was coming and a team who were ranked No. 1 just a week ago, a team who averaged 48 points against Japan, were overcome and kept scoreless in the second half.
Photo: AP
Ireland led 12-3 after the first quarter and looked to be rolling ominously, but Japan, emboldened by their raucous home fans, found Ireland weak on the wings and began to pin them back in their own half, earning pressure penalties that flyhalf Yu Tamura slotted.
Japan trailed only 12-9 at half-time, which came as a relief to Ireland, who typically finish strong, but the unrelenting tackling from Japan in the second half rattled them. When winger Kenki Fukuoka, a late addition to the reserves after recovering from a calf muscle injury, crossed in the 59th minute, the try and Japan’s first lead in the match was richly deserved.
Tamura converted and added a penalty, and minutes later fulltime was greeted by a roar that was probably heard 180km away in the capital, Tokyo.
Photo: AFP
Ireland’s confidence was high coming off an emphatic 27-3 win over Scotland in Yokohama, a far more impressive opener than Japan getting past Russia 30-10 nervously on opening night and they started brilliantly.
Flyhalf Jack Carty, in place for the injured Jonathan Sexton and making his second career start, was directing Ireland with a veteran’s confidence.
His cross-kick to Garry Ringrose was pinpoint for the center to catch and score their first try. Not long after that, Carty’s chip was tapped back by Ringrose over his shorter opposite Ryoto Nakamura for fullback Rob Kearney to catch and dive to the tryline.
After 21 minutes, Ireland led 12-3, but from then on were almost entirely confined to their own half.
No. 8 Amanaki Mafi came out of a ruck clutching his side and was replaced by regular captain Mitchel Leitch, who was supposed to be rested, but led his side in hurling himself at green jerseys and cutting them down with increasing regularity.
Japan continued to probe the outsides and pushed Ireland off their own scrum ball for the reward of two more Tamura penalty kicks, and a near try in injury time. Hooker Shota Horie, who had already made 10 carries, seven tackles, one turnover and one line-out steal in the half, kicked ahead for Lomano Lemeki, but the ball just beat him into touch.
Ireland were only three points up, but had won 28 matches in a row over more than three years when they led at halftime.
However, halftime was only a brief respite.
Japan stayed on attack, preying on turnovers and fumbles and bumbles.
Japan’s try came from an error. From a scrum in their own 22, Chris Farrell ran into C.J. Stander and gave scrum ball to Japan. The home side flew into contact, set up rucks, and a miss-pass from Nakamura flicked on by Timothy Lafaele found Fukuoka on the outside to score.
Ireland had a response and went through the phases into the Japan 22, but Van der Flier was caught holding on too long and Conor Murray knocked on to end another surge.
Ireland gave away an offside penalty at the other end, Tamura’s boot extended Japan’s lead, and they had to wait only seven more minutes for lightning to strike twice.
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
RSS