SHIZUOKA, 28 Sep - Japan were sensational - no other word will do - in winning an all-time classic match. Ireland’s Rugby World Cup ambitions suffered a shattering blow when they could not withstand a ferocious onslaught from the hosts in a quite magnificent contest at Shizuoka Stadium.
Japan produced a performance even more epic than their historic victory over South Africa in the Miracle of Brighton at RWC 2015. They dominated the second half and could have won by more than the seven-point margin.
Joe Schmidt’s team, so confident and accurate against Scotland in their opening match, were pushed to their absolute limits and then beyond by a Japan team who were cheered rapturously throughout, with chants of “Nippon! Nippon!” ringing out time and again.
Ireland had won the previous six encounters between the sides by more than 20 points and bookmakers' analysts did not see Japan getting any closer this time, rating them 9-1 underdogs. How badly wrong they were.
