Summary

  • Japan beat Russia 30-10 in opening match of 2019 World Cup

  • Hosts seal bonus point with four tries at sold-out Tokyo Stadium

  • Japan wing Kotaro Matsushima scores hat-trick

  • Flanker Pieter Labuschagne runs clear for Japan's other try

  • Russia's Kirill Golosnitskiy notched tournament's first try in fifth minute

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

  1. Kick-off

    Japan 12-7 Russia

    Here we go then. Jamie Joseph and Lyn Jones are back in their coaching crows nests and we are ready to go on the second half.

  2. HT: Japan 12-7 Russia

    German Davydov is the danger man for the Russians.

    The wing has a team-high 38m with ball in hand and none of his team-mates have beaten more defenders.

  3. HT: Japan 12-7 Russia

    Timothy LafaeleReuters

    The main man for the hosts in possession is centre Timothy Lafaele.

    He set up the first try for the hosts with an outrageous offload off the floor and is Japan's leading metre-maker with 53m and has the joint team-high number of carries with eight.

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    Dan Carter or Jonny Wilkinson? Jonah Lomu or Shane Williams? John Eales or Martin Johnson? Gavin Hastings or Jason Robinson?

    There are no easy choices in our all-time World Cup XV selector. But there are no shortage of stellar options either.

    You can put together your XV representing the greatest of the great to do it on the biggest stage here.

    All time WC XVGetty Images

  5. 'Japan should cruise the second half'

    Japan 12-7 Russia

    Matt Dawson
    England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I think nerves had something to do with Japan's start. But after 20 minutes they got themselves into a bit more of a routine.

    It helps that Russia have emptied the tank and Japan should cruise the second half.

  6. Half-time

    Japan 12-7 Russia

    A gong to signify 40 minutes has elapsed and we are on the last play.

    Like it.

    And that is the half.

  7. 'More like it'

    Japan 12-7 Russia

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That is more like it from Japan. It's great attacking shape as they move the ball left and right and when they get the chance to move the ball on the outside, Kotaro Matsushima has bags of pace.

    It has been coming but they have had to execute seven or eight phases to get outside the Russian defence.

  8. try

    Converted try - Japan 12-7 Russia

    Kotaro Matsushima (con Tamura)

    Matsushima of JapanGetty Images

    This time he is over for a second try!

    Japan work the phases and Kotaro Matsushima scampers in after a borderline forward offload from Ryoto Nakamura.

    Nigel Owens is allowing it to stand though and Yu Tamura lands the extras.

  9. Japan 5-7 Russia

    A key passage of play here. Japan probing for holes, 10 metres out. Russia fighting back with flanker Tagir Gadzhiev getting in a telling tackle...

  10. Japan 5-7 Russia

    Can Japan land a punch before the bell and move ahead before half-time?

    There have a driving maul with a bit of go-forward in the Russia 22m...

  11. Japan 5-7 Russia

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Tokyo Stadium

    Thirty-five minutes in and I've finally worked out what the Japan fans are chanting. It's 'Japan' in Japanese followed by three quick claps.

    They're staying optimistic after that disallowed try.

  12. 'Daylight'

    Japan 5-7 Russia

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It's brilliant play by Japan. It's a lovely lobbed ball over the top, the winger gathered and then he had five metres to go.

    I think there is just a bit of daylight between his hand and the ball. It's great cover from the Russian full-back.

  13. No try

    Japan 5-7 Russia

    Referee Nigel OwensReuters

    How to lose friends and alienate people (Japanese edition) by Nigel Owens.

    His, entirely correct, decision to chalk off the score is greeted with a howl of jeers.

    Props to Russia full-back Vasily Artemyev as well because his tackle did just enough to disrupt Kotaro Matsushima.

  14. Try review

    Japan 5-7 Russia

    On replay, this looks very close. Kotaro Matsushima has minimal control if any over the ball as he brings it down.

  15. Try review

    Japan 5-7 Russia

    Kotaro MatsushimaReuters

    Kotaro Matsushima looks like he has got over with space to spare for Japan, but we are going upstairs just to check...

  16. Japan 5-7 Russia

    That was ambitious from Russia fly-half Yury Kushnarev. And the idea was good.

    But he has not got the skills to execute this time. His crossfield kick for German Davydov is over-cooked and out of play.

  17. Get Involved

    #bbcrugby and 81111 on text

    Simon on Twitter: Japan are just playing brainless rugby. They don't seem to want to keep the ball. Silly flick passes leading to mistakes or terrible kicking when in possession.

  18. 'Hands on knees'

    Japan 5-7 Russia

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There are nine Russian players with their hands on their knees. They have certainly put everything into this opening 31 minutes and they will be looking forward to a break at half-time.

  19. Japan 5-7 Russia

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Tokyo Stadium

    Russia might be out on their feet for the final 50 minutes if current scenes are anything to go by.

    There's a break in play and a lot of them are bent over with their hands on their knees.

  20. Japan 5-7 Russia

    Japan centre Timothy Lafaele knocks on in contact, but that was better from the hosts as they run from deep and Yu Tamura and Lafaele combine well to make some big gains.

    Perhaps they are being a little too eager with the offloads. Keep hold of the ball, play through another phases and the space will still be there as the Russian defence tires towards the end of the half.