Summary

  • Rugby World Cup debutants Chile took lead with Rodrigo Fernandez try inside six minutes

  • Michael Leitch's second-half score secured try bonus point for Japan

  • England, Argentina and Samoa alongside Japan and Chile in Pool D

  1. Did you know?published at 11:48 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    Chile fans in the standImage source, Getty Images
    • Chile are the 26th different team to play at a World Cup.
    • This will be the first time three South American teams have featured at the same World Cup (also Argentina and Uruguay).
    • Chile have not won a match since their victory over the United States that secured their qualification.
  2. Four sets of brothers in Chile squadpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    One particular theme instilled by Chile is a sense of "brotherhood".

    They have four sets of brothers in their 33-man squad, with two - Alfonso and Diego Escobar, and Clemente and Domingo Saavedra - named in the starting line-up to face Japan today.

    "First and foremost, we are a group of friends," said full-back Inaki Ayarza.

    "Most of us have known each other since we were very young and many play in the same team. I think that's our strength - unity."

  3. From Santiago to Paris - via Doncasterpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12.00 BST)

    Most of the Chile squad will be unfamiliar to a British audience. Of the 33 players, 30 play their rugby for Selknam, a club in the capital city of Chile, Santiago.

    An exception is captain Martin Sigren, who became the first player from the country to play professional rugby in England when he signed for Doncaster Knights in the second-tier Championship last year.

    "He came to our attention through an agent who works for a lot of the guys from emerging nations," Doncaster Knights head coach Steve Boden told BBC Sport.

    "Before this World Cup he mentioned he wanted to be in the best position possible to play in the tournament and we could give him that preparation.

    "He is a smart guy and quite level-headed, as much off the field. He understands you can be the best rugby player in the world but the team environment and culture, that is more important than ability."

    You can read more about Sigren in our feature here.

    Martin SigrenImage source, Getty Images
  4. Listen livepublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Once play begins, head to the top of this page and click on the audio icon to listen to live BBC radio commentary of this match.

    Conor McNamara and Tulsen Tollett will be your commentary team.

  5. Can Japan surprise again?published at 11:43 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12.00 BST)

    In 2015, Japan caused arguably the greatest upset in Rugby World Cup history by beating South Africa in Brighton.

    In 2019, they made a mockery of all fears that they would struggle as hosts by beating Ireland and Scotland on their way to topping their pool and reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

    In 2023, expectations are much lower after an below-par build-up to this competition, including losses against Samoa and Fiji and an unconvincing win over Tonga in July.

    That is Japan's only win in their past 10 internationals, and they have fallen to 14th in the world rankings.

    But the Brave Blossoms are clear favourites today, and they will look to pick up five points and momentum from this game to carry into games against England, Argentina and Samoa in Pool D - where they will likely need at least two wins from three in order to repeat their heroics from four years ago.

    Japan fansImage source, Getty Images
  6. Chile? At a Rugby World Cup?published at 11:42 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    Those of you who follow rugby more casually and are dipping in for the World Cup may be shocked to see Chile - hardly a major name in the global sport - competing at this tournament.

    Chile have reached the Rugby World Cup for the first time in their history. They earned their spot when they beat the United States 52-51 in a two-legged qualification play-off in July 2022.

    With the game finely poised, Chile wing Santiago Videla struck a 75th-minute penalty to make history for the South American nation.

    Japan head coach Jamie Joseph said this game against the Brave Blossoms is "Chile's World Cup final". It is certainly a historic moment for the country, and a proud moment for the players.

    Chile fansImage source, Getty Images
  7. Listen to Rugby Union Dailypublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Rugby Union Daily podcast banner

    You can hear more analysis of England's opening win, as well as analysis of the other games on Saturday including Ireland's crushing victory over Romania, in the latest episode of the Rugby Union Daily podcast on BBC Sounds.

    Now, let's turn our attention to Japan and Chile...

  8. Lawes captain over Farrell?published at 11:38 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Saturday result: England 27-10 Argentina

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes sit next to each other in a team photoImage source, Getty Images

    Matt Dawson has called for Courtney Lawes to remain as captain over Owen Farrell once he returns for his suspension: "I think the move for Steve Borthwick right now is Courtney Lawes as captain for the rest of the tournament.

    "I think that is the call because Owen Farrell does not get into that team, Farrell is not any better than those players on the pitch.

    "So why would you put yourself under the pressure to say I have to play him?

    "There will be a point where Borthwick has to make that choice."

    Listen to the Rugby Union Daily podcast here.

  9. 'Everyone more confident and comfortable'published at 11:36 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Saturday result: England 27-10 Argentina

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Former England winger Chris Ashton on England's performance on the Rugby Union Daily podcast: "We are going to have add that edge to us, we need a spark, we need something to just give us life and maybe a George Ford drop-goal is what we are after.

    "Everyone is a bit more confident and everyone is a bit more comfortable now as we have beaten a good team.

    "There is a big difference from being under pressure and then applying the pressure with 14 men.

    "From the minute they had 14 men they just kept putting the pressure on, whether that was a Ford drop-goal, in defence getting off the line, getting over the ball and then slowing every ball down."

    Listen to the Rugby Union Daily podcast here.

  10. 'It ignited a different kind of creativity'published at 11:34 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Saturday result: England 27-10 Argentina

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    George Ford shouting to a team-mate during the gameImage source, Getty Images

    Ex-England scrum-half Matt Dawson reflects on England's emphatic opening win against Argentina on the Rugby Union Daily podcast:

    "I liked that underdog spirit. I wouldn’t necessarily say from the off because at the beginning, the first three minutes was a little bit not sure what was going off.

    "[Tom] Curry got sent off and England zoned into this backs against the wall, it was like it ignited a different kind of creativity on how to win the game, headed up by George Ford."

    Listen to the Rugby Union Daily podcast here.

  11. Postpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Before we get going with today's action, let's take a look back at the other game in Pool D which took place on Saturday.

    England relied on the boot of George Ford to defeat Argentina 27-10 - here's what our experts had to say...

  12. TEAM NEWS - Japan captain Himeno ruled outpublished at 11:31 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    Japan changing room all setupImage source, Getty Images

    A late change to the Japan team today, with captain Kazuki Himeno ruled out because of injury.

    Jack Cornelsen moves from the second row to number eight and lock Amanaki Saumaki comes into the team.

    Japan XV: Semisi Masirewa; Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Jone Naikabula; Rikiya Matsuda, Yutaka Nagare; Keita Inagaki, Atsushi Sakate, Jiwon Gu, Amanaki Saumaki, Amato Fakatava, Michael Leitch, Kanji Shimokawa, Jack Cornelsen.

    Replacements: Shota Horie, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Shota Fukui, Naoto Saito, Tomoki Osada, Lomano Lemeki.

    Chile XV: Inaki Ayarza; Santiago Videla, Domingo Saavedra, Matias Garafulic, Franco Velarde; Rodrigo Fernandez, Marcelo Torrealba; Javier Carrasco, Diego Escobar, Matias Dittus, Clemente Saavedra, Javier Eissmann, Martin Sigren, Raimundo Martinez, Alfonso Escobar.

    Replacements: Augusto Bohme, Salvador Lues, Inaki Gurruchaga, Pablo Huete, Santiago Pedrero, Ignacio Silva, Lukas Carvallo, Jose Ignacio Larenas.

    Chile changing room setup before the arrival of playersImage source, Getty Images
  13. Sunday's schedulepublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Here's what is planned for the first Sunday of the Rugby World Cup. It's absolutely packed...

    All kick-off times BST

    • Japan v Chile (Pool D, 12:00)
    • South Africa v Scotland (Pool B, 16:45)
    • Wales v Fiji (Pool C, 20:00)

    You can listen to radio commentary and follow live text coverage of all four matches on the BBC Sport website and app.

  14. Good morning!published at 11:29 British Summer Time 10 September 2023

    Japan v Chile (12:00 BST)

    Last night, we saw the despair of rugby...

    Tom CurryImage source, Getty Images

    ...but also the joy...

    George FordImage source, Getty Images

    ...and there's plenty more to come.

    Welcome to our coverage of day three of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, starting with Japan taking on debutants Chile in Pool D.