Rugby World Cup Pool B: Scotland burst Brave Blossoms bubble

Scotland got their Rugby World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Pool B with a 45-10 victory over Japan at Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium. Coral now make the Caledonian country 7/2 chances to top their group.

Five second-half tries, with Mark Bennett’s brace supplementing crosses by John Hardie, Tommy Seymour and Finn Russell, allowed Vern Cotter’s team to ultimately run out comfortable bonus point victors following a tense first 40 minutes.

Playing just four days after their famous win over South Africa proved too much for the Brave Blossoms, who went over first through Amanaki Mafi, but were behind 12-7 at the interval thanks to Grieg Laidlaw’s proficient kicking from penalties.

The Scots got their noses in front inside three minutes when pressuring an exposed Kotaro Matsushima from an early Japanese line-out. Laidlaw’s two penalties, the second awarded against Brave Blossoms captain Michael Letich, gave them a 6-0 lead.

Ayumu Goromaru’s clever kick from a Japan penalty finally gave them a chance deep in Scottish territory on a quarter of an hour. Their pack superbly drove over the line with Mafi, who was later stretchered off injured, grounding the ball.

Goromaru converted to ensure a swift 7-6 turnaround. Brave Blossoms ill-discipline, including a sin-binning for Matsushima, allowed Scotland to punish their plucky opponents with two further Laidlaw penalties.