Japan won the opening game of the Rugby World Cup. In Tokyo, the hosts beat the Russian team 30:10 (12: 7). Especially Kotaro Matsushima provided with a hat-trick for the in the end clear success. A fourth attempt Matsushima was denied by the video evidence.
Japan started nervously in the first World Cup match on the Asian continent and fell behind early. Russia, who had gone into the match as an outsider, did not even try to carry the ball across the field. With long and high shots, they speculated on Japanese error - with success. Kirill Golosnitskiy took the lead after just four minutes. It was the fastest attempt in an opening game in World Cup history.
Matsushima, Matsushima, Matsushima
Only after ten minutes did Japan's players lose their nervousness, with the great help of the outstanding Matsushima. His first attempt (11th minute), he let only a short time later supposedly follow a second. He dropped the ball in the field with one hand, but lost control. The referees did not give the try.
Matsushima's second try (38) added to the second half before Pieter Labuschagne scored the first leg after the break (46 '). Even in the second half, the Russians did not manage to correct their own mistakes and stop Matsushima. The goalkeeper once again ran away from his Russian counterparts and scored his third try (68 '). Rikiya Matsuda made the conversion for the final score.