Japan fall to Scotland

EDINBURGH (Nov. 10) – Japan’s four-match tour of Europe got off to a losing start Saturday when they fell 42-17 to Scotland at Edinburgh.

But the Brave Blossoms won plaudits for the way they tried to play attacking rugby despite the wet and cold conditions and the dreadful state of the Murrayfield turf.

Two penalties from Greig Laidlaw saw Scotland take a 6-0 lead after 21 minutes, as Japan paid the penalty for some indiscipline at the breakdown and set piece.
A good break by Kenki Fukuoka, however, reminded the crowd that Japan were dangerous, though it was Scotland who scored the opening try when Tommy Seymour crossed in the 31st minute.

Japan struck back though when another good break by Fukuoka resulted in a penalty and Ayumu Goromaru knocked over the kick to make it 11-3, which is how the teams turned around at the break.

Japan got off to the perfect start in the second half when Fukuoka scored perhaps the try of the game, the wing making the most of some quick thinking by Fumiaki Tanaka, a good break by Toshiaki Hirose and a good pass from Goromaru, who added the conversion to make it 11-10.

Scotland hit back immediately, however, with Laidlaw crossing for a try before Fukuoka scored his second try of the try, following a good break by Goromaru, who once again added the extras.

The sin binning of Ryu Koliniasi Holani in the 60th minute proved to be the turning point of the game as Scotland touched down twice through Alasdair Dickinson and Duncan Weir, with Sean Lamont closing put the scoring three minutes from time after Goromaru had been shown a yellow card.

Japan now travel to Gloucester to take on the English Premiership side on Tuesday night. They then play Russia in North Wales on Nov. 15 and Spain in Madrid on Nov. 23.