Rugby World Cup 2019: Japan vs Russia result and latest updates after opening fixture in Tokyo
Follow live updates from Tokyo as the 2019 Rugby World Cup gets underway in Japan
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Your support makes all the difference.Japan launched Asia's first Rugby World Cup with a victory the host nation craved as they beat Russia 30-10 at Tokyo Stadium.
Four years after causing the World Cup's biggest shock by beating South Africa, Japan again took centre stage, but they were made to work hard by an unheralded Russian outfit. Russia, making a first appearance on rugby union's global stage since 2011, led for most of the first half following wing Kirill Golosnitskiy's early try, but hat-trick hero Kotaro Matsushima sparked Japan into life.
The elusive wing claimed a try double before the break, then flanker Lappies Labuschagne dealt Russia a major blow by collecting an opportunist touchdown early in the second half.
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Switching lanes for a moment, this is a particularly interesting breakdown of what it takes to prepare a rugby team for an event like the World Cup in 2019, from Sam Peters:
Right, hello all! After much back and forth, I'm finally in place here at the Tokyo Stadium. We've got 15 minutes until the opening ceremony gets underway and already the crowd have got a Mexican wave going. Not too sure what to make of that... safe to say all those packed in here are excited for what's to come.
We’ve already been treated to a performance from the Blue Impulse, Japan’s equivalent of the Red Arrows. Given I’ve been trapped inside an accreditation centre for the past hour or so, I unfortunately missed such a spectacle. I’m told it didn’t last particularly long…
Not long to go now, folks. The atmosphere is slowly building as the Chemical Brothers' 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' blasts through the speakers. Japanese music at its finest!
Oo, we've got movement down below. To give you a picture of what I'm looking at, a great white canvas, with a black frame, is covering the majority of the pitch while groups of people dressed in black and red take up their position around the edges. Let's see what they've got to offer.
And we're off! The 2019 Rugby World Cup is officially under way!
A traditional start, as to be expected A group of performers clad in white have taken to the centre of the canvas and are currently delivering what looks to be an an ancient ritual as drums bang ominously in the background.
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