Rugby Live

Finished Lyon

Australia 91 - Japan 3

Australia

Japan

  1. Aussies overpower Japan

    Aussies overpower Japan

    Twice champions Australia showed they are starting to rediscover their best form at the perfect time by thrashing Japan 91-3 in their opening World Cup Pool B match on Saturday. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Australia
    • Japan
    • 80' Ref Lewis blows full-time. A brave effort from the Japanese but ultimately they ran out of steam against the twice World Champions. A good run out for the Wallabies but they will know there are far tougher assignments ahead.
    • 80' Two more points from Giteau takes them past the 90-point mark. 91-3.
    • 80' One last play from the Aussies as Frier goes over for their 13th try! 89-3.
    • 77' Giteau adds another two points. 84-3.
    • 76' Barnes gets his second try after lovely break from Mitchell and then Giteau. 82-3.
    • 72' Giteau takes over kicking duties from Mortlock and adds another two points. 77-3.
    • 72' Latham runs the ball deep out of his own half, chips ahead and out-sprints the Japan cover for another Australia try! 75-3
    • 70' Japan have penalty in Wallabies 22m area and take a tap instead of going for goal. They earn a cheer from the crowd but fail to break down the Aussie defence.
    • 67' Mortlock on fine kicking form puts another two points on the board. 70-3.
    • 66' Now its prop Dunning's turn to burst clear after Smith again forces a turnover. Dunning finds Giteau who puts Mitchell clear with a simple off load for another try - Australia's 10th of the match. 68-3.
    • 64' Japan centre Oto has certainly not given up as he puts in a fine tackle on the relentless Elsom to force a knock on.
    • 62' Thumping tackle from Smith, who gets to his feet, wins the ball and bursts free to go over for another Wallabies try. Classic openside play from Smith. 63-3!
    • 61' Two more points for Mortlock.
    • 60' Substitute Drew Mitchell's turn now to go over as the flood gates open. 56-3! All one way traffic now!
    • 59' Mortlock makes the kick look easy as he moves Aussies over the half-century mark. 51-3.
    • 57' And within minutes Barnes is on the scoreboard. Gregan makes a sniping break from another Elsom burst and Barnes on hand to go over in the corner. Great start for the youngest member of the Wallabies squad! Australia 49-3.
    • 54' Berrick Barnes on for Larkham for what is his international debut.
    • 52' Mortlock again on target to make it 44-3.
    • 51' It's all Australia now and Japan being stretched in all areas of the game. Wallabies keeping the ball alive well and Latham, who started the move from deep, finally burrows over for their sixth try on what is his 32nd birthday!42-3 Australia.
    • 48' Mortlock slots the conversion to extend Wallabies lead to 37-3.
    • 46' Superb take of Kitigawa's high ball by Latham helps set up break out of defence and the ball is fed to Ashley-Cooper by Larkham on the right wing and he goes over to make it 35-3.
    • 44' Japan still wanting to play and not scared to spread the ball. Onozawa in particular is looking lively.
    • 41' Mortlock makes it 30-3 with simple conversion.
    • 40' The answer is a categoric NO! as Elsom again bursts through the Japan defence and goes over for his third try. Good speed from the big flanker as Australia move 28-3 ahead.
    • 41' Wallabies get us underway for the second half. Can Japan continue their resistance or will it finally crack under the constant pressure?
    • 40' Ref blows for the end of the first half and it has been a spirited display by the Japanese. Wallabies clearly on top but they are not quite as slick as coach John Connolly would like them to be. Expect more from them in the second half.
    • 40' Elsom again crashes through and finds Gregan, who chips for the corner - although Japan make a hash of clearing the ball Latham knocks on.
    • 37' Japan win penalty when ref blows for Aussies holding back wing Onozawa, and Ono kicks the penalty to get Japan on the scoreboard. 23-3.
    • 36' Scrums still not going down well and looks like ref Lewis might have to resort to a yellow card if the props don't co-operate!
    • 35' Good rush defence from Japan brings another Australia attack to an end. But things are looking a little ominous for the Asians - is it just a matter of time before the flood gates open?
    • 31' Larkham glides through the Japan midfield but takes the wrong option by passing inside to Latham, but the ball eventually reaches the left wing where Elsom is loitering - the flanker touches down for his second try of the afternoon and his fourth for Australia. 23-0 to the Wallabies.
    • 27' Referee Alan Lewis again not happy with the Aussies' front row and awards another penalty to Japan, who kick for touch and win their line-out before losing the ball.
    • 25' Mortlock makes it 18-0.
    • 23' Mortlock crashes through Japan defense, feeds Larkham who finds Elsom coming at speed for Australia's second try. 16-0 Australia.
    • 22' Australia penalised for pushing too soon in a scrum and Yatomi tries to take a quick tap but referee calls him back! Why?
    • 18' Wallabies pack continues to rumble towards the Japan line and lock Sharpe touches down for their opening try. 11-0 Australia.
    • 17' Japan giving away too many penalties and Larkham kicks Australia into their opponents' 22m area for a line-out which they win comfortably.
    • 16' Mortlock adds another three points and puts the Wallabies 6-0 ahead.
    • 15' Strong driving by the Wallabies and Japan give way penalty under the constant pressure for handling in a ruck.
    • 13' Scrum-half Yatomi puts up a huge kick from base of a ruck but Latham takes it well and moves the Aussies up to close to the half-way line.
    • 12' Japan still tackling for all their worth but unable to get hold of the ball! Latham kicks Australia deep into Japan's half.
    • 10' Mortlock strikes the ball well and gives the Wallabies a 3-0 lead.
    • 9' Drive from Palu clearly highlights difference in power between the two sides. Australia win penalty when Sasaki penalised for not rolling away.
    • 7' Penalty to Japan after Gregan takes offence at one of the Japanese locks winning the ball in a ruck! Well played Japan!
    • 4' Larkham kicks into the corner for Tuqiri but Japan defence holds firm abnd breaks from their own line. Japan coach John Kirwan has clearly told his players to give it a go. They've nothing to lose after all.
    • 2' Australia immediately on the offense but Japan produce a thumping tackle in midfield to halt the attack and force a scrum down.
    • 1' Japan gets us underway and the Wallabies take the restart well and kick into their opponents half.
    • - Japan will be full of heart but one very much suspects the Brave Blossoms will find it very hard going against the Wallabies, who have put out a near full-strength side. The Aussies have the best record of all sides at the World Cup while Japan have just one victory to their name.
    • - Lovely conditions in Lyon and all set for the Australians to show their running game and lay down a marker in their opening game of the World Cup.

  • Summary

    Australia versus Japan
    Sharpe 19’, Elsom 24’, 31’, 42’, Ashley-Cooper 47’, Latham 53’, 72’, Barnes 57’, 75’, Mitchell 59’, 67’, Smith 62’, Freier 80’ Tries  
    Mortlock 24’, 42’, 47’, 53’, 58’, 60’, 68’, Giteau 72’, 76’, 80’ Conversions  
    Mortlock 10’, 16’ Penalties Ono 38’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Alan Lewis

  • Australia

    Manager: John Conolly

    On the Field

    • Dunning Substitution In (71′)
    • Moore Substitution Out (68′)
    • Baxter Substitution Out (71′)
    • Sharpe Try Substitution Out (51′)
    • Vickerman
    • Elsom Tries×3
    • Smith Try
    • Palu
    • Gregan
    • Larkham
    • Tuqiri
    • Giteau
    • Mortlock Substitution Out (68′)
    • Ashley-Cooper Try
    • Latham Tries×2

    Subs

    • Freier Substitution In (68′) Try
    • Hoiles
    • Mitchell Tries×2
    • McMeniman Substitution In (51′)
    • Gerrard Substitution In (68′)
    • Sheperdson Substitution In (51′)
    • Barnes Tries×2

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Japan

    Manager: John Kirwan

    On the Field

    • Yamamoto
    • Inokushi
    • Yamamura
    • Kumagai
    • Vatuvei
    • Watanabe
    • Sasaki Substitution Out (49′)
    • Kiso
    • Yatomi
    • Ono
    • Onozawa
    • Oto
    • Taira
    • Kitagawa
    • Kusumi

    Subs

    • Ono
    • Soma
    • Matsubara
    • Makiri Substitution In (49′)
    • Yoshida
    • Imamura
    • Endo

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None