JPN
No.Name
15Ryohei Yamanaka, -
14Kotaro Matsushima, -
13Timothy Lafaele, -
12Ryoto Nakamura, -
11Kenki Fukuoka, -
10Yu Tamura, -
9Yutaka Nagare, -
1Keita Inagaki, -
2Shota Horie, -
3Jiwon Gu, -
4Luke Thompson, -
5James Moore, -
6Michael Leitch, -
7Pieter Labuschagne, -
8Kazuki Himeno, -
Replacements
16Atsushi Sakate, -
17Isileli Nakajima, -
18Asaeli Ai Valu, -
19Wimpie van der Walt, -
20Amanaki Mafi, -
21Fumiaki Tanaka, -
22Rikiya Matsuda, -
23Lomano Lemeki, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium
11:15 AM, October 20, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'3-26 End of second half
80'That's all from us! We'll be back for the semifinals -- England vs. New Zealand, and Wales vs. South Africa. Until then!
80'South Africa will almost certainly be favourites against Wales next week. The Springboks were wasteful in the first half today, but ruthless in the final 40 minutes. Wales, meanwhile, would likely have exited the tournament today if it weren't for Vahaamahina's deserved red card, which cost France a place in the final four.
80'Japan failed to replicate their legendary win over South Africa at the last World Cup, but their run at this year's tournament will live even longer in the memory than that game four years ago. Ireland and Scotland both fell to the hosts' fearless rugby, sharp handling and swift attacks. South Africa -- two-time champions -- proved a foe too great this time around, but Japan's reputation is greatly enhanced as a result of their efforts this month.
80'And that is it. Japan's dream run into their first ever World Cup quarterfinal -- the first for any Asian side -- has come to an end. The hosts put in a fearless performance in the first half, but South Africa's power and superiority shone through in the end as they pulled well clear in the second half. The Springboks secure their place in the final four with a 26-3 win, and a semifinal against Wales is next for Rassie Erasmus' men.
78'Confirmation that De Klerk is man of the match. A very calm, measured, clever performance from the Springbok in Tokyo today.
74'De Klerk comes off. The South African has surely been man of the match today.
74'Substitute on - Herschel Jantjies , South Africa
74'Player substituted - Faf de Klerk , South Africa
72'Player substituted - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
72'Substitute on - Frans Steyn , South Africa
72'Substitute on - Atsushi Sakate , Japan
72'Player substituted - Shota Horie , Japan
72'Player substituted - Yutaka Nagare , Japan
72'Substitute on - Fumiaki Tanaka , Japan
70'South Africa are showing no mercy, TRY for Mapimpi! Pollard darts through the middle, shifts the ball to Le Roux on his left, and then it ends up with Mapimpi, who records his second try of the day. Pollard misses the conversion, but that won't matter with the score at 26-3.
70'3-26 Try - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
69'It's a fifth lost lineout for Japan.
68'Penalty to Japan and they opt for a lineout near the try line.
68'Player substituted - Duane Vermeulen , South Africa
68'Substitute on - Francois Louw , South Africa
68'Player substituted - Isileli Nakajima , Japan
68'Substitute on - Keita Inagaki , Japan
67'After the successful conversion by Pollard the score is 21-3 to the Springboks. Japan have had an incredible tournament and they had a good first half today, but the hosts' historic run is petering out now.
67'Player substituted - Lood de Jager , South Africa
67'Substitute on - Franco Mostert , South Africa
66'3-21 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
66'3-19 Try - Faf de Klerk , South Africa
65'Game over. South Africa make so many metres from the scrum -- they just keep creeping forward and Japan have no idea what to do -- and the move ends with De Klerk skipping over the try line from close range. TRY for South Africa.
64'Pollard makes up for his last missed penalty! The fly-half squeezes one inside the right post. South Africa lead 14-3 with just over 15 minutes remaining. Japan haven't done much at all in this second half and NEED something big now.
64'Player substituted - Jiwon Gu , Japan
64'Substitute on - Asaeli Ai Valu , Japan
64'3-14 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
63'Player substituted - Eben Etzebeth , South Africa
63'Substitute on - RG Snyman , South Africa
62'South Africa with 117 tackles made today, compared to 65 by the hosts.
60'Player substituted - Ryohei Yamanaka , Japan
60'Substitute on - Lomano Lemeki , Japan
58'South Africa's Pollard with a penalty from a long way out... and it veers wide at the last moment! Just left of the posts. Japan will be so relieved at that, but they need points on the board. They have to score next with just over 20 minutes left.
55'Japan had so much possession in the first half, but they're struggling on that front now. They can't get out of their own half. South Africa look confident of extending their lead even further.
54'Substitute on - Wimpie van der Walt , Japan
54'Player substituted - Luke Thompson , Japan
54'Player substituted - Frans Malherbe , South Africa
54'Substitute on - Vincent Koch , South Africa
54'Substitute on - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
54'Player substituted - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
53'Matsushima takes a nice catch on the flank and is taken out in the air by Mapimpi. Perhaps the Springbok was exacting a bit of revenge for the tackle on him by Matsushima earlier in the half? As with that one, Barnes just awards a penalty here.
52'Substitute on - Amanaki Mafi , Japan
52'Player substituted - Kazuki Himeno , Japan
51'Since late in the first half, Kolbe has emerged as one of South Africa's best players in this game. He's been terrier-like in his runs through the centre.
49'3-11 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
48'Japan are yet to score a try today, and now they really do need one. Another penalty flies between the posts for the Springboks and the hosts now trail 11-3.
48'Substitute on - Isileli Nakajima , Japan
48'Player substituted - Keita Inagaki , Japan
48'Substitute on - Rikiya Matsuda , Japan
48'Player substituted - Yu Tamura , Japan
47'Matsushima was the Japanese player to have committed a dangerous tackle on Mapimpi a few minutes ago.
46'Yet again South Africa stutter! They have acres of space to score a try on the right flank, but a slightly forward-angled pass to Du Toit ensures they won't get the points.
44'3-8 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
43'Already there's drama. Mapimpi hopes to collect a high Springboks kick just shy of the try line, but he's interrupted by a dangerous challenge. Just a penalty administered by referee Barnes, however -- no card for Japan's offender. Pollard makes the penalty and South Africa extend their lead to 8-3.
42'We're back underway! Forty minutes between these sides and the final four.
41'A reminder that Wales await the winners of this match as Warren Gatland's men scraped past France with a late try after Vahaamahina's senseless red card for Les Bleus earlier today.
41'+23-5 End of first half
40'Well well well... A low score in the first half, but plenty of action. South Africa started strongly, but wasted opportunities to extend their lead later in the half. Will they be forced to regret that come full-time? Japan are very much in this quarterfinal, attacking with speed at every opportunity.
40'The gong sounds for half-time, but there's time for some late drama! De Allende goes over for South Africa, but it's pulled back for a double movement! The half ends with the Springboks up 5-3, when they thought they'd just managed to increase the deficit... How important could that moment prove to be?
40'3-5 Start of second half
38'AGAIN South Africa waste an opportunity. Le Roux can't control a pass as his side break with space to run into.
37'Mbonambi hobbles off for South Africa. Just three minutes left in the half.
37'Player substituted - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
37'Substitute on - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
35'South Africa collect Japan's lineout and set about attacking immediately. They're inside the hosts' 22, but an obstruction sees their move halted! Japan kick for a lineout on the halfway line.
34'Oh my... South Africa let Japan off the hook in a MAJOR way! Leitch loses the ball and the Springboks are so quick to pounce and work it up the left flank. A try seems inevitable, but the final pass out to Mapimpi is just too low... The South African can't gather the ball and it goes out of play.
31'A bit of discomfort for Horie. The home crowd will hope he's okay to continue -- he's an important part of this Japan side. He seems to be alright...
30'This has been such an intense half of rugby. The low scoreline does not reflect how much is happening in this quarterfinal. This strong South Africa side seem to be coping well.
28'Both teams concede possession in quick succession on the flank. Every time Japan captain Leitch gets on the ball, you can hear the crowd scream his name.
25'A mistake from Japan! They try to work the ball to the right, but it's intercepted. South Africa knock it on, however. Relief for the hosts.
24'Japan take a quick free-kick and make some metres up the right flank. Now they work the ball to the left. Captain Leitch has it, but back it goes to the middle. Swift interplay. Japan are such a joy to watch attacking. They really are making a mockery of that 'second-tier team' tag.
23'De Allende makes an aggressive run through the middle, shrugging off Nakamura before eventually being brought down.
22'Player substituted - Amanaki Mafi , Japan
22'Substitute on - Pieter Labuschagne , Japan
21'Labuschagne returns for Japan after undergoing a medical check on the sidelines.
21'Player substituted - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
21'Substitute on - Siya Kolisi , South Africa
20'JAPAN ARE ON THE BOARD! No mistake from Tamura, who puts it straight down the middle. The hosts narrow the gap to 5-3 with Mtawarira returning from the sin bin. Japan did well to strike while they had a numbers advantage.
20'3-5 Penalty goal - Yu Tamura , Japan
16'Japan get a penalty and the noise from this Tokyo crowd is overwhelming. You'd think they just scored a try! Leitch and Koo lead the celebrations among the Japan players.
16'Japan are starting to impact this game. When they get going, they are so quick. An encouraging move through the middle ends in a forward pass, however.
15'That was the first real taster of what the hosts can do. They were closing in on the try line, but some sound South Africa defence held Japan up.
14'Sensational solo run from Fukuoka down the left flank! He weaves through Springboks before being brought down. The home crowd are on their feet!!! Japan will keep going.
13'Japan working the ball side to side now, trying to make some metres and capitalise while the Springboks are down to 14 men.
12'Labuschagne will come off to be checked. The Japan player seemed to be involved in that collision a few minutes ago.
12'Player substituted - Pieter Labuschagne , Japan
12'Substitute on - Amanaki Mafi , Japan
12'Substitute on - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
12'Player substituted - Siya Kolisi , South Africa
11'It was Inagaki who was dumped by Mtawarira there.
10'Referee Wayne Barnes rushes in to administer a yellow card to South Africa's Mtawarira for dumping a Japanese player on his head. That could well have been a red...
10'Yellow card - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
9'De Klerk looks very calm, spinning the ball on his index finger before placing it into the scrum.
9'Scrappy play on the left... Japan stab a low kick through the South Africa line, but none of the host players can latch onto it, nor can the Springboks. There's a big collision on the ground as both teams try to secure possession.
6'The Springboks' conversion misses.
4'TRY! It's all too easy for South Africa's Mapimpi! De Klerk is patient behind the scrum and when he feels the time is right, he collects the ball and offloads to his left. Mapimpi bursts through the Japanese 22 and brushes off the hosts' attempts to slow him down before surging over the line. Weak defence from Japan there, it has to be said.
4'0-5 Try - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
1'South Africa gather from their lineout and kick high. Matsushima attempts to catch, but can't quite manage it.
1'South Africa get us underway. Immediately there's an ill-placed kicked pass out to the right from Japan as Tamura looks for Matsushima, but they get away with it.
1'A calm-looking South Africa side deliver their anthem, and we're ready to go...
1'We start with a moment's silence -- beautifully observed in Tokyo Stadium -- to honour those who lost their lives as a result of Typhoon Hagibis this month. Next up is a stirring rendition of the Japanese national anthem.
1'Five minutes until kickoff!
1'A semifinal with Wales awaits the victors of this fixture, with this year's Grand Slam winners having edged past France 20-19 earlier today in a dramatic clash. France led at half-time, but Sebastien Vahaamahina cost his side with a red card after an appalling, intentional elbow on Aaron Wainwright.
1'Speaking of pressure, it will be interesting to see what Japan's mental state is like today. This Brave Blossoms side is already the most successful Asian team in World Cup history, so theoretically the pressure is off... but has the nation started to dream? And how will that affect the players?
1'South Africa lost their pool opener against favourites and defending champions New Zealand, but rebounded well to thrash Namibia, Italy and Canada. As mentioned below, this is Japan's first ever World Cup quarterfinal, while the Springboks have made it this far at every World Cup they've ever competed in. South Africa have the pedigree, but with that comes pressure...
1'Welcome to our live commentary of this Rugby World Cup quarterfinal between hosts Japan and two-time champions South Africa! Can Japan continue their remarkable run? They won all four pool matches, including upsets over Ireland and Scotland, to make it to their first ever World Cup quarterfinal, but face a strong side in South Africa today in Tokyo. That said, Japan shocked the Springboks four years ago, so they will be hoping to draw upon that incredible result...
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2019 News