Japan shocked the globe for the second time in four years by stunning Ireland 19-12 to light a bomb under Pool A and a fire under their home World Cup. Wing Kenki Fukuoka ran in the try that sealed Japan's famous victory, immediately invoking memories of their breathless 34-32 win over South Africa in Brighton in 2015. Fukuoka was not even meant to be in the match squad, but stepped onto the bench when William Tupou picked up a late injury and Lomano Lemeki started. The 27-year-old stormed in at the corner to send the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa into delirium though, and rip up the pre-written expectations for Pool A. Ireland failed to cope with Japan's intensity and precision, and this defeat leaves their group wide open. Joe Schmidt's men would have expected to move from their potent 27-3 win over Scotland and press through to top Pool A for a quarter-final against South Africa. Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney bagged early tries as Ireland's clear plan to expose Japan's failings under the high ball paid good dividend. But Japan refused to let Ireland gain any control through the dominance of possession, and the hosts' relentless pace caught boss Schmidt's men off guard. Japan will move on to face Samoa in Toyota on Saturday, with a brittle Scotland doubtless now very nervous about taking on the tournament hosts in Yokohama on Sunday, October 13. Once Ireland settled, Schmidt's men set up Japan perfectly for Carty to bag full reward from a crossfield punt. But Ireland bulldozed the Japan scrum, punted the penalty upfield for a good platform - and Carty again outfoxed the home defence with his kicking game.
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