Japan head coach Eddie Jones refused to blame fatigue after Scotland put an end to his team’s giant-killing heroics.
It was Japan’s second game in five days, following Saturday’s shock victory over South Africa, while their opponents were making their Pool B debut, and the physical difference was pronounced.
‘We were never going to use fatigue as an excuse and we won’t,’ said Jones, who had mischievously suggested a day earlier that his Cherry Blossoms were fitter than Scotland.
‘Scotland were too good for us. We had to be better than we were to win the game, and therefore we got the result we did.’ Asked if future World Cups should be restructured, Jones said: ‘You could move it so it starts on Thursday and spread the games a little bit more. It’s probably to do with television. Ask them. I am not an administrator, I am just a silly rugby coach.
‘You need a six-day turnaround, but you have to accept it, suck it up. We play a high-intensity game and the boys need a break now.’
Japan’s ebbing hopes of victory were not helped by a serious-looking injury to their dangerous No 8, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, who scored his side’s only try.
He was taken off on a stretcher after 45 minutes, with Japan still awaiting an update on his progress.
Scotland’s Kiwi head coach Vern Cotter said: ‘Hats off to Japan. They were tough to play against. They are good at changing angles and we were very happy to get a win and pull away in the second half.
‘I wouldn’t say that we won convincingly. We traded blows in the first half.’
Greig Laidlaw, the Scotland captain who scored 20 points with his boot, said: ‘Looking back, it probably helped our performance (to see them beat South Africa).
‘All credit to Japan but I don’t think South Africa thought they would be so aggressive and organised in attack. We watched that and we had absolutely no complacency in our squad.’
Laidlaw, playing on his home club turf at Gloucester, added: ‘I felt they were tiring and this is the fittest Scotland team for a long time. We are in a good place fitness-wise.’ – Daily Mail