Scotland’s Rugby World Cup campaign got off to the best possible start as they brought tournament giant-killers Japan crashing back down to earth with a crushing win at Kingsholm in Gloucester.
It was not without a few scares, and some sloppiness especially in a spell either side of half-time when it seemed as if the Japanese could repeat their epic upset of South Africa as they had the Scots defending with desperation at times.
Yet a crucial injury to Japan’s try-scorer Amanaki Mafi was the signal for the floodgates to open, and Mark Bennett’s brace was among five tries the Scots scored without reply as the Japanese clearly tired after their demanding effort against the Springboks just four days ago.
In a superb atmosphere inside the little West Country ground, the Scots got off to a good start within a minute as pressure on wing Matsushima forced a lineout deep in the 22 and when the Japanese pack interfered at the maul, Laidlaw kicked Scotland ahead.
He doubled the lead when the Scots broke off a scrum and a Japanese defender was penalised for not rolling away, but the Scots were brought back down to earth with 15 minutes played.
A clumsy penalty given away by Gilchrist allowed Japan an attacking lineout, and their impressively controlled drive went through the Scottish defence with ease for Mafi to get the try, Gotomaru converting.
Japan’s lead lasted two minutes as Laidlaw was on target again with a long penalty as the Japanese were guilt of a block tackle on Denton, and the skipper made a longer penalty try to stretch the lead to 12-7 after a scrum offence.
Scotland threatened with Tommy Seymour making ground up the left and Matsushima was yellow-carded for flicking the ball away to stop the Scots’ forward momentum, but Laidlaw missed the penalty and the Scots spent most of the rest of the 10 minutes a man up defending their own line.
Gotomaru missed a simple penalty while Japan’s impressive and speedy phase play had the Scots under pressure. Mafi was held up at the line by Laidlaw and Ross Ford and a crossing penalty eventually brought relief for the Scots.
Right at the half good work from Hardie, Jonny Gray and Laidlaw set up a chance for Seymour but Gotomaru made a last-gasp tackle on Seymour to keep Japan in touch at the break.
The Japan No 8 Mafi had two barnstorming runs at the start of the second half and Scotland had to scramble in defence, giving away an easy Gotomaru penalty, but the impressive forward was injured in the second attack and was stretchered off.
That was the signal for a Scottish counterattack and their first try, finished by Hardie after the open-side had made a break up the touchline and both Matt Scott and Hogg had gone close.
Laidlaw couldn’t convert and the Scots had a real let-off after some sloppy play when Gotomaru hit the post with an easy penalty.
But they capitalised on that escape when Hogg’s break took them into the Japanese 22 and then Bennett’s superb line sliced through the defence under the posts, Laidlaw giving the Scots further breathing room with the conversion.
And as Japan tried to bounce back, Seymour pounced on a loose pass inside his own 22 and raced 80 metres for a try at the other end which finally put Scotland away and clear for good.
Bennett got his second try while Finn Russell scored a fine solo effort, captain Laidlaw’s personal points tally finishing at 20.
Att: 14,354
Scotland: S Hogg (Glasgow, S Maitland (London Irish) 66); T Seymour (Glasgow), M Bennett (Glasgow, P Horne (Glasgow) 71), M Scott (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow); F Russell (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); A Dickinson (Edinburgh, R Grant (Glasgow) 65), R Ford (Edinburgh, F Brown (Glasgow) 70), W Nel (Edinburgh, J Welsh (Glasgow) 70); J Gray (Glasgow), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh, R Gray (Castres) 53); R Wilson (Glasgow, J Strauss (Glasgow) 57), J Hardie (unattached), D Denton (Edinburgh).
Japan: A Goromaru; K Matsushima, M Sau, Y Tamura, K Fukuoka; H Tatekawa, F Tanaka (A Hiwasa 65); K Inagaki (M Mikami 40), S Horie (T Kizu 70), H Yamashita (K Hatakeyama 53); L Thompson (S Ito 65), J Ives (S Makabe 61); M Leitch (capt), M Broadhurst, A Mafi (H Tui 45).
Ref: J Lacey (IRFU)