Scotland were given the fright of their lives by a spirited and committed Japanese side before opening their Rugby World Cup 2003 campaign with a 32-11 victory at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.
The Scots would have expected to have made easier work of a side ranked nine places below them in the official IRB World Rankings, but were never allowed to pull away from a Japanese side willing to try anything.
Chris Paterson was the hero for Scotland, scoring a try in each half in the first ever rugby international held in Townsville and adding another five points with the boot to give Scotland victory in this hotly contested Pool B encounter.
However don’t let the score fool you. Scotland only put some distance between themselves and Japan with three tries in the final 14 minutes, the Cherry Blossoms’ defence having kept them out for more than 50 minutes.
Japan’s defence was one of many positives they could draw from the game, as was the free flowing back play with Takeomi Ito and wings Hirotoki Onozawa and Daisuke Ohata unlucky not to gain reward on several occasions after scintillating breaks.
Onozawa did eventually break through with his side’s only try – fly half Keiji Hirose scoring their other points with two first half penalties – in the 55th minute after a sweeping back line move.
Their impressive display earned a standing ovation from the crowd with Scotland’s players applauding their opponents from the field, knowing they were fortunate to escape with a victory.
Scotland: 32
Tries: Paterson (2), Grimes, Taylor, Danielli
Conversions: Paterson, Townsend
Penalties: Paterson
Japan: 6
Tries: Onozawa
Penalties: Hirose (2)