Good afternoon, you hard-working, Rugby World Cup shock-loving people of the world. Thanks for stopping in to check on the Brave Blossoms as they aim to follow up their astonishing win over South Africa by shocking another of the sport’s old guard.

Be sure to let us know your pre-match predictions and your thoughts during the game. Comment below, join us on Facebook or tweet us @Rugby_ie.

Here’s a quick reminder of how the teams line up for today’s 2.30pm kick-off.

Vern Cotter has named an exciting, but inexperienced line-up, guided by the excellent Glasgow Warriors out-half Finn Russell.

Watch out for openside John Hardie who is newly drafted in from New Zealand and Josh Strauss who could make a debut for his adopted nation after three years of excellence in the Pro12.

Scotland

1. Alasdair Dickinson
2. Ross Ford
3. WP Nel
4. Grant Gilchrist
5. Jonny Gray
6. Ryan Wilson
7. John Hardie
8. Dave Denton

9. Greig Laidlaw
10. Finn Russell
11. Sean Lamont
12. Matt Scott
13. Mark Bennett
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Stuart Hogg

Replacements:

16. Fraser Brown
17. Ryan Grant
18. Jon Welsh
19. Richie Gray
20. Josh Strauss
21. Henry Pyrgos
22. Pete Horne
23. Sean Maitland

Japan have made six changes to their starting line-up. Their talismanic captain Michael Leitch, openside Michael Broadhurst and former Blackrock clubman Luke Thompson will have their work cut out after playing all 80 minutes against the ‘Boks.

Japan

1. Keita Inagaki
2. Shota Horie
3. Hiroshi Yamashita
4. Luke Thompson
5. Justin Ives
6. Michael Leitch
7. Michael Broadhurst
8. Amanaki Lelei Mafi

9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. Harumichi Tatekawa
11. Kenki Fukuoka
12. Yu Tamura
13. Male Sau
14. Kotaro Matsushima
15. Ayumu Goromaru

Replacements

16. Takeshi Kizu
17. Masataka Mikami
18. Kensuke Hatakeyama
19. Shinya Makabe
20. Shoji Ito
21. Hendrik Tui
22. Atsushi Hiwasa
23. Karne Hesketh

There were reports of Japanese jerseys selling out in Dublin yesterday, and it seems like England has a similar problem.

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Either that or there’s a great two for one deal on body paint in Gloucester.

The teams are in the tunnel, the long two-day wait without a Rugby World Cup game is almost over, rugby junkies.

Right, that’s the anthems sorted. A quick ad break from the good people at TV3 and then we’ll get back just in time for kick-off…

1 min:  John Lacey is our own man in the middle and he gives a big peep to signal Japan to kick-off. 

Japan started with a decent tempo, but Scotland force a midfield turnover and Russell hammers it down field. Hogg chases well and corners Matushima, forcing him to concede the line-out.

Lacey penalised Japan at the breakdown and Laidlaw makes no mistake with a penalty from the left side of the 22.

PENALTY Scotland 3 Japan 0 (Laidlaw ’3)

Strange moment from Sean Lamont who appeared to get quite lost when chasing a high ball. The pill ended up bouncing in front of him and out of play.

It’s another promising attack From Jones’ men, but a big hit from Ryan Wilson on Luke Thompson brings everything screeching to a halt with a knock on. Scrum Scotland.

The wild-haired Inagaki is pinged for collapsing the scrum and Russell can boom the ball back in to Japan’s half.

Denton gets a good gainline after the line-out, but Scotland look guilty of a knock-one after trying to force an offload. They get away with it and another drop before Seymour’s scamper up the wing is called back for a foot in touch.

Excellent skills on show from Finn Russell. With a penalty advantage in the offing he chipped above a defender and collected 5 metres ahead and palmed backwards. But the move breaks down and we go back to the tee.

Penalty! Scotland 6 Japan 0 (Laidlaw ’12)

Ooof! Goromaru got hold of a penalty in his own half and he very nearly made a mickey of it. But Lacey calls it good.

AND JAPAN MAUL TO GLORY.

TRY! Scotland 6 Japan 5 (Mafi  ’14)

Scotland 6 Japan 7

Goromaru adds the extras. The maul was a brilliantly executed set-piece that powered its way through the Scottish resistance to allow the number eight touch down.

We’re with the TMO after Horie appeared to go in for a chop tackle without his arms. The replay looks awful, the hooker’s head takes the brunt of the Scottish carrier’s legs. He should be sent for a PSA never mind just conceding a penalty.

PENALTY! Scotland 9 Japan 7 (Laidlaw ’17)

The errors an indiscipline is costing Japan now as Laidlaw rifles over another one from distance.

PENALTY! Scotland 12 Japan 7 (Laidlaw ’20)

That’s more like it from Japan. They shift right and an offload puts Mafi through a gap. He recycles but Scotland soon turnover with Grant Gilchrist and Lamont kicks down field.

SIN BIN for Matusushima for killing the ball, but he can at least console himself that Laidlaw missed the resulting penalty. The Gloucester man’s first wayward shot of the day.

The missed pen is followed up by a dropped ball from Stu Hogg and suddenly Scotland are on the back foot against 14 men.

Japan kick for a line-out rather than a long penalty, but this time Scotland manage to halt the maul early. Just as the blue jerseys come through to crumble the maul Tanaka knocks on.

Steve Borthwick’s Japan pack lay down another big marker. Winning a scrum penalty deep in the Scotland half…. but Goramaru pulls his penalty left and wide.

Back come the 14 men. Scotland will be furious with how this sin-bin period is going as they again find themselves defending powerful carries 10-15 metres from their own line.

The Brave Blossoms are frustrated too, this time by a knock-on that ends that set of phases.

This is excellent again from Japan, storming back after a clearance with Tanaka whipping the ball in a quick rhythm so that his forwards can truck it up. Matsushima is back on the field and they are back to the full compliment….

Drama.  Mafi tries to leap over the ruck stationed under the posts, but he’s caught and we’ll have a five metre scrum. Terrific effort from Japan during the sin–bin period and now they are back to 15, they can make Scotland pay.

BOSH! Big Dave Denton carries off the back of the scrum and makes some room for Laidlaw to clear on second phase.

It’s a small in-goal area in Kingsholm so not much room to stand back and kick clear from behind the posts.

I was puzzled there myself why Scotland had the scrum. Referee apparently ruled it a maul, but this referee is calling Clancy dead wrong.

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So Scotland survive the onslaught and can now go back to showing off their own attacking maul.

The roll doesn’t take them more than 10 metres after the penalty, but it has done enough to set them up int eh Japanese 22. Cotter’s side are probing left and right for a gap.

HUGE DEFENCE FROM JAPAN!

Scotland had pegged Japan on to the line and then looked to have stretched them to breaking point when Russell spun the ball wide to Tommy Seymour arriving at pace.

He looked ready to dive in, but Goromaru arrived with perfect timing and bashed the winger in to touch to bring about the HT whistle.

HALF TIME: Scotland 12 Japan 7

Good bloody game.

And we are back for the second half. Can Japan somehow find the energy resouces to pull off another big win?

Excellent start from Mafi, peeling off the back of a midfield maul, stepping Seymour and chipping ahead.

Scotland recover, but attempt to spin it wide in their own 22 and the move ends with a big hit knocking the ball forward and out of play.

Tommy Seymour is a very lucky man. The replay on TV clearly showed him neck rolling a player in the ruck, but we continue on and Scotland win a penalty on the scrum in front of their posts.

Japan, I feel, have a right to feel aggrieved by quite a few decisions today.

MAFI! The big man is off again, this time trundling over Laidlaw and in to open space in the Scottish 22. Japan mount another siege.

Matt Scott is penalised for straying offside, Goromaru will have his easiest opportunity of the day.

PENALTY! Scotland 12 Japan 10 (Goromaru ’45)

However, Mafi’s big powerful run will be his last impact of the day. He looks in serious pain now after being taken down by Dave Denton. Hopefully it’s not as bad as his recent hip injury. He was terrific against South Africa and a shining light for the Brave Blossoms today.

Thrilling style from Japan as they attack from deep. First Thompson with a powerful carry and nice offload, but it’s followed up by Horie who only manages to drop the ball into the grasp of his opposite number.

Brilliant from John Hardie!

TRY! Scotland 17 Japan 10

On the initial attack, the openside collected inches from the touchline and was at risk of letting his foot graze the line, but once tackled he managed to pop the ball out the back and in the Scott’s grasp.

Scotland were stopped at the line, but Hogg quickly move the pill back left where Hardie was waiting to drive over.

The conversion is missed by Laidlaw.

Japnn have been in this position before. Seven points down against a supposedly superior nation.

Matsushima steals the restart in the shadow of Dave Denton and Japan go on the attack. Scotland frustrate them on the line but it’s another penalty…

Goromaru hits the post. Laidlaw cleverly calls the mark as he collects the rebound and Scotland survive.

Ah, brilliant break from Stu Hogg takes Scotland all of 40 metres upfield and in to the 22.

Japan do their best to scramble, but fatigue is now starting to show. Mark Bennett takes advantage and sneaks in under the posts

TRY! Scotland 24 Japan 10 (Bennett ’57)

Laidlaw took the penalty nice and quick to prevent any inquisition from the TMO. Japan might have had a case if there was a challenge system, Bennett’s foot flirted dangerously close to the dead ball line as he planted the ball.

It looks like Scotland will get the job done here, but this will certainly remain the moment of the match. Superb try-saver from Goromaru.

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TRY! Scotland 29 Japan 10 (Seymour ’63)

Oh no. Seymour nips in with a terrific intercept from Sau and races all the way to the try-line. He had to dodge and weave a little to get there, but that he did and ended up under the posts.

Laidlaw converts and Scotland can now go in hunt of a fourth try and a bonus points.

Scotland 31 Japan 10

Cotter has sent the cavalry in from the bench. Including big Josh Strauss making a debut and Sean Maitland replacing Hogg.

TRY! Scotland 36 Japan 10 (Bennett ’36)

Bonus point for Scotland and they can take control of Pool B.

Scott and Bennett combine to rip the Brave Blossoms apart. Scott firstly makes the break and presents the ball nicely in the air for the next carrier to take on.

Bennett peels right throws a vicious dummy pass and ducks in to seal this five-point win for Vern Cotter’s men.

Did I mention the conversion was good?

Scotland 38 Japan 10

Finn Russell is just showboating now. The Glasgow 10 is 23 today and he’s celebrating by making daring breaks and round-the-corner offloads to his ‘second five eighth’ Scott.

TRY! Scotland 45 Japan 10 (Russell ’73)

And the birthday boy finds another break on first phase off a scrum and he tricks his way under the posts.

Unfortunately, we’re now back in to the realm of ‘plucky’ Japan as they mount a late attack despite this game being long since decided. Fair play to them and Eddie Jones.

They have 10 days to recover from this before facing Samoa on 3 October.

Scotland are digging deep to keep this siege at bay. The striped jerseys keep on coming, but they give it away again. Maitland intercepts! But he’s pulled for a Japanese penalty by Lacey.

Lacey is going to the TMO, but this doesn’t look likely to be even a consolation score for Japan.

FULL TIME! Scotland 45 Japan 10

So, Japan are put back in their tier 2 box after having to face Scotland four days after the greatest performance they are ever likely to give.

They produced more thrilling rugby at times and their set-piece is seriously impressive, but once Scotland got a few rubs of the green from John Lacey they gobbled up the advantage and showed their own attacking prowess by running in five really good (in the build-up, some had questionable finishing) second half tries.

Thanks for stopping in and seeing how your new favourite rugby team fared.

Don’t forget. Australia get their World Cup under way shortly against Fiji and, later tonight, Ireland’s Pool rivals France will show us how to beat Romania.