Rugby World Cup 2019: Japan vs Russia result and latest updates after opening fixture in Tokyo
Follow live updates from Tokyo as the 2019 Rugby World Cup gets underway in Japan
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Your support makes all the difference.Japan launched Asia's first Rugby World Cup with a victory the host nation craved as they beat Russia 30-10 at Tokyo Stadium.
Four years after causing the World Cup's biggest shock by beating South Africa, Japan again took centre stage, but they were made to work hard by an unheralded Russian outfit. Russia, making a first appearance on rugby union's global stage since 2011, led for most of the first half following wing Kirill Golosnitskiy's early try, but hat-trick hero Kotaro Matsushima sparked Japan into life.
The elusive wing claimed a try double before the break, then flanker Lappies Labuschagne dealt Russia a major blow by collecting an opportunist touchdown early in the second half.
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With the tournament under way and such a big day of action to come tomorrow, it's high time for The Independent's team of rugby writers to make some Rugby World Cup predictions.
Who will win? Who are the dark horses? Who has the potential to be a breakout star?
And a reminder that we produced a definitive, inarguable ranking of the top 100 Rugby World Cup players in history, that you cannot possible query or have even a single complaint about...
Unsurprisingly, checking in at number one and top of the World Cup tree was Richie McCaw, who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice.
After topping our list, McCaw exclusively guided Jack de Menezes through his quite magnificent playing career, including those two World Cup wins:
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