appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

The small crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium finally got what they had craved for all weekend - the home team winning in style.
Russia stormed to a 29-5 victory over Japan to win the Bowl title in the men's World Cup. It raised the roof at the venue of the 1980 Olympics, with the barely 8,000-strong crowd cheering their hometown heroes.
"Rus-sia, Rus-sia", they chanted, and the hosts led by Vasily Artemyev gave them much to cheer about as they ran in five tries on a wet pitch which had been deluged earlier with play halted for an hour during the Cup semi-finals between New Zealand and Fiji due to a thunderstorm.
"It is great to win, especially in front of our home fans," said a delighted Artemyev who plays on the wing for Northampton in the English Premiership.
Japan, however, had some consolation finishing as the highest-ranked Asian team in the competition.
They had earlier knocked out Philippines 50-0 in the quarter-finals.
"At least we finished higher than Hong Kong which always makes us happy," said Japan captain Katsuyuki Sakai.

	At least we finished higher than Hong Kong which always makes us happy

	Japan captain Katsuyuki Sakai
Japan had to endure some anxious moment in the semi-finals as they came from behind to defeat Georgia 24-21.
Japan fought back from 7-21 to tie the score with the clock running down when Japan were awarded a penalty 35 metres out. Sakai stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty right between the sticks.
"It was easy," Sakai smiled after he knocked over the slightly angled conversion. "I had a harder one from the touchline before and I thought that was the pressure kick as it levelled the scores."
But the hosts proved too hot to handle. Cheered on by the paltry crowd, the Russian bear rumbled to wins over Spain (17-7), Uruguay (38-0) and Japan.
Asian teams met with little success in the Women's World Cup too. Japan were knocked out 19-14 by the Netherlands in the Bowl quarter-final while China lost to the Dutch in the semis.


Hosts Russia win Bowl title at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Japan captain Katsuyuki Sakai (centre) during their group stage match with South Africa. Photo: AFP

Sport

Other Sport

Russia stormed to a 29-5 victory over Japan to win the Bowl title in the men's World Cup. It raised the roof at the venue of the 1980 Olympics, with the barely 8,000-strong crowd cheering their hometown heroes.
