2015 Rugby World Cup: Japan qualify for eighth straight tournament
Japan seal their qualification for the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a commanding 49-8 win over Hong Kong in Tokyo.
Last Updated: 25/05/14 2:28pm
Eddie Jones' team were always in control as they maintained their 100% winning record, stretching back seven years, in the Asian Five Nations tournament, which doubles up as the route to World Cup qualification for Asian teams.
Yoshikazu Fujita scored a hat-trick as Japan ran in eight tries in a dominant display at the National Stadium.
Hong Kong finished as runners-up in the Five Nations, and will now take on Uruguay in the first round of the World Cup repechage.
Japan - who will host the 2019 tournament - will face South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and the United States in Pool B of the tournament, which is being hosted by England.
"It was a tough old game but we have achieved our first goal, to qualify for the World Cup, which is fantastic," said former Australia coach Jones, whose side are 13th in the IRB world rankings.
"Now the next target is to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, so everything we do from now on is about making sure we are in a position to reach the quarter-finals."
Japan have taken part in all seven previous Rugby World Cups, but have only ever won a single game - a 52-8 win against Zimbabwe in 1991 - in 24 attempts.