Japan's 'Ferrari' Matsushima goes up a gear at home World Cup

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2019 - Pool A - Japan v Russia - Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - September 20, 2019 Japan's Kotaro Matsushima runs through to score their fourth try and complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Matthew Childs

TOKYO (Reuters) - Kotaro Matsushima became the first Japan player to score a hat-trick of tries at a World Cup on Friday, earning praise from his own coach and the opposing manager after the "Brave Blossoms" beat Russia in the tournament's opening match.

Matsushima, born in South Africa to a Zimbabwean father and a Japanese mother, was a bright spark for the World Cup hosts who wound up comfortable 30-10 winners despite looking shaky through large spells of the game.