Rugby World Cup: France survived a second-half scare to get their World Cup campaign underway with a 47-21 win over a spirited Japan at the North Harbour Stadium. The French paid the price for some sloppy rugby and poor decision-making after half-time as Japantook the game to them and at one stage closed to within four points.

In the end, though, tries from Julien Pierre, Francois Trinh-Duc, Vincent Clerc, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape and Morgan Parra secured them a bonus point win in Pool A, which also includes hosts New Zealand, Tonga and Canada.

Japan, overwhelmed and heavily penalised at the scrum, played some superb rugby with ball in hand and raised the biggest cheers of the evening for the two tries from James Arlidge, who scored all of his team's points.

Two Simon Danielli tries in the last five minutes had earlier saved Scotland from one of the all-time World Cup shocks as they came back to beat Romania 34-24 having trailed with six minutes to go. Romania, beaten 42-0 by Scotland at the same stage four years ago, had produced a huge effort, particularly in their forwards, and when Dan Carpo scored their second try after 74 minutes they were within reach of their greatest day.

However, Scotland, who had started well, finally rediscovered their verve and Danielli, who had not scored an international try for two years, finished powerfully to secure the win and a bonus point for four tries.

It was hardly the start Scotland expected against the team considered the weakest in the pool and they will have to improve markedly if they are to maintain their proud record of reaching at least the quarter-finals in every tournament.