Japan stifles Italy for the first time since 2018 in Nations Championship rugby

TOKYO (AP) — Japan muted Italy 27-10 in Nations Championship rugby on Saturday and won their matchup for the first time since 2018.

Japan led 17-10 at halftime and kept Italy scoreless in the second half, the defense making 12 dominant tackles and giving the Italians little room to breathe.

The host scored three tries to one and fullback Takuro Matsunaga hauled in 17 points in a red-and-white blanketed Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

Most of the talk in the buildup was how Japan would fare without flyhalf Seungsin Lee, who needs hand surgery. Lee started every game last year, was an 88% goalkicker and scored the most points in world test rugby. But he wasn't missed. Replacement Ryunosuke Ito, plucked from Meiji University, had a composed debut, including laying on a try for Matsunaga, who was five for five off the tee.

Italy drew first blood when Paolo Garbisi fed midfielder Juan Ignacio Brex in a gap and converted the try. But within 10 minutes Japan was in front.

With scrumhalf Naoto Saito giving Japan quick ruck ball, captain Warner Dearns powered over and tied the score. Moments later Matsunaga finished a Yuya Hirose break, converted his try, and added a penalty for 17-7.

Italy finished the half strong but Garbisi's grubber kicks in behind were contained by Japan and they had to settle for points from a scrum penalty to trail 17-10 at the break.

Japan extended the lead to 24-10 straight after when, after 16 phases, player of the match Ben Gunter busted through four Italians to touch down.

Five substitutes poured on, including the evergreen Michael Leitch, and Italy's rate of unforced errors increased in the face of determined defense. A scrum penalty was slotted by Matsunaga just after the hour to cap a dominant Japan win.

"We were tired and physically challenged, and when you lose 25 possessions it's difficult to create opportunities,” Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada said.

Next weekend, Japan go to Australia to play Ireland, and Italy is in New Zealand.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Italy's Juan Ignacio Brex scores a try during a Nations Championship rugby match between Japan and Italy in Tokyo, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Italy's Monty Ioane, left, jumps for the ball during the Nations Championship rugby match between Japan and Italy in Tokyo, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Japan's Naoto Saito kicks the ball during the Nations Championship rugby match between Japan and Italy in Tokyo, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Italy's Monty Ioane, left, is tackled by Japan's Michael Leitch during the Nations Championship rugby match between Japan and Italy in Tokyo, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Japan's team players celebrate after their win over Italy during the Nations Championship rugby match between Japan and Italy in Tokyo, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Kimi Antonelli returned to winning ways on Saturday by denying Lewis Hamilton a crowd-pleasing home victory in the sprint race ahead of the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton started on pole and held off Antonelli until lap eight of 17, when the Italian swept past with the help of electrical power.

"Let’s go! Let’s go!” Antonelli told the team over the radio after taking the win.

“It was a very fun first 10 laps with Lewis, we were both pushing very hard," Antonelli added later. “Obviously the momentum is there and we are doing a great job together with the team.”

The race was a prime example of F1 in 2026, with the strategy of charging and deploying electrical power central to the battles on track.

It allowed drivers like Lando Norris to swap places with rivals lap after lap but also meant drivers lifting off through Silverstone's best-known fast corners to recharge power.

Hamilton was back fighting for a win again after a breakthrough victory last month at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, his first since moving to Ferrari last year.

“I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got a bit of work to do to try and close that gap.”

Lando Norris took third in McLaren’s white-and-green throwback livery after briefly running second at the start and then winning a thrilling back-and-forth battle with George Russell and Max Verstappen for third.

Antonelli's first win since last month's Monaco Grand Prix stretched his Formula 1 standings lead to 43 points over teammate Russell, who was fourth after starting fifth.

Russell had been complaining of a “strange” lack of pace in qualifying the day before, a setback after his win at the Austrian Grand Prix last week had boosted the British driver's title chances.

Charles Leclerc was fifth for Ferrari, Verstappen sixth for Red Bull, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri seventh. Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls but was facing a post-race investigation into his battle for position with Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar.

Qualifying is later Saturday for Sunday's British Grand Prix.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy, left, speaks with second placed Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after winning the sprint race ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after winning the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Fans watch the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates his second position after the sprint race ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy crosses the finish line to win the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car followed by Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain during the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)