If you are waking up to read this, you have slept through what just might be the biggest story of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Japan have beat 1995 and 2007 champions South Africa 34-32, with a try after the final siren.
The commentators on ITV Sport summed up the feelings of many who had watched the match or followed the coverage on The Roar, “Forget the history of the World Cup, this is the biggest thing to happen in rugby since William Webb Ellis picked up that ball”, and when watching the scenes from Brighton was hard to disagree. In a World Cup where those outside Tier 1 have historically played their role as little more than speedbumps, the significance of the Japanese win cannot be overstated.
Central to the win was the brave and courageous decision from the Japanese to turn down two unmissable penalties in the final seconds, both of which that would have brought them a draw. Instead, both times they went for the try – a high-risk, high-reward play that would pay off big time.
There were tears from many in the crowd, including a huge contingent of travelling Japanese supporters, who for the previous 80 minutes seemed too nervous to believe what they were seeing. Add to that plenty of neutral fans, who became far less neutral as soon as they realised they might be seeing one of the biggest moments ever in the history of the sport.
The match started with a nerve-settling penalty to the Japanese, before both teams traded tries and goals to go into the break with South Africa leading 12-10.
South Africa scored immediately after the break through Luke de Jager, but the Japanese refused to lose touch with the Springboks, kicking successive penalties to even up the score at 22-22 with 20 minutes to play. An Adrian Strauss try in the 62nd minute stretched the Springboks’ lead to 7, and it appeared that world rugby order was being restored.
Those watching the match – and plenty of hopeful South Africans – would have been excused from thinking they were watching a repeat of the tournament opener, in which a brave Fiji were eventually outclassed by England. But, and following on from Georgia’s early win over Tonga, Japan refused to die. The Cherry Blossoms equalised again through the try of the game, a classy backline move with an inside pass allowing Ayumu Goromaru to go over.
South Africa got themselves some breathing space with a penalty to lead 32-29 into the dying stages. The last 5 minutes of the match were spent with Japan camped on the South African line, trying anything and everything to get across the stripe.
Successive penalties within kickable distance were provided, but the Japanese were having none of it. They were going for the win.
With the clock at 85 minutes, the ball was spread from right sideline to left sideline, before Karne Hesketh dived over in just inside the left corner post.
While praise was rightly placed on the Japanese players, there was plenty of love for former Wallabies and current Japanese coach Eddie Jones, who masterminded the victory over South Africa. Praise came from an unlikely source, with Jones 2003 nemesis Clive Woodward one of the first to congratulate him on Twitter.
In the other coaches box, Heyneke Meyer could be seen throwing his headset to the ground and storming up the tunnel, probably steadying himself for the biggest player-grilling in the history of world rugby. He has seven days to turn it around, with the Springboks taking on Samoa on Saturday.
But, and despite a number of tactical errors from the Springboks, it was the Japanese who won the match, not the Springboks who lost it. Their fluent and clinical rugby caught the Springboks off guard, and will pose a threat to all of their opponents for the remainder of the Cup.
The task for Eddie Jones is now to ensure the players reflect on their achievement, but ready themselves for their next match – against Scotland in Gloucester on Wednesday.
For a team that had only won one match at a Rugby World Cup, their win shows the progress that Japan rugby is making in the lead-up to hosting the tournament in 2019.
Not just the alarm clock, I have been banging the Church bell for years
Dat Mavis
Roar Pro
Craig Wing is in the squad, but wasn't in the 23
Ronaldo
Guest
Note for Train WOS … you can add Kotaro Matsushima (22 years old) the utility back who played with 11 on his back. He is born in Pretoria & has a Japanese father & a SA mother. Japanese citizen who had a year or two at the Sharks Academy in Durban. This year signed a short term contract with the Waratahs in February but I did not see him on the field or on the bench.
Marc
Guest
Or as irrelevant as the fact that Namibia has 1,100 senior players. Or that South Africa is 80% black, 9% white, 9% coloured and 2% Asian.
The Battered Slav
Guest
haha, great line Moa
The Battered Slav
Guest
Agreed. I've often wondered what Kirchener is doing in a green and gold when I have players at my club who are probably superior players to him. I'm yet to meet one South African that rates him, in fact most jaapies I've met can't understand what he's doing there either. Anyone have any ideas what it is that gets him picked?
The Battered Slav
Guest
Very happy to see you're still with us this morning BB. I'm not too sure I'd be able to bring myself to get out of bed if this happened to the Wallabies. I know it's probably not going to help, but just remember that once the red mist is lifted, you can enjoy it for what it is, the triumph of a minnow over one of the two proudest rugby nations on earth, and something that will go down in history not because the Bokke were so bad, but because the Japanese were just irrepressibly good. Sorry for your tournament, but I'm sure the Boks will be there at knockout time. Maybe time to get into the witblits nice and early this morning mate...
Bakkies
Guest
You might regret that remark.
Bakkies
Guest
A typical post from you TM. Jones stated that he had no choice to do it to beef up his pack in particular which he has a point. His locks were 6 foot 5 in the dinosaur scale.
Bakkies
Guest
'Their execution of the lineout and the hooker raking the ball like a kick into the arms of the no.8 was brilliant scrum innovation.' The Canadian hooker was doing that as well.
Riccardo
Guest
That is a shame IMO mate. Meyer is already ham-strung by his previous conservatism and an administration that can't make up its mind regarding its own identity. Mutiny is just making an unenviable assignment impossible. Initially, well after PDV anyway, I thought this guy had the potential to be your best coach since Mallet.
Bakkies
Guest
Eddie worked himself in to the ground by taking on too much rather than delegating. Several assistants resigned. A horrendous injury toll didn't help him in that losing straight which eventually led to him losing the job. He has done well to recover from that stroke he had recently.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Birth Locations of the starting XV Japan - 10 NZ - 5 Bench Japan - 6 Tonga - 1 New Zealand - 1 16 of the 23 were born in Japan. Some of these 7 non-Japanese players include players like Michael Leitch who has Fijian heritage, was born in New Zealand but moved to Japan to study as a teenager. From what I can find Hendrik Tui has only played in Japan since 2011 but made his debut for Japan in 2012, so unless he played at a lower level he must have some sort of heritage that qualifies him for them other than on residency also.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Allanthus didn't pubs shut at 6pm when you were young and single?
Ted
Roar Rookie
This was breathtaking to watch - it wasn't just the win - every time they came back at the Boks it was impossible not to feel that they were taking on an impossible strength . Their huddle and decision to go for the try as a collective force was inspiring but still not guaranteed . This buildup scenario and the way it played out was identical to Farr Jones and Lynagh decision in 1991 RWC qtr final v Ireland when they turned down a Drop goal strategy to draw the match and ran for the try with Lynagh himself going over well held in far corner - and then the cup. I hope it augers just as well for the Brave Blossoms
Hi Riccardo, yes there is definitelty a break somewhere, in my opinion with rumours I heard the fly in the ointment is avictor Matfield. His ego has taken over, if you want to play, then you say nothing about Victor, basically you don't want to be on his wrong side. But, just a rumour.
Riccardo
Guest
You and Harry are class Biltong. Commiserations. The Bokke will be back; madder than all he!! too. Even with some of Meyer's curious squad selections (like no Brussow but taking Kirchner for example) the tools still appear to be there. Is there something broken in Camp South Africa. Note: NOT denigration. Genuine question...
Jarijari
Guest
Exquisite finish, reminiscent of Lynagh's set-up for Campo in 91, only much better. These blokes were extraordinary, what else can you say.
Harry Jones
Expert
Might end up with: Japan 2 wins 2 losses Samoa 2 wins 2 losses Making SA v Scotland in Newcastle a big one.
Yeah Nick, not really something I feel good about. "I told you so " should be accompanied with a feeling of self satisfaction, this does not.