Japan’s try in the 84th minute to beat the Boks 34-32 in the Rugby World Cup has rightfully been rated one of the biggest upsets in world sport of all time.
The Boks, ranked third in the world rankings at the time, can be forgiven for being gobsmacked at how the 16th ranked Japan could play such sensational rugby.
It made me think of other major sporting upsets on the world stage during my time, listed below in chronological order.
1950 – USA beat England 1-0 at the FIFA World Cup
Englishman Stanley Matthews was rated as the world’s best footballer at the time, but was rested for the “tougher” games when the Americans were at 500-1 odds to win.
1953 – Australia’s 18-year-old tennis twins beat Americans
Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall defeated Tony Trabert and Vic Seixas, two of the best and most experienced players on the planet, to win the 1953 Davis Cup final on the Kooyong grass.
Down 2-1 after the doubles, Hoad came out in the reverse singles to win an epic five-setter over Trabert 13-11, 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, 7-5, before Rosewall sealed the sensational victory win in four sets over Seixas 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. There has never been a finer hour in Australian tennis.
1955 – Jack Fleck defeated Ben Hogan in an 18-hole play-off for the US Open
Journeyman Fleck was nine shots off the pace after the opening round, but in the tournament of his life he ended up beating an all-time golfing great by three shots. One telling putt late in the round was decisive – Fleck borrowed at least 20 feet left to right and downhill. The putt went straight in the front door.
1972 – Soviet Union beat the USA 51-50 in Olympics basketball final
The USA had won every gold medal since basketball had become an Olympic sport in 1936, with the Soviet Union ending the American’s 63-game winning streak.
1973 – Tonga beat the Wallabies 16-11 at Ballymore
For their first and only victory against the quality Australians, Tonga scored four tries to two. For Wallabies halfback Eric Tindall it was his only cap, and the shock loss genuinely hurt him for the rest of his life. ‘Nooky’ Tindall died last year, aged 69.
1978 – Leon Spinks beat Mohammad Ali
The world heavyweight title was decided in a 15-round split decision. The headlines of the day raved how on earth could Spinks ever beat the great Ali?
1990 – James Douglas knocks out Mike Tyson
But there was an even bigger boxing upset when unknown ‘Buster’ Douglas knocked out the unbeaten and fearsome Tyson in the 10th round of their world heavyweight boxing title in Tokyo.
1991 – John Daly’s PGA Championship win
Another unknown in John Daly was the ninth alternate starter for the PGA Championship at Crooked Stick in Indiana. By some sort of a miracle, Daly got a start, and proceeded to over-power Crooked Stick with booming drives and irons that had never been seen before.
‘Grip it and rip it’ won his first professional tournament by three shots over Bruce Lietzche, that just happened to be a major.
1994 – George Foreman regains world heavyweight title
At 45 years of age, the last time Foreman had held the title was 20 years prior, but he knocked out unbeaten defending champion Michael Moorer with a 35-0 record in the 10th round. Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history, and dedicated his success to “all my buddies in nursing homes, and all the guys in jail”.
2009 – Tiger Woods overshadowed by YE Yang
Yet another unknown, Yang beat the undisputed world number one golfer Tiger Woods to win the PGA Championship and become Asia’s first major champion. Woods led by two shots over Yang going into the final round, but Yang beat Woods by three shots, ending with a famous quote – “I’ll probably never win another event”. So far he’s right.
2009 – Soderling beats the undisputed ‘King of Clay’
Journeyman Robin Soderling defeated Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the French Open, which opened the door for Roger Federer to win his only major at Roland Garros. Nadal’s won the French nine times and has a 70-2 win-loss record, with Novak Djokovic beating the Spaniard this year in the quarters. But there’s no shock in that.
2009 – Juan Martin del Potro wins US Open
The Argentine shocked the tennis world by beating Roger Federer in the final of the US Open for his only major. Federer was in magnificent form at Flashing Meadows, but del Potro flushed him off the court in a huge upset.
There are many more shocks over 60-plus years, but the above are the standouts.
Gentile
Guest
Algeria beating West germany in 1982 was also a big shock. Cameroon also were undefeated in that world cup, oncluding a draw with eventual champions italy and 3rd placed Poland. There would of been more world cup shocks over the years had more places been given to teams outside europe and south america. Remembering only one team from asia/africa qualified up to 1970.
Gentile
Guest
Yeah remember that game. Colombia had a fairly decent team though with Asprilla, valdarama, rincon etc. The scoreline is equivalent to Germany smashing Brazil 7-1. Remembering Brazils only ever world cup loss at home, be it qualifier or finals was v Uruguay in 1950.
SM
Guest
As far as football goes, my vote would go to Cameroon. It's was an incredible day, and marked a turning point in the history football. I don't know enough about rugby to know whether Japan's victory will have the same effect. The importance of that Cameroon victory cannot be overstated. I don't want to get too nostalgic, but I've had this belief that Italia '90 was the last 'proper' World Cup, before the commercial world had taken a firm grip on the game. A time where anyone outside of Europe or the big three in South America was considered a novelty or a complete joke. That Cameroon game changed everything, for good.
Johnno
Guest
Gentile In 1993 Columbia beating Argentina 5-1 in a world cup qualifier in Buenos Aires was massive the scoreline. Columbia had a good team that year, but Argies had everything to play for, that loss meant they had to go into the playoff vs the socceroos, but losing 5-1 in Buenos Airies in such a big match, unheard off.
Gentile
Guest
Rhodesia beating the All blacks in 1949 haha
Gentile
Guest
The Ecuadorian ref in the Italian game v south korea was convicted for corruption later on (not in relation to the world cup). Totti's send off was ridiculous. One bad decision you might say fair enough, but there is a montage on youtube showing 20 really bad decisions that game for korea. This continued v spain. On the football theme. North korea beat italy in 1966. Camerron beating Argentina was remarkable as Cameroon finished the game with 9 men.
Johnno
Guest
typing error JimmB. I was writing the Boris Becker thing as he won wimbledon at 17, but thought i'd just put int he chang french title. Both were upsets
Greg
Guest
Agree about greece in euro. Also, sth korea at the 2002 world cup.
Johnno
Guest
Wimbledon winning the FA Cup in 1988 beating Liverpool.
Willie
Guest
Cameroon beating Argentina 1-0 is a great shout
ozinsa
Guest
David, cracking list. Lots of people with their own favourites but I doubt any of these can be argued against -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Willie
Guest
With my green tinted glasses firmly in place may I suggest... Ireland 1 England 0 - Euro 1988 Ireland 1 Italy 0 - World Cup 1994 But as this is a rugby place, this has to get a mention... Munster 12 All Blacks 0 - 1978
JimmyB
Guest
Chang never came close to winning Wimbledon, but he did do rather well at the French.
DJM
Guest
Didn't Ireland beat Australia in Cricket World Cup (50 overs) few years back ? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
SM
Guest
I'm guessing you didn't watch either of those Italy or Spain matches. That's fine, but there's a lot out there to suggest that little fairy tale was anything but. But I'm not sure if this is the right area to discuss it all. I don't want it to detract from the other genuine upsets mentioned here.
Johnno
Guest
What you on about SM. They seemed to make the semi's fair and square if you ask me, but I'm just a casual soccer fan so don't know much about the soccer world cup stuff.
SM
Guest
Hopefully the true tale of that South Korea campaign emerges after Blatter gets sent down. The word 'dodgy' doesn't do it justice.
Johnno
Guest
Michael Chang winning wimbledon aged 17 was another big upset.
Johnno
Guest
Iraq winning the Asian Cup 2007 in soccer was a massive upset. When all against the backdrop of the problems in Iraq made it even more massive. Senegal beating current world champions at the time France in 2002. South Korea making the 2002 soccer world cup semi-finals, yep it was at home but from memory they beat Italy and Spain along the way to get there. Cameroon at Italia 90 beat current world champions Argentina 1-0 in the group stage, and Maradonna played in that game. Argies still ended up making the final. And recently Serena Williams going for the grand slam losing to Roberta Vinci at the US open semi-finals. Vinci a journeyman tennis player lost 4 times to Serena, never beaten her lost before, then in the big moments of Serena's career beats her when Serena needed the win the most at the US open semi 2015.
Simon Gould
Guest
Both Greece winning Euro 2004 and Zambia winning the African Cup of Nations in 2012, over way more established footballing nations, immediately springs to mind.