Ayumu Goromaru of Japan celebrates scoring his teams during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Japan. Photo / Getty Images.
Ayumu Goromaru of Japan celebrates scoring his teams during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Japan. Photo / Getty Images.
South Africa 32 Japan 34
Well, well, well now we have a World Cup that's taken a direction no one thought. Magnificent, clever, innovative, brave, brave, brave Japan have pulled off the unthinkable and beaten the Springboks.
The biggest shock in World Cup history? Would have to be wouldn't it? TheBoks were going to walk the group. They were the winners, the Scots and Samoa playing for the other spot. Not now.
Shame on us all for being so dismissive of Japan. No one saw them as a remotely serious contender to challenge even for second place. As for their chances of beating the Boks...don't be ridiculous.
Sorry Japan, you deserved better but not no one is going to make that mistake for the rest of this tournament. No way. Not a chance.
Japan were good for their win. Great for it in fact. Their skill level would sit alongside the All Blacks'.
Their pass and catch was superb. Their running angles inspired. Their ability to recycle quick ball as good as any team in the world. Their speed of movement fantastic.
Ayumu Goromaru of Japan celebrates scoring his team's second try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Japan. Photo / Getty Images.
They also had a level of innovation to counter their lack of size hat was so, so clever.
Their lineout variations were endless and while they had no chance of driving South Africa off the ball with eight forwards, they did when they brought in half their backs as well.
But what really set them apart was their courage, bravery, conviction and composure. Every time South Africa scored Japan responded. They took each blow as it came but refused to lose heart. They reacted by coming back faster and harder.
When South Africa kicked their last penalty to sit three points ahead with six minutes to go - and even allowing for all that had happened up until then - they were probably still not seen as a strong beg to actually find a way to win.
Image 1 of 10: Ayumu Goromaru of Japan tackles Jean De Villiers of South Africa. Photo / Getty Images
Only the All Blacks have shown that same ability to play with such belief and skill in the closing stages to win from behind. Japan's ball retention in that period was world class.
Their decision making faultless. When they won the lineout but couldn't get the camera angle to show they had scored, that could have broken their spirit. When they won another penalty from the scrum but didn't have time to left for the lineout and then found themselves scrambling just to get the ball out, that could have broken their spirit.
But no. Instead they stayed strong mentally nearly scored in one corner and then gave the backs their chance - who took it - to score in the other one.
Japan have the potential to make it through to the quarterfinals but whether they do or don't, they have the potential to keep getting better as they have all the requirements they need to do so.
South Africa will be rocked and shaken but will strike back. They can still top their group and get their campaign back on track.
It's just that right now, the players may be struggling to believe that.
World Cup matches: Played 25, lost 21, won 2, drew 2. Last win: v Zimbabwe, 1991 Odds on beating South Africa: 40 - 1 Their 2015 pre-World Cup record: Beat: Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, Uruguay, Georgia. Lost to: USA, Fiji, Tonga.
Their World Cup match list 1987 Lost - Japan 18 USA 21 Lost - Japan 7 England 60 Lost - Japan 23 Australia 32 1991 Lost - Japan 9 Scotland 47 Lost - Japan 16 Ireland 32 Won - Japan 52 Zimbabwe 8 1995 Lost - Japan 10 Wales 52 Lost - Japan 28 Ireland 50 Lost - Japan 17 New Zealand 145 1999 Lost - Japan 9 Samoa 43 Lost - Japan 15 Wales 64 Lost - Japan 12 Argentina 33 2003 Lost - Japan 11 Scotland 32 Lost - Japan 29 France 51 Lost - Japan 13 Fiji 41 Lost - Japan 26 USA 39 2007 Lost - Japan 3 Australia 91 Lost - Japan 31 Fiji 35 Lost - Japan 18 Wales 72 Draw - Japan 12 Canada 12 2011 Lost - Japan 21 France 47 Lost - Japan 7 New Zealand 83 Lost - Japan 18 Tonga 31 Draw - Japan 23 Canada 23
