Japanese warn of another miracle
Skipper Michael Leitch claims he wasn’t even aware they had earned themselves a sequel to the ‘Brighton Miracle’ but warned Japan’s Rugby World Cup history boys are not done yet captivating this enthralled nation of theirs.
What’s more, vanquished Scotland coach Gregor Townsend had a stark warning for the Springboks ahead of their Sunday quarterfinal against Japan in Tokyo: underestimate this group of furious pace-and-space merchants at your peril.
The heavily Kiwi-influenced Japan side – coached and led by New Zealanders – made history at Yokohama’s International Stadium on Sunday night when they put a welcome smile on the face of their nation post-Typhoon Hagibis with a 28-21 victory over Scotland to close out pool A undefeated and take top qualifying spot into the weekend’s quarterfinals.
It is the first time Japan – indeed, any side out of Asia – has made the knockout rounds of the global tournament and it completed a triumphant group stage for the host nation of this tournament that had been thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the typhoon and destruction it left in its path.
There had been plenty of noise around the cancellation of two Saturday matches (including the All Blacks’ pool closer against Italy) and another on Sunday, though the growing death toll and images of the mayhem in the more outlying areas of this populous country offered a stark reminder that this is only sport, after all.
But no doubt Japan’s brilliant Sunday night triumph, where they burst out of the blocks with a stunning display of their run-andgun game at its best, and then hung on with remarkable fortitude in the face of a furious Scots fightback, would have provided a welcome boost for a nation feeling the weight of Mother Nature.
After noting the lift his team’s achievements would have given, not just for rugby in Japan, but the entire continent, Leitch declared the job was only just beginning.
‘‘Now we’re shifting the goalposts,’’ declared the former Cantabrian who first came to this country as a teenager.
‘‘I’m not too sure who we’ve got next but we’ll start next week and go from there.
‘‘The key to our victories is our preparation, being aligned from the start of the week and consistent messages.
‘‘We’re not coming out next week to have a good game and lose. We’re coming out to win.’’
Leitch also lauded the contribution of coach Jamie Joseph, the tough taskmaster and hard-nosed former All Black.
The skipper said the shift in Japanese rugby from gallant competitors to gritty winners had come through his leadership.
Joseph, in turn, deflected a hefty swag of credit the way of offsider, and renowned attack guru Tony Brown, who might just be auditioning his way into an All Blacks assistant’s role.
‘‘Tony is a fabulous rugby coach,’’ said Joseph, ‘‘and together as a team we complement each other in terms of how we approach the players and the type of environment we create.
‘‘A lot of that is to do with giving players responsibility, accountability and trusting them really.’’
The Japan-South Africa quarterfinal drips with poignancy.
Japan lit the fuse on this transformation they’re in the midst of with their stunning World Cup upset over the Springboks at the 2015 edition of the tournament in England. That was tagged the ‘Brighton Miracle’ and was subsequently made into a movie.