Springboks shatter Japan’s dreams
Erasmus’ team to face Wales in semi-finals
TOKYO: There was never any shortage of courage, but not even the bravest of blossoms could punch through Springbok brawn last night as South Africa reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals by beating Japan 26-3 and ending their dream run at their home tournament.
In what was a first World Cup quarter-final for the Japanese, neither an entire nation seemingly now besotted by rugby, nor a raucous 50,000 crowd packed into Tokyo Stadium, could carry the hosts to victory.
“We’re really proud with what we’ve achieved at the World Cup,” said Japan coach Jamie Joseph. “I’m just disappointed for the players because they give so much to the group and they give so much to the country.”
It was always going to be an enormous ask for Japan to replicate what has been their greatest moment on a rugby field — beating South Africa 34-32 in a World Cup group stage match in Brighton, England, four years ago.
South Africa had been stunned by that ‘Miracle in Brighton’ but with victories over both Ireland and Scotland this World Cup, Japan no longer held any element of surprise.
Lines were clearly drawn, with both Japan and South Africa knowing precisely what they had to do to reach next weekend’s semi-final against Wales, who edged France 20-19 earlier in the day — this was always going to be a battle between the Boks’ forwards and the Brave Blossoms’ lightning backs.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus had staked out his intent by picking six forwards on the bench and the win was built on a dominant performance up front and a ferocious defensive effort.
“We want to try and go all the way. Obviously now we’ve got Wales, they’re ranked higher than us, they’ve got a win against France this weekend,” said South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus.
“We’ll start [working] tomorrow on them. We’ll enjoy tonight and we know the next two weeks will be tough.”
The first half was close — mostly due to South Africa’s profligacy with the line at their mercy — and the teams had gone in with only two points separating them after an unconverted fourth-minute try by winger Makazole Mapimpi was countered by a Yu Tamura penalty for Japan.
But in the event, after an exhilarating first 40 minutes, the Japanese team ran out of energy, ideas and, finally, hope.
They had not been tackled as fiercely this World Cup as they were last night. Nor had they faced such a disciplined, well-organised defence.
And where the South Africans had been careless early on — they could have gone in at half-time three or four tries to the good — they tightened everything up in the second period to devastating effect.
Man of the match Faf de Klerk, who had helmed the South Africans artfully throughout, added a second try on 66 minutes and Mapimpi added his second four minutes later.
Pollard converted one try and slotted three penalties in the second period, all unanswered.
Japan could never hope to maintain the frenetic pace with which they had harried South Africa early on and departed the tournament beaten but with a whole new army of fans for their exciting, free-flowing rugby.
The Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 1995 and 2007.