Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rugby’s new frontier
Asia’s first World Cup has provided unique experiences for the game
EVERY rugby fan always knew this World Cup was going to be different. How different we perhaps didn’t know, but we just expected “different”.
It’s kind of obvious – it’s the first rugby World Cup in Asia, so naturally there’s going to be a few unique things, unique sightings, unique traditions. Different.
Ahead of the game’s biggest event, there were a number of factors that were flagged as points to note for the Japan spectacle.
We heard that it would be best to cover the ink while over in the land of the rising sun. We heard about the extreme humidity and heat and the impact it could have on games. We heard about typhoon warnings and how it could affect fixtures. We heard about a lot. There was just a lot to be said about this World Cup.
Now we’re halfway through the sporting spectacle, and what an interesting one it’s been. Japan, as a host nation, has been interesting.
Not because of the all-over vending machines and anime, the Japanese cuisine, the Tokyo Skytree or even capsule hotels. Sure, those things were quite something, but what’s been particularly fascinating has been how the locals have taken to the event.
When I arrived in Japan ahead of the World Cup, that Cup fever hit me immediately. I didn’t have to wait to land in Tokyo to see that.
I saw it during my flight with Emirates – an on-board experience which served as the perfect precursor to such a major event. There, already, it was clear that it was time.
While the cabin crew were top quality, what Emirates offered was just as impressive.
They were fully into the World Cup. Their inflight entertainment (ICE) was, of course, entertaining, but it’s the fact that their dedicated sports channel would keep fans, those who were heading for Japan during the World Cup or returning home, up to date with all the action. Who wouldn’t want to watch a live game during a flight, and a long one at that?
That in itself was an experience. Actually arriving in Japan, even more so.
You could see that Japan – by no means famous as a rugby-obsessed country – was all in. All around you could see the World Cup spirit. So it’s very fitting that the hosts are doing so well.
Maybe it’s not so surprising. We always knew that the “Miracle of Brighton” was going to do a lot for the game in Japan.
South Africans wouldn’t want to talk about what happened at the last World Cup in England in 2015 over too many beers, but for Japan, it did a lot. The fact that they beat the Springboks in a World Cup pool game did a lot.
Since then, the game has grown at pace in Japan. They went from being major minnows and somehow pulling off arguably the biggest upset in World Cup history a mere four years ago to being real play-off contenders in 2019. And I doubt any rugby fan needs any briefing on what the Brave Blossoms did against Ireland this time around.
Point is, their game has grown so much, and it’s obvious that the interest has, too.
When I arrived at Yokohama Stadium for the Springboks’ opener against the All Blacks, I was stunned to see how much support there was for these two sides in a neutral city.
All Blacks and Bok jerseys were everywhere; they stretched as far as the eye could see.
Inside the ground and once the game actually kicked off, you’d swear it was either a team from Japan on the match day programme or the Boks playing at home, such was the vibe inside the Yokohama Stadium, such was the support and excitement.
What was different from that game being played at a South African stadium, though, was of course the overwhelming support for the Kiwis.
Both teams were certainly supported, but the New Zealanders just enjoyed more of that backing. It was evident in all the black jerseys that flooded Yokohama.
A South African certainly would not have enjoyed that ratio of support too much (just ask the group that passionately sang Olé Olé during the Haka).
They might have missed supporting the Boks with an arch rival (like if it was Stormers and Bulls supporters) sitting right next to them. They might have missed the lingering smell of boerewors being braaied just outside Newlands.
They might have missed quite a few things unique to watching a Springbok Test in South Africa, I doubt anything would ever really be the same. But what they wouldn’t have been able to miss was the pre-match anticipation, that was still there, even though it wasn’t even two local teams.
For me, having covered that game in Yokohama compared to Newlands, for example, wasn’t much different, apart form the aforementioned vibe-creating factors.
Yes, it would have been great to see the Boks being cheered on more than their age-old rivals (as would be the case in SA) but when playing away from home, any support is appreciated, regardless of the ratio, and the Boks would certainly have appreciated the support they did get while in Japan. There was a lot of it.
It would also have been great to see the Boks get a win over the All Blacks, but nothing can be done about that now.
What can still be done or achieved by the Boks, though, is World Cup success. And that’ll be an indescribable experience, no matter at which stadium the Webb Ellis Cup is lifted or what the ratio of support is.