BATTLING JAPAN STUN SOUTH AFRICA
Biggest upset in World Cup history as Brave Blossoms conquer Springboks
THE fiercest clash in Brighton since Quadrophenia this was never supposed to be. Not when it was a game being contested by two teams at opposite ends of the Rugby World Cup spectrum; the best record versus the worst.
But those who gathered inside a pulsating, sun-drenched Brighton Community Stadium can say they were there when Japan conquered the mighty Springboks. When they delivered what, without question, is the greatest upset in the history of the tournament.
When Japan secured a scrum five yards from South Africa’s line in the final minute, we could only watch open-mouthed as this match reached its extraordinary climax.
Were we really about to witness a piece of sporting history? Was an impossible dream about to become a reality?
It was incredible, South Africa holding first but Japan retaining possession before launching attack in one direction and then the other before Karne Hesketh escaped the clutches of JP Pietersen to score a try that might just result in statues of him being erected back in Tokyo.
It was, of course, the stuff of nightmares for a South African team who show no signs of emerging for a poor spell of form that extends back to last Autumn. For Heyneke Meyer, their coach, it must have been very uncomfortable indeed.
The fact that Japan actually led this game Pool B game three times prior to that made it all the more remarkable.
The Brave Blossoms Japan most definitely were, stunning their illustrious opponents with a marvellous blend of committed, creative rugby under the guidance of the great Eddie Jones.
Guilty, quite clearly, of thinking this would be easy against a country reflecting on 18 straight World Cup losses, a country that’s one and only World Cup win came against Zimbabwe in 1991, South Africa were caught cold by the speed and ferocity of Japan’s running and the accu- racy of their passing. The visibly smaller, slighter Japan players were no match for the Springboks in terms of sheer power. Not least in the scrums.
But their running play was first class and a product of that adventure was a successfully-converted eighth minute penalty kick from Ayumu Goromaru, who did well to compose himself after a crunching tackle from his opposite number moments earlier.
The Japanese fans, many of them sporting bright red wigs, were understandably excited, and most appreciative when Shota Horie, their hooker, displayed the admirable audacity to slip a basketballstyle reverse pass to a team-mate.
A tackle by Harumichi Tatekawa on the towering figure of Schalk
Burger was similarly impressive. Goromaru almost doubled the lead, only to send his penalty kick wide, but when Francois Louw then powered over from a line-out to score an 18th minute try Patrick Lambie then converted, it seemed safe to assume that would mark the end of Japan’s defiance.
But back came Japan, so nearly scoring from a line-out when the TMO ruled that Hendrik Tui had been stopped at the line only to then score a minute later from another line-out, the skipper Michael Leitch surging over from the back of a maul. Goromaru’s conversion then saw Japan’s advantage return to three points.
In fairness to South Africa, they were consistently ruthless in their response; scoring tries almost at will whenever Japan dared threaten. Bismarck du Plessis muscled his way over from another impressive drive, enabling the Springboks to go into the break 12-10 up.
But three minutes into the second half and Japan had their noses back in front – thanks to another penalty from Goromaru – even if it was for less than 60 seconds, their failure to stop 6ft 9in Lood De Jager the first time their defending had let them down.
Leitch, their New Zealand born captain, had been immense in his tackling but that amounted to a soft try to concede for the Japanese. One Lambie then converted.
What the Springboks appeared incapable of doing, however, was seizing anything remotely resembling a commanding lead, these play- ers seemingly suffering the same lack of confidence they have displayed this past year. Not least when they lost to Argentina.
Two more Goromaru penalties and Japan were back level, with an exchange of kicks between Lambie and the Japanese full-back leaving this astonishing game all square at 22-22 on the hour.
When Adrian Strauss then surged over for yet another South African try the celebrations were muted to say the least. It was becoming all the more embarrassing.
Inspired by Leitch, Japan remained full of running and scored a quite brilliant try from their very own points machine – Goromaru – in the 68th minute. When he then converted from close to the touch line that took his personal tally to 24 points. He also tackled courageously and ran fearlessly. A quite stunning contribution.
Four minutes later and the Springboks had squeezed back in front thanks to a penalty from Handre Pollard. But Japan never backed down. Never stopped coming back.
Jones, such a genius of a coach, had said this was a ‘David and Goliath’ contest before the game. Well here in Brighton David won again.