Japan pulls massive upset of South Africa in Rugby World Cup

Heavyweights South Africa play their first game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Japan in what should be a good test for the Springboks.

An ecstatic Jones, who helped steer the Boks to World Cup glory as a technical consultant in 2007, was as stunned as everyone else by the outcome.

“It was a pretty humbling experience today”, said Jones, whose mother is Japanese.

Join The Roar for live scores of the Springboks-Japan match from 1:45am AEST, and feel free to join in the discussion in the comments section below. “But we were more than fearless “. “That has to go down as one of the greatest games in World Cup history”. All credit to Japan and the way they executed their win. We are not done. I can be like Clive Woodward and tell everyone what to do on television. “I didn’t want to let the boys down”.

Japan head coach Eddie Jones said he is delighted with the win.

South Africa scored four tries to Japan’s three, but it was the boot of Ayumu Goromaru proving the difference as he kicked two conversions and five penalties for the Japanese.

“It is a fantastic day for Japan but we have to take ownership of this performance”. Yes, they were found wanting a couple of times in one-on-one situations, but on the whole their line held firm and they were not overwhelmed by their bigger opponents. But the opening 15 minutes belonged firmly to Japan, whose confidence soared as the majority of the crowd threw their backing behind the most outside of outsiders.

“The boys are really happy, it’s our first (World Cup) win in 24 years and to beat the Springboks at the World Cup, you know, it’s a pretty special feeling”.

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. “It’ll be a massive bash-up festival”.

“We’ve got the least winning record at the World Cup, and we’re the smallest team in the World Cup“.

“We represent a proud nation and I apologise to the nation”.

The Springboks actually scored a try more in the game, beating the Japanese four to three in that department.

“We have to take responsibility for this performance because it’s way below par for the standards we set”.

The idea of transformation targets is understandable in a country still trying to readdress racial inequality – by presenting coaches with a measurable objective so they can be judged – but the application often strips players of dignity.

“We have to pull together and go through”.

While political change was happening around me, and I was certainly interested in it, it was still hard to find something to be proud of. The schedule for pool play goes from September 19 through the beginning of October and then things move into the knockout stage.

South African Ron Rutland was also in Brighton, though his journey, all the way from Cape Town, took slightly longer than Ikeda’s.