It’s Business as usual at Rugby World cup

With Japan to host the 2019 World Cup, Jones said the performances at this tournament had “changed the whole image of Japanese rugby”. Japan had wins over the Springboks, Samoa and the United States, but a loss to Scotland proved very, very costly.

If Scotland loses to Samoa, or even draws that match without a bonus point on Saturday, then Japan could jump over the Scots for the pool’s second quarter-final spot with a win.

Jones again underlined his status among the world’s top coaches after guiding Japan to three group wins out of four.

It’s Argentina next for Ireland in the last eight, the Pumas running in nine tries earlier Sunday to beat Namibia 64-19 in their final Pool C match.

To those that have followed the team over the past four years, it’s clear that the three wins achieved in England were down to two things. Rugby is growing in Japan, helped by the influx of star-studded players and experienced coaches and they can hardly be called a minnow anymore.

Fullback Ayumu Goromaru, who got another nine points Sunday to take his test total above 900, has been one of the revelations of the tournament.

Coach Michael Cheika felt the effort to repel Wales with a “backs-to-the-wall” mentality was a better effort than the attacking win that bundled England out of the World Cup.

“We were driving in and the fans on the side of the road with Japanese flags – most of the people definitely didn’t look like Japanese”.

“What a fantastic achievement for the team”, he said in a nationally televised press conference at a Tokyo hotel ballroom, a rare treatment for the sport in a country where baseball, sumo wrestling and football reign supreme. Wales, Australia and England ended up in the same Pool A with the draw conducted nearly three years before the tournament took place.

These guys are heros now. I thought it would be something that just the rugby boffins would go to, but you can clearly see that supporters are coming from all over the world to watch the games.

Here, Sports Mole has discussed the disappointing campaign and the potential ramifications with former England worldwide Austin Healey, who was speaking as part of Ladbrokes Rugby’s “Who’s Got The Balls” campaign. There’s probably kids in front of the mirror now practicing their goal kicking. They also presented prizes at an Under-11s Rugby Tournament for local schools.

Yet with Stuart Lancaster’s England team already knocked-out of their own World Cup the opportunity went begging. The average margin in matches featuring Tier One vs. Tier Two teams was down to 30 from 36.

Brian O’Leary, the head of medical services at Premiership outfit London Irish, believes that it is Wales’ unlucky run of injuries and Ireland’s spate of injuries in one match that has created the perception that there are more injuries this year than at previous World Cups. “Maybe we are more concerned because the home nations have been badly affected this time round”.

Yet Eddie Jones’ Japan delighted a full house at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton by pulling off the biggest upset in rugby history. “If anyone comes knocking on your door, it’s polite to answer and that’s all I’ve said”.

“I’ve not said I’m interested”.