Springboks blame `bird poop` for their loss against Japan rugby team

That means with only four days between matches, it will be hard for Japan to recharge their batteries both mentally and physically to face Scotland.

The Stormers confirmed the agreement with Jones just 48 hours before Japan’s pivotal World Cup meeting with Scotland in Gloucester later tonight.

“There is no miracle in rugby”, Goromaru said after the game.

“As well coached as they were, we didn’t fully understand what they would bring”, he said.

It was the Asian champions’ first victory at a World Cup since 1991 and left the two-time former winners reeling.

For what he dubbed his team’s “most important game” at Rugby World Cup 2015, Jones replaced six players from the Springboks match and made two positional changes, Harumichi Tatekawa shifting to fly half from centre and Kotaro Matsushima switching wings.

Jones commented: “I am a coach that enjoys a challenge and I see this job as a huge challenge, but one that excites me tremendously”.

“We need to write it off and move forward as quickly as possible”, Burger said as the South Africans moved base to prepare for their next game against Samoa on Saturday. “We are definitely fitter than they are”.

Thirty-year-old Louw scored one of South Africa’s tries against Japan and said that they are still confident they can go all the way. South Africa underestimated us, so we thought if we hung in the game long enough we’d get the chance to sneak the win.

Karne Hesketh’s last-gasp try secured the win in dramatic fashion, but Japan have had little time to celebrate ahead of the game with Scotland at Kingsholm.

“When you’ve a played a big game it is always hard to come down”.

“We are professional rugby players and we know where to draw the line, so I don’t think it will play a role”.

South Africa’s shock defeat to Japan in the Rugby World Cup sent shockwaves around the world, but few will have felt the tremors quite like Ron Rutland.

Japan’s win over the Springboks, he added, “has given us something to focus on because they didn’t just compete, they won”. Scotland are coming into it with flawless preparation. We know the brand of rugby we can play.

Imagine that. Cycling over 43,000km around two continents and all you want in return is your team to beat a World Cup minnow, something they’ve down countless times over the years. “I’m playing for my Scotland team so there are no extra emotions”, he said.