Japan shocks South Africa in Rugby World Cup

Japan shocks South Africa in Rugby World Cup

Japan recorded the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history as substitute Karne Hesketh scored on the last play of the game to seal a 34-32 victory over two-time winners South Africa and send reverberations through the sport two days into the six-week tournament.

It was only the second win in 25 World Cup matches for the Asian nation, but they fully deserved to take the spoils from Saturday’s pulsating Pool B encounter at the Brighton Community Stadium.

Japan’s bravery and tenacity was in evidence throughout the contest, but no more so than in the dying stages. Eschewing the chance to kick a penalty that would have tied the scores, Japan went in for the kill in a dramatic late onslaught that ultimately carved the opening for Hesketh to dive over in the corner.

“We always thought we could beat them. We worked hard for this. It’s got to go down as one of the greatest games in World Cup history,” said Japan coach Eddie Jones.

Japan players and fans shed tears of joy at the end of a thrilling encounter that ebbed and flowed throughout, though few, if any, would have predicted defeat for the 1995 and 2007 champions.

South Africa outscored Japan four tries to three, but the kicking of fullback Ayumu Goromaru, who also scored a try for a personal 24-point tally, kept Japan in the contest to set up that remarkable final eight minutes of pressure, under which the Boks finally buckled.

Ferocious tackling from Japan kept them within two points of of the Springboks at halftime after driving mauls brought tries for South Africa’s Francois Louw and Bismarck du Plessis, with Micahel Leitch touching down for Japan.

The reliable boot of Goromaru nudged Japan in front early in the second half, but that was quickly cancelled out by a try from South African lock Lood De Jager.

Both sides exchanged a series of penalties before the Springboks snatched another try when replacement Adriaan Strauss burst through the defence. But then Japan found space out wide, sending Goromaru in at the corner; his conversion levelling the scores.

France made their best start to a Rugby World Cup since 2003 with their 32-10 win over Italy in Pool D on Saturday having lost to Argentina at home in 2007 and struggled past Japan four years later.

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre said he was satisfied with the job done at Twickenham even if the team needed to improve before their matches against Romania then Canada and a potential pool decider against Ireland in Cardiff on Oct. 11.

“We were solid, powerful, we controlled the match, but we had difficulty getting quick balls (and) we tried some impossible passes,” Saint-Andre said.

“It was a rugged match, we were solid in defence even if we know we can do a lot better. To finish first in the group we need to win three (more) matches.

“I would have preferred three early tries and some Chantilly (cream) on the cake,” he said with a wry grin. “But it was important to win today to get into the competition.”

France, who have beaten in the final three times, were upset by Argentina in the opening match of the tournament they hosted eight years ago and were beaten again by the Pumas for third place, having lost their semi-final to England.

In 2011, France struggled to hold Japan, leading by only four points with 20 minutes to go before a late try rush secured a flattering 47-21 victory.

Defeats against New Zealand and Tonga followed but they somehow still limped into the quarter-finals where they beat England before scraping past Wales in the semi-finals and then losing to the All Blacks by a point in the final.

The one sour note for the French was a knee injury to Yoann Huget that Saint-Andre said look serious and had the wing in tears on the bench after he was helped off the pitch.

“The news is not very reassuring so far, it could be a cruciate ligament (injury), tomorrow morning he will have a scan,” he said.

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