Japan turned their first matchup with mighty South Africa into the biggest shock in Rugby World Cup history on Saturday when the 1,000-1 no-hopers won 34-32.
Nearly four minutes into added time, replacement back Karne Hesketh charged into the edge of the left corner, the crowd’s roar could probably be heard in Tokyo, and Japan’s players collapsed to the ground in a mixture of joy and disbelief.
The noise level inside Brighton’s compact stadium gradually became deafening as Japan’s screaming red-and-white army of fans and South Africa’s green horde sensed a sensational result, when fullback Ayumu Goromaru screeched over into the right corner to make it 29-29 with 10 minutes to go.
Photo: AFP
“It was amazing at the end, I think even Springboks fans were supporting us ... maybe not,” Japan coach Eddie Jones said. “A pretty humbling experience.”
Replacement flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked a penalty to put South Africa ahead 32-29 with seven minutes left.
However, after Japan refused to kick for a draw, persistence and ambition were rewarded as the ball was swept from right to left and Hesketh squeezed through.
“We stuck at it and had the courage at the end to go for the try... It’s just fantastic,” Jones said. “I had to look at the score at the end of the game to see if it was true or not.”
The Springboks scored four tries to flanker Francois Louw, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Lood de Jager and replacement hooker Adriaan Strauss, but could never put daylight between themselves and Japan.
The 1995 and 2007 World Cup winners looked distraught and some fell to the floor in disbelief as Japan’s players carried flags and stood in a line to wave and bow, as they milked the cheers of the delirious crowd of 30,000.
“We’ve been training to beat the Springboks for the last three years,” Japan back-rower Michael Leitch said. “We want to celebrate this win, but we’ve got Scotland around the corner so we have to prepare.”
When South Africa’s Coenie Oosthuizen was sin-binned with little more than one minute left for failing to roll away from making a try-saving tackle, Japan waived off a chance to kick a tying penalty by setting up an attacking line-out. Japan smashed South Africa back with yet another rolling maul that was held up right on the line.
Referee Jerome Garces called for a video replay, with the crowd standing, anxious and awed. The try was not given, but Japan had another scrum.
South Africa held firm — just — but the drama wound up as another scrum packed down.
It seemed lost, as it looked — momentarily — as if South Africa turned the ball over. However, Japan still had possession and, in the blink of an eye, the ball was whizzed from right to left as the creaking Springboks line finally cracked.
As Hesketh was mobbed by his teammates in the corner, South Africa sat head in hands, towels on heads, as the crushing disappointment sank in.
“We’re at a loss for words to describe our performance,” South Africa captain Jean de Villiers said.
A Springboks side packed with 888 Test caps was expected to make a statement of intent with an early and convincing win against Japan. However, Japan’s confidence soared as the majority of the crowd threw their backing behind the most outside of outsiders.
“We have to take responsibility for this performance, because it’s way below par for the standards we set. It wasn’t good enough by a long shot,” De Villiers said. “Credit should go to Japan for the way they stuck it out.”
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