Japan Stun The World

“I can absolutely promise you that no-one in world rugby expected (the Springboks) to lose that game,” said Nick Mallett post-match on SuperSport.

Don’t believe anyone who told you he predicted that supposed no-hoper underdogs Japan would beat South Africa. It was a miracle not even Eddie Jones believed a realistic possibility. But win they did, to score the biggest upset in World Cup history. And they deserved the victory.

What we know now:

1     Congratulations are due to head coach Eddie Jones for orchestrating what may well be the biggest shock since William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823.

2     Congratulations are due to Japan’s defence coach Leigh Jones for the team’s defence pattern, denying the Boks time and space, and the disruptive ferocity of their low ‘chop’ tackles that make up for the players’ lack of size.

3     Congratulations are due to Japan’s lineout coach, former England captain, Steve Borthwick for the accuracy that provided assured ball.

4     Congratulations are due to Japan’s scrummaging coach, former France hooker, Marc dal Maso, for making the Boks work so hard at every scrum.

5     Japan’s captain Michael Leitch delivered a performance for the ages, as captain and individually as a ubiquitous loose-forward.

6    Every Japanese player did himself and his team great credit, with powerhouse lock Luke Thompson joining Leitch in playing the game of his life, and diminutive but skilful Ayumu Goromaru taking his points tally to 677 in 54 Tests.

7    For the Springboks, that was as miserable a game any in South Africa’s Test history going back to 1891.

8     The players had a shocker and coaches Heyneke Meyer, Johann van Graan, Ricardo Loubscher, and John McFarland need to do intensive soul-searching themselves.

9    Did the Boks do anything unexpected, anything innovative? Playing such sadly predictable rugby makes the Boks far too easy to defend against. Such lack of creativity and flair could see the Boks go home before the quarter-finals.

10     Credit to Lood de Jager and Schalk Burger for their performances. They provided some illumination in a long, dark tunnel.

11     Coenie Oosthuizen’s indiscipline makes him a liability. His yellow card was deserved and damaging. 

12     The danger for the Boks is that the coaches may now revert to an even more conservative game-plan in an effort to rescue the campaign, rather than being bold and adventurous and allowing the players to use their skills. Beating Samoa now becomes an unprecedented challenge.