Rugby's Biggest Upset to Hit the Big Screen

Japan’s incredible 34-32 victory over South Africa in their 2015 Rugby World Cup pool clash is to be made into a movie, according to Kyodo News.

Kyodo News has revealed that the story is to hit the big screens in a film by award-winning Australian writer and director Max Mannix.

Mannix said that while there were still a few logistical issues to sort out, filming of the movie titled "The Brighton Miracle" will commence in January on Australia's Gold Coast.

“What Eddie Jones and his team did in 2015 was truly magnificent and worthy of being remembered,” Mannix revealed to Kyodo News.

“The story goes beyond rugby in the same way ‘Chariots of Fire’ wasn’t just about running. That was more a film about the distinction between class, belief and religion.

The 53-year-old former professional rugby league player, who has spent much of his time as a writer and director in Japan, added that the movie would not centre completely around the on-field performance as he wanted to uncover how Japan found the confidence to achieve such a result.

“No one gave the Japan team a chance against South Africa, who at the time were the most successful Rugby World Cup team in history. The result was celebrated around the world. What I want to do is try and show why it happened (and) where did the self-belief come from?”

“Imagine how the Japan players felt being told before they went by millions of people that they didn’t have a chance. How they overcame that self-doubt and put aside what everyone thought and knuckled down in what they believed in. That’s what this story is all about,” he said.

“It’s less to do with rugby and more to do with humanity and it’s that story that drives you to the fantastic outcome.”