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An 84th minute try from Karne Hesketh secured a thrilling 34-32 victory for Japan over South Africa in what will be considered the biggest upset, to date, in Rugby World Cup history. To call the match David vs Goliath may be selling it short. The match could have been considered more like David vs Godzilla given that Japan hadn’t recorded a World Cup victory since 1991, South Africa are two-time champs and always a favorite to win the tournament.
The victory has thrown Pool B of the World Cup into turmoil right out of the gate. Coming into the World Cup, South Africa was considered to be the easy favorite in Pool B with the remaining sides left to battle it out for the second seed in the pool. The loss for South Africa could have ramifications for the rest of the tournament. The upset was the culmination of a gutsy effort from Japan, whom trailed South Africa six different times in the match. The seesaw affair had a relatively quiet first half that was flipped upside down by a tense and exciting second half of play.
The scoring got started with a Ayumu Goromaru penalty in the 3rd minute. Penalty goals from Goromaru were a theme that was repeated throughout the match and kept Japan within striking distance. The Japanese fullback put forth a massive effort for Japan as he accounted for 24 points on a try, two conversions, and five penalty goals.
South Africa answered back in the 18th minute with a try from Francois Louw which was converted by Pat Lambie to give South Africa a 7-3 lead. Japan’s Michael Leitch scored a try in the 30th minute, which was converted by Goromaru, as the Brave Blossoms reclaimed the lead 10-7.
Bismarck Du Plessis gave the Springboks a 12-10 advantage with a try in the 33rd minute. The score remained the same for the rest of the half and there was a sense that if Japan stayed within striking distance that an upset could be afoot.
Goromaru started the second half just as he did the first as he slotted a penalty in the 43rd minute to give Japan a 13-12 lead. The Springboks struck back quick as Lodewyk De Jager scored a try a minute later. Lambie added the conversion to stake South Africa to a 19-13 lead.
Japan answered right back with 49th and 53rd minute penalty goals from Goromaru to deadlock the score at 19-19. Lambie answered back with a penalty in the 57th minute to give South Africa yet another lead 22-19. Minutes later, it was Goromaru again with another penalty to tie the match at 22-22.
As the match roared into the final quarter, Adriaan Strauss gave the Springboks another lead with a try. Handre Pollar added the conversion to give South Africa a 29-22 lead. As had been the storyline of the entire match, Japan wouldn’t succumb as they tied the match again as Goromaru scored a try and added the conversion to knot the match at 29-29 with ten minutes to play.
In the 73rd minute, Pollard added a penalty to give South Africa a narrow 32-29 lead. With one last opportunity to win the match, Japan went on the attack. They were awarded a penalty inside of South Africa’s half, but opted to kick for touch instead of going for the tie. The gamble paid off as Japan worked the ball deep inside Springbok territory. After a series of scrummages, Japan attacked South Africa’s lines and finally broke through with an 84th minute try from Hesketh to give the Brave Blossoms a 34-32 victory and the biggest scalp ever claimed by a Tier 2 nation.
The crowd at Brighton Community Stadium ranged from emotional bliss to stunned disbelief. The Rugby World Cup has been in desperate need of an upset by one of the so called “minnows” over a major rugby playing nation. Japan delivered a performance that will be talked about for ages.
Scoring Summary
Japan 34
Tries: Leitch (30′), Goromaru (69′), Hesketh (84′)
Conv: Goromaru (31′, 70′)
Pen: Goromaru (3′, 43′, 49′, 53′, 60′)
South Africa 32
Tries: Louw (18′), Du Plessis (33′), De Jager (44′), Strauss (62′)
Conv: Lambie (19′, 45′), Pollard (63′)
Pen: Lambie (57′), Pollard (73′)
