Japan pull off biggest upset in rugby world cup history, beating South Africa in injury time

The jubilant “Brave Blossoms” after their miraculous win

September 19th, 2015 will be recorded as a red letter day in multiple histories: those of Japan, South Africa, Rugby, Sports and Upsets. The riveting manner in which Japan erased the laughability of their underdog status was anything but laughable.

Refusing to be awed by their storied opponents, the Japanese were portentous from the get-go, as they drew first blood. The South Africans, unruffled, started to assert themselves and were soon ahead. But the tenacity of the Cherry Blossoms ensured that they were always within striking distance of the Springboks.

Appointments with cardiologists and sales of beta blockers probably saw a spike, mostly amongst statisticians and bookies as maths was struck with a grave case of foot-in-mouth disease.

The numbers that were everyone’s lips before the match – a nation that had lost twenty-one of its twenty-four World Cup matches, with just two victories against tier-one nations outside the World Cup in the last 27 years, were quickly rendered irrelevant. They were replaced by full-back Ayumu Goromaru’s 24 points consisting of a try, five penalties and two conversions.

Two-time world champions South Africa demonstrated to the crowd why they are revered in the sphere of the sport, but I suppose the Japanese weren’t looking. The ferocity of the South African tries kept reminding spectators why Japan were considered negligible underdogs. And the Japanese indefatigably responded that their hard-nosed play wasn't to be sniffed at. The South African defense was left panting as they were barely able to keep the Japanese tries at bay.

Then came the decision that will be remembered as the most legendary, in rugby lore. It wouldn’t be presumptuous to say that South African fans were incensed by the audacity of the Japanese to eschew the draw-inducing penalties for a winner-takes-all try.

As the ball traversed the breadth of the field and crossed the line, the Brighton Community Stadium erupted as the red and white insignia could not fly any higher. Hulking men who ply a violent trade couldn’t hold back tears as the South Africans, players and fans alike, were left absolutely dumbstruck. The only person with a dry eye was Japan’s coach and former Australian national Eddie Jones.

But words cannot do justice to such a momentous occurrence. The video below does a better job of capturing the emotions that flooded the stadium after the match: