Incredible Rugby result: Japan beat South Africa

[Grizzled Ian]

This is an astounding result. Japan scored a try in injury time to defeat the Springboks by 34 to 32 in the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup in England.

To put this in context, South Africa have won the World Cup twice, in 1995 and 2007; Japan have won just one match in all their previous RWC tournaments. The tallest man in the Japanese forward pack is shorter than the average height of the 'Boks forwards.

By way of illustration, it would be similar to a college team beating the Seattle Seahawks in a game of American football.

Not that I need to establish a link to kilt wearing for a thread in the Miscellaneous forum, but Scotland have qualified for this year's RWC, in pool B with Japan, South Africa, Samoa and the USA.

[CDNSushi]

For the future.... PLEASE.... No spoilers in thread headings. I recorded that game and was going to watch it. Until now, that is...

[Grizzled Ian]

My apologies Jim, I must admit I did not consider the spoiler alert angle when I posted at 3.30am this morning after watching the game live. Point well taken.

Three factors: first and overwhelmingly, the magnitude of this result that I just had to share; secondly, my capacity to collect the spoiler angle was impaired by watching so much live rugby overnight instead of sleeping; and lastly, after my other thread on the RWC elicited no response (still, even as I post this 30 hours later), the apparent lack of interest out there meant there were no hints either that might have prompted a consideration of the risk of the spoiler.

Ah but, you've shown how you prioritise things, XMTS first, sport second - good man! Well, good man either way, I suppose, when rugby is the chosen sport.

[okiwen]

I would watch it regardless. After all, the winning is just a small part of the game, right? Amazing win for Japan.