Eikokurai 3,194 Posted September 28, 2019 (edited) If it somehow escaped your attention, Japan caused yet another massive upset by beating world number 2 side Ireland by 19 points to 12 at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Unlike their similar upset against South Africa in 2015, this time Japan led for the final 20 minutes and sealed the win when try-scorer Fukuoka intercepted an Irish pass a few minutes from the end. He was unable to take the ball over the line, but the resulting possession and series of scrums on the Ireland 5m-line ground down the clock. With the 80 minutes passed, Ireland cleared their lines, but the ball went out of bounds and the game was over. Incredible scenes. Commiserations to John Gunning, but I'm sure even he appreciates a great rugby performance when he sees one. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/28/japan-ireland-rugby-world-cup-match-report https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/49849736 Edited September 28, 2019 by Eikokurai 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kuroimori 1,633 Posted September 28, 2019 Amazing match indeed! This upset is even bigger than the win against the Springbocks at RWC 2015, because after that, everybody knew to take the Brave Blossoms seriously. Outstanding approach by the Brave Blossoms' Head Coach. He targeted the apparently weaker fitness of the Irish by trying to avoid stopping the clock or any stoppage of play as much as possible. Ireland seemed out of breath after the first 20 minutes until the end of the game. What a masterpiece! Omedetou! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 2,464 Posted September 28, 2019 For those of you residing in Tokyo: please go do a quick "health and safety" check on John G. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhyen 1,398 Posted September 29, 2019 John is not in Tokyo, he is on site or en route to competition stadium. and we have not heard any reports of casualties so far for these matches...except for drunken brawls in sports bar in Tokyo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sumozoid 3 Posted September 29, 2019 so japan is winning with best competitors in american sport? interesting :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhyen 1,398 Posted September 30, 2019 Rugby is not American Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eikokurai 3,194 Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, sumozoid said: so japan is winning with best competitors in american sport? interesting :) Rugby was invented in England. The USA has a team but it’s a long way from being a popular sport in the country, though it is growing. Many expect the USA to be ‘the next Japan’ in rugby terms. Edited September 30, 2019 by Eikokurai Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eikokurai 3,194 Posted October 13, 2019 And they've only gone and done it again against Scotland! Japan win 28-21 to progress to the quarter-finals of a Rugby World Cup for the first time. They even finish top of their pool after winning all four games and earn themselves a relatively easier tie against South Africa in the next round. A superb game of a rugby. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 550 Posted October 13, 2019 I thought Japan’s momentum was shifted due to “cancellation drama”. But they keep playing good till end to finally through to quarterfinal. おめでとう, 日本ラグビー代表!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 550 Posted October 17, 2019 Some article about Japan’s rugby team, especially winning game after 19th thypoon Rugby World Cup: How Japan became a force to be reckoned with Japan deserve their history-making moment - Matt Dawson column Japan: Rugby World Cup quarter-final spot gives fans reason to smile after Typhoon Hagibis Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eikokurai 3,194 Posted October 19, 2019 The Rugby World Cup has made sumo-themed adverts for the quarter-finals: I've also seen one for Wales v France, but oddly Japan v South Africa seems to be missing. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 233 Posted October 20, 2019 Not long now to Japan v South Africa, although after yesterday's demoltition of Ireland by New Zealand, it is hard to see anyone other than the All Blacks lifting the trophy. Swami 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benihana 1,641 Posted October 20, 2019 1 hour ago, Swami said: Not long now to Japan v South Africa, although after yesterday's demoltition of Ireland by New Zealand, it is hard to see anyone other than the All Blacks lifting the trophy. Swami Accidentally got stuck there while channel-hopping. A massacre. Will watch Japan/SA later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benihana 1,641 Posted October 20, 2019 Too bad, but a courageous effort. Maybe they should scout sumo dropouts for some more muscle. They lost too much in those scrums and mauls. Japan deserves to be proud. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 550 Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) BBC’s Mike Henson wrote an article about the future of Japanese rugby after this world cup. Guardian’s Andy Bull wrote about Japan’s never-say-die spirit needs nurturing after Rugby World Cup. Edited October 21, 2019 by code_number3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted October 21, 2019 'Big thank you' from Japan fans to Brave Blossoms Quote ...Ever since the tournament started, national television networks have aired special programmes to explain the rules, techniques and strategies of rugby. Newspapers have used elaborate graphics to do the same, with top selling daily Yomiuri Shimbun using its Sunday morning edition to warn the Brave Blossoms about "kicks to the heavens", referring to South African scrum-half Faf de Klerk's high box kicks. The Nikkei business daily warned readers ahead of the game that the Springboks have their guards high "unlike the last tournament" four years ago when Japan famously upset the two-time champions. Phrasing it in a way Japanese readers can relate to, the paper said: "It will be like an enormous yokozuna (sumo grand champion) charging head-on," the paper said. This turned out to be a fair analogy as some of the hits the Springboks put on their Japanese counterparts must have felt like a sumo clash... https://www.france24.com/en/20191020-big-thank-you-from-japan-fans-to-brave-blossoms Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 550 Posted October 28, 2019 Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, and Koo Ji-won were interviewed on yesterday's Sunday Sports http://www.miomio.tv/watch/cc464157/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benihana 1,641 Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) I'm not really a supporter of the Springboks, but i hope they clinch the title. a) Because it's vs. England b) Japan can say they got kicked out by the champions Edited October 28, 2019 by Benihana 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benihana 1,641 Posted October 28, 2019 44 minutes ago, Naganoyama said: a) ouch Don't take it personal, take it political Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 4,998 Posted October 29, 2019 Ah. Well that's something I can do nothing about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benihana 1,641 Posted November 2, 2019 SPRINGBOKS YUSHOOO 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 550 Posted November 2, 2019 It’s the first time that the RWC winner is not zensho-yusho. Congratulation to Springboks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 233 Posted November 5, 2019 Yes, hopefully that will shut Eddie Jones and England up, I think they just thought all they had to do was to turn up and they would win. Swami Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
