[2015 RWC] Pool B: South Africa vs. Japan (19/09/2015)

[shtove]

Bloody hell, I'm Japanese but I figured there's no point waking up at 3:30am to watch SA steamroll over Japan so I didn't set the alarm. Woke up, checked the score and had to do a double take. Definitely going to watch the replay this evening.

Here's a taster - we're all Japanese now, Ireland fans go bonkers over the winning try:

 

[Ballgame59]

I had goosebumps watching that match. Definition of why sport makes people happy.

This will be my new sig!

I wanna have goosebumps too. Where the heck can I find the replay?

 

[martinspoonboy1]

I don't really care what type of team the Japanese are fielding, and all this talk of an upset on the cards or catching us off guard is a bit insulting. Am I the only one thinking that we will smash them???

Even with our so called second stringers, we are still far superior to them.

Amazing!

 

[Rich Taff]

 

[ABs2015]

I don't really care what type of team the Japanese are fielding, and all this talk of an upset on the cards or catching us off guard is a bit insulting. Am I the only one thinking that we will smash them???

Even with our so called second stringers, we are still far superior to them.

Amazing!

Yup!, BUT as much as that comment has come back to bite him, to be honest I'm not sure there were that many people that thought differently, certainly not me….(in terms of the likelihood of an upset occurring that is - not the "insulting" part, that was just a little silly) That being said, it may well have been that kind of attitude which led to their demise. Lesson to us all – never underestimate an opposition!

On the other hand, one has to give credit to Stormer:

Nothing would surprise me though other than Japan giving it to us by 10+; I could see SA by 40 as easily as I could see Japan by 5.

 

[Mcfadden]

Even I wrote Japan off. But some of those comments like an upset being insulting are pretty arrogant tbh.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The bookies say we'll win by 44.

I say we should win by at least 70!

Hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

In the years I've watched sport this has got to be in the top 5 unbelievable upsets I've seen:

1. Buster Douglas beating Tyson
2. Soderling beating Nadal in his pomp at the French
3. Germany beating Brazil 7-1 In their home World Cup.
4. Now Japan beating SA at the RWC.
5. Wimbledon beating Liverpool in the FA cup final, 1988.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Even I wrote Japan off. But some of those comments like an upset being insulting are pretty arrogant tbh.

Lies, he's not English.

 

[Ballgame59]

Here's a taster - we're all Japanese now, Ireland fans go bonkers over the winning try:

Brilliant!

 

[Shaggy]

Wow, its amazing how mental preparation can make such a big difference aye! Cant wait to see the game in full!

By the way, it may have been talked about already, but for the SA guys out there, remember France lost to Tonga last world cup and then nearly won the thing, so far from over for you guys. In fact, maybe this is the kick up the arse your team needed. There is enough talent there and certainly enough experience and smart heads. In all likelihood if you win your remaining games, and you should, you will probably still top your pool!

That's right, there's a good chance that all of teams in that pool will take their share of the wins now; the short turn arounds between games, and the squad depths should probably will be major factors in who qualifies first and second etc ... beware the wounded Springbok!

Yup!, BUT as much as that comment has come back to bite him, to be honest I'm not sure there were that many people that thought differently, certainly not me….(in terms of the likelihood of an upset occurring that is - not the "insulting" part, that was just a little silly) That being said, it may well have been that kind of attitude which led to their demise. Lesson to us all – never underestimate an opposition!

On the other hand, one has to give credit to Stormer:

Well, in all fairness, I was expecting that the Boks would win easily too: in fact, a lot of us viewed this pool as one of the easier pools to predict who would finish on top. I definitely thought the Boks would go through undefeated.

Well done Japan though, let's celebrate their win, rather than the Boks loss

 

[Kiwi_]

I would love to see Samoa and Scotland top the table, it'd be awesome. Gotta love the Japanese as well though.

 

[ABs2015]

That's right, there's a good chance that all of teams in that pool will take their share of the wins now; the short turn arounds between games, and the squad depths should probably will be major factors in who qualifies first and second etc ... beware the wounded Springbok!

Yeah god knows how it will all turn out, but SA got 2 bonus points out of that game, which doesnt happen much. I think that will get them over the line in this pool either in 1st or 2nd depending on how the other teams go. Would be no surprise at all to see SA win their remaining matches, and Japan, Scotland, and Samoa to split games. USA could even be a spanner in the works as well, will have to see how they go tonight vs Samoa.

Only just beginning but so stoked for Japan and great for the tournament that we now have at least 2 pools that are extremely interesting!

 

[Brummsel]

When they choose to scrum I thought they were mental but that was just amazing, Scotland should be feeling worried now

SA underestimated Japan. That won´t happen anymore.

I just hoped, that Japan would be rewarded for their unbelievably great game and fighting spirit. It worked. Just great. :cheers:

 

[Mcfadden]

Just hope the ABs take note of this. Although at least we are use to playing against the Argies and have our top team. But Wayne Barnes is not someone who we get on with very well so hopefully the boys keep their wits about them!

 

[austingtir]

Just hope the ABs take note of this. Although at least we are use to playing against the Argies and have our top team. But Wayne Barnes is not someone who we get on with very well so hopefully the boys keep their wits about them!

Yep I wish I had made a gif of Richie's reaction to a couple of Waynes calls in the Australia match. His body language and facial expressions say it all. He wouldnt say it until he's retired but I gaurantee he has a great deal of dislike for Mr Barnes and you could clearly see him struggling to cope with it...

Oh to be a fly on the wall when the players discuss him in private.

 

[ABs2015]

Just hope the ABs take note of this. Although at least we are use to playing against the Argies and have our top team. But Wayne Barnes is not someone who we get on with very well so hopefully the boys keep their wits about them!

The ABs have claimed they learnt this lesson a while ago - after the QF loss to France in 2007. Hopefully they don't need any more reminding....

 

[Kiwi_]

I'm really concerned for our older legs in the starting 15. I wish some players would be used in a more experience role, rather than a starting role. I think we're going to struggle a lot in some games to get the result. Similar to the Safas

 

[chikwa chibwe]

Honestly Tony I'm not goading the Saffers (for a change)
I am gobsmacked, I just never thought that result was possible. I'm in shock, I can only imagine how the saffers feel.
If that was my AB's losing to the Japs, in that manner (those last three scrums were utterly audacious) I wouldn't come out again until we had made it safely out of the group, and if we didn't Then I'd hide myself for a good few months.
Honestly, that was a monumental upset in any sporting code anywhere in the world.
I take my hairpiece off to the Japs and flick my flaky scalp in their direction, they were undeniable, unquenchable and the spirit and resolve they showed was immense.
I have never seen such a scared look on the faces of the Boks in the dying few minutes of a game.
The horror of the moment was tangible.
There are moments when sport transcends theatre and that was one of the few gems, I am eternally grateful it was not my beloved AB's.
I can't bring myself to goad the saffers at all, I'm too sh*t scared deep inside about that happening to us.
I don't have a coping mechanism for an upset defeat to the order of that magnitude.

No need to worry . Current all blacks can never lose to a team like Japan . Henyke Meyer is to blame . He picked a weaker team.From the comments he makes I conclude he is very arrogant in his thinking . That runs off on the players and brings in complacency.This is in contrast to Steve Hansen who is always striving to improve and keeps his players on their toes .

 

[barthelemy]

I know nobody won't care but still I thought the refering was crap (and he was french), a lot of decision in favour of Japan I thought overall. This was a weak SA team and a very good Japanese team but still referee decisions were more than questionable overall.

Again, Japan really delivered an impressive performance but you could see in the eyes of the saffies that they did not understand more than half of the referee decisions and maybe they were quite right.


Nobody will care, Japan has beaten SA, everybody is happy, lets party !

 

[Kiwi_]

I don't really care what type of team the Japanese are fielding, and all this talk of an upset on the cards or catching us off guard is a bit insulting. Am I the only one thinking that we will smash them???

Even with our so called second stringers, we are still far superior to them.

Nailed it!