4年前、夜中に「ハッ」と目が覚めてTVをつけたら、ちょうどにラグビー・ワールドカップJapan vs South Africa最後の場面。日本チームが優勝候補の南ア相手の最後の攻撃でペナルティ・ゴールではなく勇敢にもスクラムを選択し、その後奇跡のTryを決め、勝利した瞬間を見た。その試合は「World Cup史上最大の番狂わせ」と言われた。でも、今年9/28、日本開催のWorld Cupで日本人のほとんど全員が（もちろん私も）負けると思っていた世界1,2を争う優勝候補のIrelandを破った！
Japan have been praised for a “seismic” win over Ireland, which is expected to “ignite” the Rugby World Cup.
***The Brave Blossoms recorded a huge upset as they won 19-12 in Shizuoka.
It built on a nervy opening-day victory against Russia for the hosts, who now top Pool A and are aiming to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
Former Ireland wing Denis Hickie said: “For the host nation to beat the number one ranked team and to win this early on, it will ignite the tournament.”
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said his team were “obviously ecstatic about the result”.
The New Zealander said his side had been “preparing for three years” so “we felt like had an advantage”.
“You’ve just got to be careful before the game. You don’t want to come across too arrogant and cocky,” he added.
“We obviously had a lot of belief in our gameplan and in what we wanted to do. We knew how good Ireland were and how strong they were.”
The result comes four years after Japan famously shocked the rugby world by beating two-time world champions South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. That 34-32 success was dubbed the “Miracle of Brighton” after Japan slid over for an injury-time winning try.
But despite growing enthusiasm for rugby in the country, few would have expected the hosts to repeat the trick against an Ireland side who came into the tournament as the world’s top-ranked team, although went into the match in second behind the All Blacks after their win over South Africa.
Japan also had to recover from trailing at half-time on Saturday, just the second time in 24 attempts they have fought back to win after behind at the break at a World Cup, with the other occasion the win over the Springboks four years ago.
***********Japan’s stand-in captain Pieter Labuschagne told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We backed ourselves going into this game. That was a great game [against South Africa], but we came into this tournament with a new goal and knew what we wanted to do.
“We are really happy. It is difficult to put it into words but I’m proud of every man and it was a great team effort.”
It was the first time Ireland have lost to a non-tier one nation at the World Cup, with Japan, who had never previously beaten the Irish, having now won five of their last six matches at the tournament.
**********Japan’s win is ‘so massive’
Former Australia international Matt Giteau, who now plays for Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, said the win was “so massive for the World Cup”, while former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said it was “no fluke”.
Horgan added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This tournament needed a second-tier nation to beat a first-tier nation and this was no fluke – they thoroughly deserved it, [they] out-played Ireland.”
Denis Hickie said: “It’s a huge country and rugby is not anywhere near the top sport, so it’s perfect timing.”
Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic sevens gold, said it was a “seismic” win, and that he was impressed by Japan’s approach to the game.
“This was textbook from Japan – any young kids watching who want to see how to tackle properly should watch this Japan team,” he said.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said: “Congratulations to Japan. What a furious and intense effort it was. We knew it was potentially coming. They are a tremendous side and did really well.”
************Can Japan reach the knockout stages?
Many thought Pool A would be a battle between Ireland and Scotland to see who would face either New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
But with two wins from two, it is Japan who top the group and have set a platform to reach the last eight for the first time.
Hickie said the group was now “wide open”, with ex-Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson in agreement.
“Japan had the pressure of being hosts in their first game, but tonight they showed they are the real deal and mean business in this tournament,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Their goal of making the quarter-finals is not just a whim. They deserved the win and have blown that group wide open.”
However, with games against Samoa and Scotland still to come, the Brave Blossoms will need to continue their winning form if they are to set up a mouth-watering match with either the All Blacks or another meeting with South Africa in the last eight, while bonus points could play a key part in who progresses.
Ireland should bounce back against Russia next time out, but no side has ever won the World Cup having lost a game in the tournament.
Hickie said: “We saw a situation last time when Japan won three games and didn’t progress. They have their destiny in their hands and Ireland will have to hope Japan and Scotland drop some points.”
Horgan added: “We have an absolute stonker for the last game of this group, Japan versus Scotland. The whole world will be watching, which is exactly what you want at a World Cup.”
The Brave Blossoms recorded a huge upset as they won 19-12 in Shizuoka.
It built on a nervy opening-day victory against Russia for the hosts, who now top Pool A and are aiming to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
Former Ireland wing Denis Hickie said: “For the host nation to beat the number one ranked team and to win this early on, it will ignite the tournament.”
Japan coach Jamie Joseph said his team were “obviously ecstatic about the result”.
The New Zealander said his side had been “preparing for three years” so “we felt like had an advantage”.
“You’ve just got to be careful before the game. You don’t want to come across too arrogant and cocky,” he added.
“We obviously had a lot of belief in our gameplan and in what we wanted to do. We knew how good Ireland were and how strong they were.”
The result comes four years after Japan famously shocked the rugby world by beating two-time world champions South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. That 34-32 success was dubbed the “Miracle of Brighton” after Japan slid over for an injury-time winning try.
But despite growing enthusiasm for rugby in the country, few would have expected the hosts to repeat the trick against an Ireland side who came into the tournament as the world’s top-ranked team, although went into the match in second behind the All Blacks after their win over South Africa.
Japan also had to recover from trailing at half-time on Saturday, just the second time in 24 attempts they have fought back to win after behind at the break at a World Cup, with the other occasion the win over the Springboks four years ago.
Japan’s stand-in captain Pieter Labuschagne told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We backed ourselves going into this game. That was a great game [against South Africa], but we came into this tournament with a new goal and knew what we wanted to do.
“We are really happy. It is difficult to put it into words but I’m proud of every man and it was a great team effort.”
It was the first time Ireland have lost to a non-tier one nation at the World Cup, with Japan, who had never previously beaten the Irish, having now won five of their last six matches at the tournament.
Japan’s win is ‘so massive’
Former Australia international Matt Giteau, who now plays for Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath, said the win was “so massive for the World Cup”, while former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said it was “no fluke”.
Horgan added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “This tournament needed a second-tier nation to beat a first-tier nation and this was no fluke – they thoroughly deserved it, [they] out-played Ireland.”
Denis Hickie said: “It’s a huge country and rugby is not anywhere near the top sport, so it’s perfect timing.”
Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji to Olympic sevens gold, said it was a “seismic” win, and that he was impressed by Japan’s approach to the game.
“This was textbook from Japan – any young kids watching who want to see how to tackle properly should watch this Japan team,” he said.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt said: “Congratulations to Japan. What a furious and intense effort it was. We knew it was potentially coming. They are a tremendous side and did really well.”
Can Japan reach the knockout stages?
Many thought Pool A would be a battle between Ireland and Scotland to see who would face either New Zealand or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
But with two wins from two, it is Japan who top the group and have set a platform to reach the last eight for the first time.
Hickie said the group was now “wide open”, with ex-Scotland scrum-half Rory Lawson in agreement.
“Japan had the pressure of being hosts in their first game, but tonight they showed they are the real deal and mean business in this tournament,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Their goal of making the quarter-finals is not just a whim. They deserved the win and have blown that group wide open.”
However, with games against Samoa and Scotland still to come, the Brave Blossoms will need to continue their winning form if they are to set up a mouth-watering match with either the All Blacks or another meeting with South Africa in the last eight, while bonus points could play a key part in who progresses.
Ireland should bounce back against Russia next time out, but no side has ever won the World Cup having lost a game in the tournament.
Hickie said: “We saw a situation last time when Japan won three games and didn’t progress. They have their destiny in their hands and Ireland will have to hope Japan and Scotland drop some points.”
Horgan added: “We have an absolute stonker for the last game of this group, Japan versus Scotland. The whole world will be watching, which is exactly what you want at a World Cup.”
英国の高級紙のガーディアン紙は「日本が、また1つラグビー・ワールドカップでの素晴らしい番狂わせを引き出しアイルランドを仰天させた」との見出しで日本の金星を伝えた。
「日本が、またやってのけた。今回は2週間前には世界ナンバー1にランクされたチーム（アイルランド）に対してだった。ワールドカップのホスト国（の日本）がペースをつかみ、技術と、時間が過ぎてもかすむことのない熱気あるプレーを見せて9点差をひっくり返して勝利を収めた」と絶賛した。
さらに「試合終了の笛が鳴ると、近くにそびえる富士山が揺らぐことになるそうな轟音がとどろいた。オフロードパスをつなぎ、タックルをかいくぐり、必死さを強めて陣地深くから世界のラグビーで最も強固な守備の1つを破り、彼らはまるで赤と白のジャージを着こんだオールブラックスのようだった」と称賛の嵐。
「日本は4年前のワールドカップにおいてブライトンで南アフリカを破ってラグビー界を驚かせた。彼らは、このままいくとベスト8で、またスプリングボクス（南アフリカ代表の愛称）と対戦する可能性が高いが、今回（の勝利）は（4年前とは）違うものだった。1995年、2007年の優勝チーム（の南アフリカ）は、当時、下り坂にあり、慢心ある独りよがりのチームだった。対してアイルランドは、この試合をむだに費やすことはしなかった。彼らは、キックオフから2つのトライを決め、最初の20分で試合をコントロールした。だが、ホスト国の大会でキャプテンを務めるマイケル・リーチがベンチから投入されるや否や状況は変わった」と、前半30分に投入されたリーチ・マイケルの活躍がポイントだったと指摘した。
記事は、「リーチがフィールドに立ち、まるで地震のような瞬間をもたらした数分間、日本はアイルランドに対し彼らのボールをスクラムで押し込み、ペナルティーを勝ち取り、観衆の勝利の願いを確信へと変えた」とし、「問題は、日本が最後までこのペースと技術を維持できるかだった。しかし、その答えは大きな声でイエスと言えるものだった。限界まで戦い、死にものぐるいの守備となったときでもくじけなかったアイルランドは立派だった。地元チーム（日本）のプレーのいくつかは鳥肌が立つほどとても独創的で技術的に素晴らしく、この2チーム（の実力）を分けるものはなかった」と日本の戦いぶりを称えた。
英国のBBCは「日本の衝撃の勝利は『ラグビー・ワールドカップの熱狂に火をつけるだろう』」との見出しを取って「ラグビー・ワールドカップを盛り上げることに火をつける効果が期待された日本は、アイルランドへの『地震のような』（衝撃的な）勝利で称賛を浴びた」と伝え、記事の中で複数のラグビー関係者の声を紹介した。
元オーストラリア代表で、現在は、日本のサントリー・サンゴリアスでプレーするマット・ギタウ氏は、「この勝利は、とても重要なもの」と語り、元アイルランド代表のウィングだったシェーン・ホーガン氏は「決してまぐれではない。この大会では、第2グループの国が第1グループを破ることが必要で、これはまぐれではない。日本の勝利は、完全な勝利でありアイルランドを上回った」とコメントした。
元アイルランド代表のデニス・ヒッキー氏は、「ラグビーがトップスポーツに及んでいなかった国にとって。とても完璧なタイミング（での勝利）だった」とコメント。7人制ラグビーで、フィジーを指揮して五輪で金メダルを獲得したベン・ライアン氏は、「『地震のような』勝利。試合に向けての日本のアプローチが素晴らしかった。これは日本からの教材だ。正確なタックルをどのようにするかを子供たちが見たければ、この日本チームを見るべき」と、日本の技術を絶賛するコメントを残している。
日本がどこまで快進撃を続けるのか。今後の戦いも海外メディアは続けてフォローしていきそうだ。
Japan can only dream of a Shizuoka Shock to match the Brighton Miracle
Four years after World Cup heroics against South Africa, Japan’s players must play the game of their lives to upset Ireland
Justin McCurry in Tokyo Fri 27 Sep 2019
