Not at that point, not even after Adriaan Strauss put the ‘Boks ahead again, turning 22 – 22 in to 22 – 29. Lodewyk De Jager’s 44th minute run in under the posts looked like it would end the resistance of the Japanese as it heaved the game’s giants back in to a 19 – 13 lead.īut Japan simply would not be shaken off. Trailing 7 -3 after Francois Louw finished off a South African maul in hte 18th minutes, Japan’s pack would not be cowed and Leitch’s long arm reached out from the middle of a powerful rolling maul to plant the ball on the line on 30 minutes.Īyumu Goromaru’s conversion put them 7 – 10 ahead before Bismarck Du Plessis’ score edged the ‘Boks back ahead, 12 – 10 at the half-time break. They matched physicality in the loose with precision set-piece efforts and their opening try from inspiration captain Michael Leitch - who moved to Japan from New Zealand at the age of 15 - was testament to that.
They passed up numerous penalty opportunities to pull level and instead continued taking on South Africa at their own game before going wide to create an overlap finished by Karne Hesketh in the 84th minute.įrom the word go, Japan showed absolutely no hesitation in taking the ‘Boks on at their own game. The Brave Blossoms led three times and pulled level twice before laying siege to the Springboks line trailing 29 -32. EDDIE JONES’ JAPAN made the normally gaping chasm of 10 World Rugby ranking places count for nothing today as they produced an awe-inspiring display of ambitious and fearless rugby against the two-time World Champions.
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