Another World Cup Miracle: beating the number one ranked team in world rugby!
An unshakable belief, tenacious pressing and hidden reserves of strength gets Japan over the line.
After a winning start to their campaign, next up for Japan were Ireland, who prior to the start of the tournament had supplanted New Zealand at the top of the world rankings. During the first half of the match, Japan concentrated their energies on maintaining possession, making ground through positive touch kicking combined with measured plays. Fly-half Tamura missed a penalty in the 13th minute, and Ireland were able to score from the restart. However, Tamura made amends four minutes later with a converted penalty. The rest of the first half featured a lot of back-and-forth play action, eventually wrapping up with the Japanese 3 points adrift at 9-12 at the interval.
Closing that three-point gap was all the 50,000 fans at the stadium wanted. Even with the fervent home support, the Japanese players remained calm and methodical in their approach. Japan kept possession well and did not allow Ireland any chances to score. The match situation was in the balance until the 18th minute of the second half, when center Nakamura combined with fly-half Tamura and center Lafaele to feed Fukuoka on the wing to go over for the try. Tamura put the conversion through the posts. Then 31 minutes into the second half Tamura was called upon to kick a penalty and made no mistake, opening up a 7-point lead over Ireland that Japan was able to maintain until the final whistle, winning the match 19-12. A win for the ages. Coach Jamie Joseph said “there was a lot of belief around that the players could get the job done” in what was a major upset on a par with the victory over South African four years previously.
FW (Forwards)
PR (Props)
Jersey Numbers 1 and 3
Props are at the front of the scrum – the intense competition to win the ball involving all eight forwards in a rugby team – and they generally are the heaviest, most solidly-built members of a squad. They require strong neck and shoulder muscles in order to compete with their opposite numbers in the scrum.
HO (Hooker)
Jersey Number 2
Typically, hookers are built like props, as they stand on the front line of the scrum between two props. Their job in the scrum is to hook the ball back with their feet as it is fed in by the scrum-half. At the line-out it is often a hooker that throws the ball back into play.
LO (Locks)
Jersey Numbers 4 and 5
In the scrum, the locks set up directly behind the three front row forwards (the two props and the hooker) and use their power to push against the opposition. Locks are typically tall, which is an advantage when competing for the ball at the line-out.
FL (Flankers)
Jersey Numbers 6 and 7
Flankers push in from the left and right sides of the scrum. They are usually involved with handling or competing for the ball, so they are expected to be strong in the tackle as well as quick and agile on their feet.
Number Eight
Jersey Number 8
The last member of the scrum, the number eight controls the forwards from the rear of the pack. Often called upon to attack and defend, a number eight needs power and quick feet to be effective.
BK (Backs)
SH (Scrum-Half)
Jersey Number 9
The scrum-half feeds the ball into the scrum. Their main role is to be the linchpin connecting forward and back play. A good scrum-half will be quick-witted and dexterous when it comes to making passes as well as being able to make decisions as the game situation evolves. The scrum-half is often the smallest player on the field in terms of stature.
SO/FH (Stand-Off/Fly-Half)
Jersey Number 10
The fly-half controls the backs. Receiving the ball from the scrum-half, the fly-half can decide to pass or kick the ball, or even make a break themselves. They are a key player in any offensive play and are often seen as a tactical leader on the field.
WTB (Wingers)
Jersey Numbers 11 and 14
Wingers typically race down channels on both edges of the pitch and are known for scoring tries. Wingers need to be fast as well as possessing rapid acceleration.
CTB (Centers)
Jersey Numbers 12 and 13
In an attacking situation, the centers would be looking to receive the ball and then make a pass to one of the wingers, or to break through themselves if they can see a hole in the defensive formation. When the team is defending, the centers will be called upon to make a lot of tackles, so they need to be strong and dynamic.
FB (Full-Back)
Jersey Number 15
The full-back is the most deeply positioned player in the team – the last line of defense. They observe the formations and patterns of the opposing team and control the backline from the rear. A good full-back needs to be solid in the tackle as well as having a strong boot when it comes to kicking the ball into opposition territory.