Japan vs South Africa at the Rugby World Cup 2015 on September 19th, 2015 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, England.
Japan, ranked 13th in the world and with a record of 1 win, 21 losses and 2 draws in the Rugby World Cup, succeeded in defeating South Africa, (No.3 in the world, and two-time Rugby World Cup champions), by a score of 34-32 - a historic victory.
No one had expected this result because in rugby, teams with well-built and fast players have an absolute advantage in terms of overall team power.
The world's media reported this result as "the biggest upset" and lauded Japan thereby announcing to the world the magnificent arrival of the "Brave Blossoms" (the team's nickname, in reference to the cherry blossom emblem on their jerseys).
The Brave bloosoms in Full Bloom
—A Heated Battle by a Team that Has Faith in Victory
While South Africa were expected to dominate the game, Japan struggled hard and bravely to hold their own with a score of 29-29 with only ten minutes remaining. Then Goromaru’s try and conversion kick totally turned the game around and rendered South Africa’s play inactive.
Later, a penalty was awarded against the Japanese side. But South Africa elected to make a shot rather than to try to move forward, with the aims of scoring a penalty goal as a safety measure. A the time, no one could have predicted that this choice would leading to a historic victory for Japan. Then a South African player committed a foul, allowing Japan to regain the initiative.
The decision that Japan made at this point was to push forward with a frontal attack. All the players including the backs push toward the win, the one and only goal. Japan proudly grasped victory by engaging in scrums until the final whistle and succeeded in securing a famous victory by believing in their own power and in their fellow teammates..
