Japan beat South Africa 34-32! Springboks fall to humiliating Rugby World Cup defeat by Brave Blossoms

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South Africa fell to a crushing defeat in their Rugby World Cup opener against tournament outsiders Japan
Japan Full-back Ayumu Goromaru was the star of the show with the 29-year-old scoring one try of his own, two conversions and five penalties against the Springboks
Lodewyk De Jager, Bismarck Du Plessis, Francois Louw, Adriaan Strauss got tries for South Africa
Karne Hesketh crossed over the line for Japan in the last minute to secure a massive upset
Japan Rugby World Cup squad profile: All you need to know about the Brave Blossoms
Rugby World Cup 2015: CLICK HERE for all the latest from RWC

Published: 12:50 EST, 19 September 2015 | Updated: 16:06 EST, 19 September 2015

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The fiercest clash in Brighton since Quadrophenia this was never meant to be. Not when it was a game being contested by two teams at opposite ends of the Rugby World Cup spectrum; the best record versus the worst.

But those who gathered inside this pulsating, sun-drenched stadium can say they were here when Japan conquered the Springboks. When they delivered the greatest upset in the history of rugby union never mind the tournament.

Even Eddie Jones, the half-Japanese Tasmanian coach who said he had been preparing his team for three years for this moment, could not quite believe it. 'I had to look at the scoreboard to make sure it was true at the end,' he said. While his opposite number, Heyneke Meyer, felt he had no choice but to 'apologise to the nation', such was the magnitude of the defeat for the twice winners of the Webb Ellis Cup.

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Japan full-back Ayumu Goromaru (left) is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring a try against South Africa in their World Cup opener

Japan's Karne Hesketh celebrates after scoring a last-minute winning try against South Africa to stun the world of rugby

South Africa prop Lodewyk De Jager puffs out his cheeks as he crosses the line to score a try against Japan on Saturday afternoon

De Jager (left) breaks clear of the Japanese defence on his way to scoring a try in the Pool B match at Brighton Community Stadium

South Africa's Jean De Villiers (centre) makes his return to the side in a disappointing defeat by rank outsiders Japan on Saturday

South Africa's Adriaan Strauss dives over to score a try, but Japan dig deep to battle back and secure a historic win on the coast

South Africa's Bismarck Du Plessis is brought hurtling down into the turf by Japan's Craig Wing (left) during the World Cup clash

Japan's Michael Leitch (bottom) scores his side's opening try under pressure from the South Africa backs on Saturday

South Africa's Pat Lambie kicks to score a conversion during the first-half during the World Cup Pool B match against Japan

Goromaru put in a fine display against the Springboks, scoring a try, two conversions and five penalties in a moment of World Cup history

It was sport at its most breathtaking. Sport that had 29,000 people staring open-mouthed as Japan opted for a scrum in the dying moments when a simple penalty would have been the safer, more sensible option. Three points and a team that had not won a World Cup game for 24 years would have secured a sensational 32-32 draw.

But Michael Leitch, the New Zealand-born Japan skipper who so excelled in this encounter with his courageous tackling as well as a precious try, performed one last act of bravery, opting for a scrum when Japan's forwards had struggled all game with the sheer power of their opponents.

South Africa held firm but Japan battled to retain possession, finally attacking down the right flank before switching the play and releasing Karne Hesketh to launch himself at the opposite corner for a stunning 83rd minute try.

Back in Tokyo they should consider some way of honouring Jones, this quite brilliant former Australia coach who responded to defeat by Sir Clive Woodward's England in the 2003 final by assisting the Springboks in their rise to global success four years later.

Now, however, he has perhaps surpassed even that achievement, masterminding a victory that was simply unthinkable prior to kick-off. South Africa were 500-1 on.

It has certainly blown Pool B wide open, leaving England without a clue as to who they might meet in the quarter-finals should they make it that far. Winning their own group was considered the best way of avoiding South Africa in the last eight. Not anymore.

Japan's Luke Thompson (left) skips over the flailing challenge of South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira at the Brighton Community Stadium

Japan players, reduced to blubbering, emotional wrecks by the sound of the final whistle, have just three days to recover before meeting Scotland but anything seems possible now. 'They have the ability to roll on,' said Jones afterwards.

South Africa have a further three days before they face Samoa but boy will they need it. We knew their form had been poor, even losing to Argentina earlier this year. We knew certain, key players were just returning from injury. But nobody anticipated a performance so riddled with errors and abject.

They seemed capable at any moment of using their superior strength and power to score a try but never did they manage to build up a lead commanding enough to crush Japan's ambition and desire.

The Brave Blossoms Japan most definitely were, stunning their illustrious opponents with a marvellous blend of committed, creative rugby. South Africa, by contrast, looked complacent, no doubt over-confident of thrashing a country reflecting on 18 straight World Cup losses with just one World Cup win came against Zimbabwe in 1991.

They were caught cold by the speed and ferocity of Japan's running and the accuracy of their passing. Not to mention the kicking of their one-man points machine, Ayumu Goromaru.

Japan's Michael Broadhurst (centre, left) and South Africa's Lwazi Mvovo tussle for possession in mid-air during the World Cup clash

Japan's Male Sau (centre) surges forward with the ball, holding off pressure from South Africa's Victor Matfield (left)

Springboks hooker Bismarck du Plessis (centre) powers his way forward during the Pool B match against Japan on Saturday

He kicked them into the lead after eight minutes and for what remained of the 80 these two teams traded blows. In the opening five minutes Japan managed three turnovers.

The Japanese fans, many of them sporting bright red wigs, were understandably excited, and most appreciative when Shota Horie, their hooker, displayed the admirable audacity to slip a basketball-style reverse pass to a team-mate.

When Francois Louw powered over from a line-out to score an 18th minute try Patrick Lambie then converted, it nevertheless seemed safe to assume that would mark the end of Japan's defiance.

But back came Japan, Leitch surging over from the back of a maul and Goromaru converting to restore Japan's advantage to three points.

A try from Bismarck du Plessis nevertheless saw the Springboks go into the break 12-10 up.

But three minutes into the second half and Goromaru had struck again, and then responded to a soft South African try from 6ft 9in Lood De Jager by scoring a try of his own with just 12 minutes remaining.

Four minutes later and the Springboks had squeezed back in front, thanks to a penalty from Handre Pollard. But Japan never backed down, never stopped running. By the end even supporters dressed in green and gold were applauding them.