By Anthony Zurcher
In an upset of
incomprehensible proportions, Japan’s rugby team defeated the heavily favored South Africans in their first match of the Rugby World
Cup. Only four teams have ever beaten South Africa in a World Cup match: the
New Zealand All Blacks, Australia, England, and … Japan. Standing among these
monsters of the rugby pitch is no small feat in a sport notorious for its
unbalanced competition and “heavyweight” teams consistently winning year after
year. Pundits are already dubbing Japan’s victory a “miracle” comparable to the
US hockey team beating the Soviets in 1980, Buster Douglas knocking out Mike
Tyson in 1990, or even the Giants defeating the Patriots in the 2007 Superbowl.
Japan faces Scotland in their next match, and interestingly hosts the next
Rugby World Cup in 2019.
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