If anyone is currently watching the Rugby World Cup, you will probably be delighted to know that Japan have defeated heavy tournament favorites, Ireland. Around the 21st minute, Japan were losing 3-12 against Ireland. But then they hung on and scored 2 penalties (3-point kicks) to narrow the margin until they took the lead on a try (similar in some ways to a touchdown in American football, but worth 5 points only before a 2-point conversion kick attempt afterwards) in the 59th minute by winger Kenki Fukuoka. before the tournament started, Ireland were number 1 in world rankings, just ahead of New Zealand.
Highlights.
Four years ago, the Brave Blossoms defeated South Africa 34-32 in what has been named since as
The Brighton Miracle when Karne Hesketh scored the game-winning try on the very last action of the match, well beyond the 80:00 mark on the clock. Now when you think about that result then and now today's astonishing result against Ireland, we have to say that Japan is becoming the real deal as a new top tier team in rugby union.