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Two down, two to go. We're off to Brighton next up on Day 2 of Rugby World Cup 2015 as minnows Japan take on heavyweights South Africa in a Pool B clash. Rob Bartlett, who is on the spot, sets the scene: "The Springboks haven't exactly had an enjoyable 2015, but they always seem to turn it on for a Rugby World Cup. Heyneke Meyer's side begin their campaign against Pool B opponents Japan, who hold lofty ambitions of their own. Eddie Jones wants his side to reach the quarter-finals in England, meaning Saturday's clash in Brighton could well prove pivotal in the final make-up of the group."
Players making their way down the tunnel now; anthems will follow shortly and then we're underway!
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| 1 |
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Referee Jerome Garces blows time on in Brighton and Springboks fly-half Patrick Lambie kicks deep into Japanese territory. The Brave Blossoms clear under pressure with Zane Kirchner putting South Africa onto the attack. Turnover! Japan come away with the ball to round out a frantic first minute.
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| 2 |
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Penalty South Africa. Pat Lambie is told to kick for touch and the Boks will attack from close range. Brave Blossoms were penalised for coming into the breakdown from the side.
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| 3 |
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Great work from the Japanese forwards prevents the Springboks from building any continuity. Japan clear out towards the 22. Boks perhaps a little unlucky not to win a penalty for no release in the tackle of cult hero Beast Mtawarira.
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| 5 |
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Scrum Japan. Highlanders back-up No.9 Fumiaki Tanaka feeds a set-piece right on Japan's 22, the Brave Blossoms come under some pressure but clear and then break downfield through fullback Ayumu Goromaru.
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| 6 |
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Penalty Japan. Goromaru will line up a shot at three points after the Springboks are penalised at the breakdown.
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| 7 |
3 - 0 |
It's over! Japan take a shock early 3-0.
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| 8 |
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Penalty Japan. This time the Brave Blossoms go quickly through scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka. They move nicely through the phases and win another penalty. The underdogs playing with real intensity early on.
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| 10 |
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Goromaru can't make it two from two; the full-back misses a kickable penalty as he pulls one to the right of the posts.
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| 12 |
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A poor error from Springboks full-back Zane Kirchner as he kicks out on the full from just outside his 22. The lienout gifts Japan a wonderful attacking opportunity and they've already shown some intent with ball in hand.
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| 13 |
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Japan can only string a few phases together before South Africa win a turnover. They clear through pat Lambie.
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| 15 |
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Penalty South Africa. The Springboks win a penalty after Japan are ruled to be off-side at the lineout. Lambie boots the ball deep downfield; the Boks really just need to settle here and build some continuity in attack.
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| 16 |
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Penalty South Africa. The Springboks are eventually awarded a penalty for a ruck infringement after a succession of phases that failed to ask too many questions of the Japanese defence. The Boks opt for a lineout and will look to drive from close range.
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| 17 |
3 - 5 |
Try time South Africa! The Boks pack convert from their first five-metre lineout with Francois Louq powering over at the back of the maul.
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| 18 |
3 - 7 |
Lambie adds the extras to give the Springboks a 7-3 lead.
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| 19 |
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A booming Ruan Pienaar kick puts South Africa immediately back down in Japanese territory before the Brave Blossoms clear themselves, a booming punt from Ayumu Goromaru taking play back up towards halfway.
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| 21 |
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We're going upstairs to the TMO for a possible try to Jannie du Plessis. The Boks rumbled through the phases with power, eventually moving to within metres of the line.
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| 22 |
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No try. In fact it turns out both Du Plessis brothers came within millimetres of scoring.
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| 23 |
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Free kick Japan. The Brave Blossoms get lucky on their own line as Garces awards them a short-arm for an early Springboks push at the scrum. Japan clear but it will be a Springboks lineout.
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| 25 |
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Japan coming under huge pressure at scrum-time but they manage to scramble the ball back on halfway.
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| 26 |
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Penalty Japan. The Blossoms try a little grubber kick in behind the Boks line that Lwazi Mvovo knocks on; but Garces comes back for a penalty and the Blossoms kick for touch.
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| 27 |
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A great touch-finder puts Japan just five metres from the Boks' line. They try the drive and almost the entire team comes to join in. Garces blows a penalty but then decides to go upstairs for a try.
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| 28 |
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No try. The play comes back for the original penalty and Japan opt to try the same lineout ploy again.
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| 29 |
8 - 7 |
Try time Japan! The crowd goes wild as the Brave Blossoms rumble their way over at their second attempt of a lineout drive. It's skipper Michael Leitch with the score, and it's Japan back in front.
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| 30 |
10 - 7 |
Ayumu Goromaru adds the extras and it's Japan leading 10-7.
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| 31 |
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Penalty South Africa. The Springboks will have an immediate chance to respond here as Japan fail to deal with the restart and are soon penalised. Lambie kicks for touch.
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| 32 |
10 - 12 |
Try time Springboks! Another driving maul yields yet another try as Bismarck du Plessis touches down with the help of the entire Springboks pack. Just shows how important restarts have become in the modern game.
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| 33 |
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Lambie fails to land the extras, leaving the score at 12-10 to the Boks.
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| 35 |
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Credit to Japan there, the Springboks enjoyed some extended continuity but the Brave Blossoms never looked liked cracking.
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| 37 |
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Scrum Japan. Another test for the Brave Blossoms here after the Boks knock on at the lineout.
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| 38 |
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A short session of forcings-back finishes with Japanese full-back Ayumu Goromaru calling for a mark. He clears down field for a South African lineout.
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| 40 |
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Absolutely superb defence from Japan as they repel a series of Springboks attacking waves and force a turnover. That's half-time in Brighton and Japan trail the Boks by just two, and it's nothing less than they deserve.
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| 40+1 |
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Here's Rob Bartlett's take on the first-half action down at Brighton: "This was not in the script - not even after two-time world champions South Africa replied to an early Japan penalty with a driving try. The Brave Blossoms continued to prove why they have one of the most improved packs in world rugby. Even losing try-threat Kensuke Hatakeyama early on didn't stop them matching South Africa stride-for-stride across the front row. Captain Michael Leitch grounded the ball for the biggest cheer in Brighton's AMEX stadium, but again the Springboks replied through Bismarck du Plessis. Composure has been key - if Japan can relax a little more on the ball, there may well be an upset on the cards. Heyneke Meyer's side have plenty of work to do if they are serious about laying down a World Cup marker.
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| 40+2 |
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Francois Pienaar says this is "Eddie Jones at his best". The Japanese coach has come up with a plan to play up-tempo rugby; the big question is whether they can sustain it for another 40 minutes.
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Teams are back out on the park for the second 40. Could we be set for the biggest ever RWC upset or will the Springboks steady and finish the job?
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| 40 |
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We're back underway in Brighton and Patrick Lambie immediately makes a mistake by kicking out on the full after the Boks had secured the restart.
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| 41 |
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Penalty Japan. Ayumu Goromaru will have the chance to kick the Brave Blossoms back into lead after Beast Mtawarira is penalised for off-side.
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| 42 |
13 - 12 |
It's over! Japan are back in front at 13-12 - what a great start to the second half for the Brave Blossoms.
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| 43 |
13 - 17 |
Try time Springboks! A brilliant response from the Boks as Lood de Jager rumbles onto a flat ball and charges 25 metres to score next to the posts.
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| 44 |
13 - 19 |
Lambie adds the extras and the Boks are back out to a 29-13 lead. Certainly has been an action-packed start to the second half.
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| 46 |
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Penalty Japan. The Brave Blossoms will have the chance to close the gap once again after Bismarck du Plessis is penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown. Japan had strung some good phases together before that but hadn't overly troubled the Boks' defensive line.
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| 48 |
16 - 19 |
The penalty is good! Ayumu Goromaru knocks his third shot over, reducing the gap to just three points.
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| 49 |
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A promising raid from the Boks comes to an end via a turnover, allowing Japan to clear well downfield. The Boks compound that error with a mistake at the lineout, gifting Japan some excellent field position. Victor Matfield not happy with the call.
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| 51 |
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Penalty Japan. The Brave Blossoms have yet another shot at three points after an impressive attacking surge. The TMO also instructs referee Jerome Garces to take a look at the actions of Schalk Burger.
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| 52 |
19 - 19 |
The penalty is over, and it's 19-19! Burger remains on the field; nothing much in it but he will want to be careful from here on out.
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| 53 |
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Sprinboks kick deep from the restart and force Japan to clear from inside their own 22. The kick isn't great and the Boks will attack. It comes to nothing however, a poor kick is easily fielded by a Japanese player who calls for a mark and clears.
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| 55 |
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Penalty South Africa. The Boks will take a shot at penalty for the first time today, to the boos of the crowd, after a Japanese player is penalised for not rolling away.
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| 56 |
19 - 22 |
Lambie nails the penalty and it's the Boks leading once again at 22-19.
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| 58 |
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The Boks overcome a couple of loose passes inside their own 22 to clear via Lambie; centre Jesse Kriel doing much of the good work after he was forced to double back and collect a poor pass.
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| 59 |
22 - 22 |
Penalty Japan. The Boks are pinged yet again for not rolling away at the breakdown; this time it's replacement Siya Kolisi who is the guilty party. Ayumu Goromaru will line up the shot from right in front, 40 metres out.
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| 60 |
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It's over and the Brighton crowd roars! We're all locked up once again at 22-22.
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| 61 |
22 - 27 |
A rare error from Fumiaki Tanaka, the half-back kicking out on the full by only a few inches. That relieves the pressure on the Boks and will see them attack in Japanese territory. Try time South Africa! Replacement hooker Adriaan Strauss rumbles straight over one defender and then steps the full-back to score from 20 metres out.
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| 62 |
22 - 29 |
Replacement No.10 Handre Pollard adds the extras to take the Boks out to a 29-22 lead.
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| 64 |
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Penalty South Africa. Handre Pollard boots the Boks back down onto the attack after Japan are penalised shortly after the restart.
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| 65 |
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Penalty South Africa. The Boks are awarded a penalty for a collapsed maul from Japan. They try the same tactic again but are forced into touch.
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| 67 |
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Penalty Japan. A shoulder-only cleanout attempt from Coenie Oosthuizen earns the ire of the referee and allows Japan to kick to touch down towards the Boks' 22.
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| 68 |
27 - 29 |
Try time Japan! The Brave Blossoms have put in an early nomination for try of the tournament with a wonderfully worked backline move that is finished by Ayumu Goromaru.
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| 69 |
29 - 29 |
Goromaru adds the extras and we're all locked up again. Incredible.
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| 70 |
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Japan fail to deal with the restart yet again as South Africa rip the ball away at the tackle and earn themselves a scrum.
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| 71 |
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Penalty South Africa. Handre Pollard slices through the Japanese defence before the referee deems the Brave Blossoms off-side a few phases later. Some last-ditch defence from the Blossoms sees them avoid the try; it might not be a bad result.
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| 72 |
29 - 32 |
Pollard makes no mistake with the penalty and the Boks lead 32-29.
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| 74 |
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Japan knock on.
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| 75 |
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The Brave Blossoms apply huge pressure at the scrum and force South Africa to clear; Japan look to counter immediately and threaten down the right touchline.
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| 77 |
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Japan still attacking.
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| 78 |
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Japan still attacking.
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| 79 |
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Penalty Japan! And a yellow card to boot for South Africa. The Brave Blossoms kick for touch and will attack from a five-metre lineout!
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| 80 |
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We''re going upstairs to the TMO for a potential try. It was an array of bodies over the line; there was no sign of the ball. No try. We're coming out for a five-metre scrum.
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| 80+1 |
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Penalty Japan! The Blossoms are awarded a penalty for a scrum infringement. They opt for another scrum. Here we go again. Crowd going wild.
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| 80+2 |
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The scrum goes down. No penalty. We go again.
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| 80+3 |
34 - 32 |
Try time Japan! They've done it! They've done it! The Brave Blossoms have pulled off the greatest upset in rugby history with Karne Hesketh crossing in the corner. What a win. Amazing scenes in Brighton. It's Japan 34 South Africa 32.
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| 80+4 |
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What the atmosphere must have been like at Brighton. Our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett, won't forget this one. "Japan not only shocked South Africa - they shocked the world. A spell-binding display of power and brilliance with the ball earned them the biggest victory in their entire Test history. This was not in the script - an 83rd minute try from Karne Hesketh ensured his name would be written in rugby folklore forever. It wasn't even a case of South Africa being off the pace - Japan were simply awesome. Their performance will not only give the minnows the belief for the remainder of the tournament - this will be talked about for years to come. Eddie Jones hopes his side can make the quarterfinals - today in Brighton showed it is not an unthinkable dream.
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