Leitch ignored Jones' decision
This was revealed by Japan coach Eddie Jones in an article he wrote for the Daily Mail after the game. He also said that he was delighted that his decision fell on deaf ears.
"I tried to get the message down to take the kick at goal," wrote Jones.
"Luckily, by the time the message got to the players the decision to kick for touch had already been taken. I thought to myself, 'fair enough, here we go'"
Jones, who will step down from his post after Japan's campaign to coach the Stormers in Super Rugby next year, said emotions had risen to the surface when Karne Hesketh went over in the left hand corner to score the winning try.
"It was the most emotional I've been since coaching the Wallabies to a semifinal win over the All Blacks at the 2003 World Cup semifinals," said Jones.
"I've never seen more grown men in tears. It was an absolutely unbelievable scene which will live with me for the rest of my life."
Jones, who used his knowledge of several of the Springbok players to his advantage, having been an adviser to the 2007 World Cup-winning side, said that Japanese emotions still bemused him.
"I'll never cease to wonder at the Japanese psyche," said Jones.
"These guys seem to cry when they're happy and laugh when they're nervous – it's almost the opposite of Western behaviour – and the tears were flooding out on the pitch."
Jones, whose side have a quick turnaround and play a fresh Scotland side on Wednesday in Gloucester, said that players such as Leitch and lock Luke Thompson might not be Japanese-born but they are not carpetbaggers seeking the high of playing international rugby for any old country.
New Zealand-born Leitch has lived there since he was 15, moved to Japan to study and now says he speaks Japanese better than English.
"We may have a few players in the Japanese side not born in Japan but all the players have bought into 'the Japanese way'.
"It's what we live by as a side and it's based around having the courage to play our kind of rugby, having pride in the national team and having respect for yourself and your teammates."
Agence France-Presse
