Mixed emotions for Japan
After stunning two-time World Cup winners South Africa in their opening match and beating Samoa in their third, Japan needed the Pacific islanders to do them a favour in Newcastle to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
Close as it was, this was not to be.
Japan sent shockwaves through world rugby with their opening 34-32 win over South Africa – the biggest upset in tournament history – before being flattened 45-10 by the Scots.
However, they proved they were no one-hit wonders with a 26-5 win over Samoa last weekend, a game which smashed all previous rugby television viewing records as 25 million people – a fifth of Japan's population – tuned in to watch.
Japan can still go out with a bang with their third win of the group stages against the Americans on Sunday.
Japan had only ever won once at a World Cup, against minnows Zimbabwe in 1991, before their last-minute victory over the mighty Springboks, World Cup champions in 1995 and 2007.
But Australian coach Eddie Jones was vindicated after boldly targeting a quarterfinal spot, despite their fairytale run coming to an end.
Japan's performances also gave the country a timely shot in the arm after they had looked in danger of losing their hosting rights for the 2019 World Cup.
AFP
