Had this been scripted for a Hollywood movie, it would have been rejected for being too far fetched: Japan, a minnow of international rugby, beating South Africa, two-time world champions. But that's exactly what happened in the Rugby World Cup in Britain, with the Cherry Blossoms scoring the winning try in the last seconds of the game against the Springboks.
This film analogy is a familiar one for South Africa. Their victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, after new president Nelson Mandela wore a Springbok jersey to greet the players despite rugby being a sport emblematic of the white minority during the apartheid era, was depicted in an acclaimed 2009 movie, Invictus.
This week’s 34-32 result was a far bigger upset than the 1995 one. Some described it as the greatest underdog victory in rugby history because the Cherry Blossoms had only ever won one game in the Rugby World Cup and that was 24 years ago. It augurs well for Japan hosting the 2019 tournament – and shows minnows can still bite.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
