Ayumu Goromaru’s World Cup heroics for skyrocketing Japan straight out of a comic book

A decade after Ayumu Goromaru made his Test debut for Japan at 19, the fullback is finally realising his potential for fairy tale favouites Japan at the Rugby World Cup.

Japan's Ayumu Goromaru shown on Saturday during Japan's win over South Africa in 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B play in Brighton, England. Stefan Wermuth / Reuters / September 19, 2015

Japanese rugby pin-up Ayumu Goromaru could easily be a manga comic hero and now his reputation is reinforced with his all-action 24 points in his country's historic Rugby World Cup win over South Africa.

Global fame has come late to the 29-year-old fullback, who has spent as much time in the wilderness as he has done donning the red and white stripes of the “Brave Blossoms”.

“Goro” as he is fondly known by teammates stands out as a man apart from his comrades, 100 kilos (220 pounds) of muscle and 1.85 metres (6ft 1in) in height.

“He is the cornerstone of our team,” said prop Hiroshi Yamashita.

It was Goromaru who kept Japan in the match as he tucked over penalties at regular intervals never allowing the Springboks to relax and think they had killed off the game.

“He is a lad who we can place a lot of confidence in,” said wing Kenki Fukuoka.

“He scores numerous penalties, all of them even. And that gives us a lot of courage.”

Japan’s lock Justin Ives praises the elegantly-coiffed Goromaru for bringing his sangfroid certainty to the fore against the broken Boks.

But for the arrival of coach Eddie Jones this talent could have lain dormant – at least to World Cup spectators. He made his Test debut at 19, but his precocious talents were then ignored by several coaches.

The Japanese media hailed him as the future star of the national side. But it fell largely on deaf ears as evidenced by the fact this is his first appearance at the World Cup.

Frenchman Jean-Pierre Elissalde could not have cared about what the media thought as he gave him the cold shoulder. But his fortunes briefly revived under former All Black wing great John Kirwan.

However, it did not last long enough for him to make the 2011 World Cup squad and he was cast out again until Jones came to his aid when he arrived in 2012.

Ives said that whilst Goromaru may have been in and out of the international set-up and when he opens his mouth in the dressing room everyone falls silent.

“He is a superb teammate,” gushed Ives.

“He is very relaxed, very calm. But when he has something to say, he makes himself heard.

“In our meetings or during matches, he speaks out when he notices something from his post as fullback.

“He is a leader.”

“Goro” will win his 55th cap on Wednesday against the Scots and the burden of launching their attacks as well as keeping the points board ticking over through his penalties will once again fall on him.

“From time to time he laughs, but for the majority of the time he is serious,” opined Ives.

Plenty of time for the comic book hero to laugh once the goal of the last eight has been reached, but for now it is action hero time and Japan’s rugby destiny seems in good hands.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE