Japan 19-12 Ireland: Shock victory ‘will ignite Rugby World Cup’

The result comes four years after Japan famously shocked the rugby world by beating two-time world champions South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. That 34-32 success was dubbed the “Miracle of Brighton” after Japan slid over for an injury-time winning try.

But despite growing enthusiasm for rugby in the country, few would have expected the hosts to repeat the trick against an Ireland side who came into the tournament as the world’s top-ranked team, although went into the match in second behind the All Blacks after their win over South Africa.

Japan also had to recover from trailing at half-time on Saturday, just the second time in 24 attempts they have fought back to win after behind at the break at a World Cup, with the other occasion the win over the Springboks four years ago.

Japan’s stand-in captain Pieter Labuschagne told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We backed ourselves going into this game. That was a great game [against South Africa], but we came into this tournament with a new goal and knew what we wanted to do.

“We are really happy. It is difficult to put it into words but I’m proud of every man and it was a great team effort.”

It was the first time Ireland have lost to a non-tier one nation at the World Cup, with Japan, who had never previously beaten the Irish, having now won five of their last six matches at the tournament.