The best and worst matches for Japan over the last 4 year World Cup cycle under coach Eddie Jones.
Best: 34-32 vs South Africa (September 2015)
No question about Japan's best match of the Eddie Jones era, or Japan's best match ever for that matter, as they pulled off the greatest shock in international rugby history. A result that not even the most optimistic of Japan fans could have possibly seen coming.
All logic suggested that the Springboks would at some point in the game ultimately be able to power through and pull away. Much like the World XV side (which was a largely SANZAR selection) had done in the warm up.
Yet whenever it did appear the arrogant South African side had finally opened the door, as Lood de Jager and Adriaan Strauss stormed through in the second half pretty easily, Japan kept getting back up and jabbing back at them.
The set piece, which had undergone one of the most incredible transformations relative to where it was in 2012, continued to be superb and laid the foundation for quality possession and scores of their own. And the match ended with mauls and scrums putting extreme pressure on the Springboks line, with Japan turning down the penalties for the famous last passage of play to get the win.
Overnight and out of nowhere the result catapulted a floundering sport in Japan to the front pages. A team that had rarely attracted full stadia in Japan to gain unheard of world record viewing figures. A team that had long carried the legacy of playing reserve teams in World Cups against strong sides, which had led to slaughters and a negative reputation amongst some rugby fans, now had respect. And Eddie Jones, previously who had faced moans during the PNC, became the in demand coach in world rugby and became the coach of the world's richest union of the back of it.
This result stands out as what will be remembered, but the World Cup period of August to October saw a few of Japan's best performances. The dominant win over Samoa would also be regarded as one of Japan's best ever if it wasn't for the win over the Springboks.
GIF: Japan set move off lineout ball was nominated for WR try of the year
26-5 vs Samoa (October 2015) - Completely in control for clear dominant win, which was Eddie Jones' first against Pacific Island opposition at 8th attempt.
40-0 vs Uruguay (August 2015) - Japan's second biggest ever win against a top 20 side, first time ever they nilled a top 20 side, and built the momentum for the World Cup campaign.
35-24 vs Canada (June 2014) - The second half was one of the best 40 minutes of rugby Japan have played, as they overcame a 15 point half time deficit to score 25 unanswered points and win clearly.
Worst: 21-61 vs Maori All Blacks (November 2014)
Despite some notable wins over the past 4 years, there were also several frustrations. This one stands out, as although the scoreline reads total blowout, with it being 42-7 before 50 minutes, there was absolutely no way there was that gulf between the quality of the sides.
Japan destroyed the Maori scrum, controlled much of the possession and territory, going through numerous phases in the Maori half, yet were getting utterly ruined almost exclusively from turnovers.
Indeed 6 of the 8 tries Maori scored were first phase direct from turnover ball. Including several where Japan just fumbled possession into Maori hands who would just then run and score on the counter, taking advantage of suspect defence on the wings and a slow full back.
The other 2 tries also both came from lineout ball that was the result of holding on penalties at the breakdown. At least Japan got to prove the match was a complete abomination the following week, only losing 20-18 to a try in the dying minutes. But that was also hugely frustrating and one that should have been won, but only to be again murdered by a countless amount of holding on breakdown penalties.
Over those two games, Japan had over 60% possession and territory in both of them, went over 5+ phases 26 times compared to Maori just 3. Yet conceded a massive 45 turnovers over the 2 games, and the points aggregate did not reflect the balance of the matches between the sides.
There were perhaps worse performances, but at least in others there was an excuse of playing second string weakened lineups, or in the case of the sheer awful performance of dropped balls against South Korea, one where training was more focused on conditioning than rugby.
GIF: Japan conceded several tries in this manner during the heavy 61-21 defeat to Maori
Other mentions:
21-40 vs French Barbarians (June 2012) - an experimental side was down 32-7 at half time in a match that ended several Japan careers and led to that Eddie Jones post match rant.
56-30 vs South Korea (April 2015) - a horrible sloppy performance conceding 30 points against a woefully inept opponent from a period when Japan were focusing on fitness regimes.
5-40 vs Gloucester (November 2013) - a midweek match from Japan's mediocre series of games over the November 2013 period that wasn't dissimilar to the Maori disaster.
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