rugby union

Japanese fans celebrate stunning rugby win over South Africa

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I know a whole lot of people today who were talking about this but only yesterday hated the sport -- or at least never talked about it before. If the win goes towards raising awareness and bringing about further popularity of the sport, then great! but please, none of the usual bandwagon love, please! This afternoon at the gym I had a guy, all smiles and puffing with pride, ask me if I watched the game (which was on repeat in the gym) and what I thought of the Japanese team. I said I hadn't, but that I knew about it and was very happy for the team and the nation. This very same guy told me last week when I was watching part of a volleyball match on one of the monitors that he "dislikes all sports but baseball".

I hear you. Bandwagon fans. It was the same with the Asian cup - after Japan was knocked out they didn't care. Japan did however cause a huge upset, one that will be etched in legend.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

huge result. proud to be a japanese kiwi. whatever the outcome the Brave Blossoms are WINNERS

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I loved this reaction video from Irish fans! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8SMs527jJA

Thanks to the person who posted it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

888naff: "There was a lot of non Japanese people supporting Japan yesterday and even people saying that they were converting to watching more rugby after Japans match yesterday. It has really helped the sport."

Agree it's good and will definitely help. I just hope these 'converts' don't change their mind the next time Japan loses. The momentum of this game should last a while, though.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

There is no way that its not going to be in Japan in 2019 regardless of how badly or well the the Japanese team does. This is from the people organizing the sport. Japan doesn't have a shortage of stadiums to use either, maybe more than the country hosting it now. So there is no real problem.

There was a lot of non Japanese people supporting Japan yesterday and even people saying that they were converting to watching more rugby after Japans match yesterday. It has really helped the sport.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I know a whole lot of people today who were talking about this but only yesterday hated the sport -- or at least never talked about it before. If the win goes towards raising awareness and bringing about further popularity of the sport, then great! but please, none of the usual bandwagon love, please! This afternoon at the gym I had a guy, all smiles and puffing with pride, ask me if I watched the game (which was on repeat in the gym) and what I thought of the Japanese team. I said I hadn't, but that I knew about it and was very happy for the team and the nation. This very same guy told me last week when I was watching part of a volleyball match on one of the monitors that he "dislikes all sports but baseball".

I decided not to remind him of the latter in the hopes that he was not just patting himself on the back for something he never had anything to do with, and instead was showing an actual interest in rugby.

As for the win being timely, they are correct. There have indeed been talks about moving the Rugby World Cup in 2019 to the runner-up nations in the original bidding process.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

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