"Miracle Workers" - Top 5 Japan Rugby Moments Ahead of England World Cup Clash

Jamie Joseph's side will see this weekend as a golden opportunity to increase their chances for a place in the knock-out stages. Despite England entering the match as favourites, a try-scoring or losing bonus point could be the all-important difference maker for Japan, when it comes to the final round of pool stage action.

Despite recording an impressive 27-10 win over Argentina last weekend, England are in no way guaranteed a victory over the Brave Blossoms. The men from the far East are well versed in the art of a Rugby World Cup upset, with two very memorable matches set to be discussed later in this article.

Japan are amongst one of the most experienced sides at the Rugby World Cup, having competed at all 10 tournaments dating back to 1987. England and Japan met in the second round of the inaugural competition, with England running out an emphatic 60-7 win in Sydney's Concord Oval, back in Pool A of '87.

Japan's first ever win at the Rugby World Cup came in 1991, with a dominant 52-8 triumph over Zimbabwe. This stood as the Blossom's sole victory at the competition for 24 years, before a trip to Brighton ended in immortality under Eddie Jones. Speaking of England Head Coaches, Steve Borthwick assured in the post Argentina match media, that all of England's focus is on Japan, as they prepare to take on a side that is more than capable of breaking into the knock-out stage.

So, ahead of England's upcoming clash against the Brave Blossoms this Sunday, here are the top five moments in Japan Rugby history.

An obvious place to start, in what is amongst the most unbelievable Rugby World Cup upsets of all time. As mentioned in our introduction, Japan were yet to win a Rugby World Cup match in almost a quarter of a century, as they lined up against South Africa at the 2015 tournament in England.

This heroic tale of David vs Goliath has gone down in Japan rugby folklore, whilst the Springboks do all they can to erase this match from recent memory. Ahead of his time as England Head Coach, Eddie Jones took the reigns of Japan for this opening match in Pool B. You would have been forgiven to assume this match was set to end in a Springboks walkover, yet Jones said how this “could be a day to remember for Japanese rugby" in the preluding week's media.

Jones taught his players the art of the chop tackle, which proved an effective method of halting the giant Springbok carriers. A 12-10 half-time score kept Japan in touching distance, before fullback Ayumu Goromaru slotted five penalties, which counteracted the Bok’s tries from Bismarck du Plessis, Lodewyk de Jager and Jan Strauss. Goromaru’s phenomenal try in the 69th minute then levelled up the scores, and the previously impossible task seemed almost achievable.

Handre Pollard’s 73rd minute penalty never withered the Blossoms, as in the final play of the match, replacement winger Karne Hesketh fought his way into the corner, to wrap up an unbelievable victory for Japan. The Brave Blossoms had toppled the two-time Rugby World Cup winners, in just their second ever win at the competition. An iconic moment that will live forever, the story of 'The Brighton Miracle' has since been brought to the big screen in a feature length film.

England will be more than cautious of the possibility of facing the Springbok's fate, when they meet Japan in Nice on Sunday.

Japan's second unforgettable Rugby World Cup upset saw lightning strike twice for the Brave Blossoms. Japan put in an astonishing performance against Ireland, as they were willed forward by their host nation support in Shizuoka. A sea of red and white was the '16th man', that breathed new life into the fight, as Japan battled back for the 19-12 victory over Ireland.

Despite the iconic heroism of the 2015 Brighton Miracle, this is the match that England fans should pay close attention to ahead of this Sunday's fixture. Japan's Head Coach four years ago was Jamie Joseph, and the former All Black remains at the helm for this weekend's encounter. The architect behind the Irish upset, Joseph was able to orchestrate his side to secure a comeback win against a strong Ireland outfit.

Ireland were only a year removed from their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam under Joe Schmidt, yet had seemingly peaked too early in form. The 2019 Six Nations saw Ireland sink to a third place finish, and this defeat to Japan swayed the already souring public opinion of the former Head Coach. Ireland took a strong start, with two first half tries from Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney establishing a healthy lead. However, an ill-disciplined Ireland defence gifted Japan first half penalties, with the score-line depleted to just 12-9 at the break.

Ireland began to feel an eery sense of Deja vu as they emerged for the second half, they had seen this all before with the Springboks. Ireland did not just battle the 15 man team, but had to try fend off the army of red and white striped jerseys that surrounded them in Fukuroi. The heavy home support let out an almighty roar when Kenki Fukuoka scored a try on the hour mark as Japan had etched in front. The neat kicking of Yu Tamura made certain that they would hold out until the full time 'gong'.

3. Pool Stage Heroics

2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A

Sticking with the 2019 Rugby World Cup for now, as when the pool stages were drawn for the competition, the odds were promptly stacked against the Brave Blossoms to progress into the knock-out stages. As the tournament hosts, Japan were seeded into Pool A, and were joined by Ireland, Scotland, Samoa and Russia, with the two 'home nations' sides expected to make the quarter-finals.

However, the opening weekend came around and Joseph's Japan recorded a sufficient 30-10 win over Russia, whilst Ireland depleted Scotland's threat with a 27-3 shut-out. Round two saw the Brave Blossoms record their aforementioned brilliant win over Ireland, which excited Scottish hopes of a late push to the quarter-finals. Gregor Towsend's men responded with a 34-0 demolition of Samoa, before Japan followed suit with their own heavy win against the Pacific Islanders.

This set up an enticing finale to Pool A, with a win for Scotland enough to take them through alongside Ireland to the last eight. A thrilling contest unravelled in Yokohama's International Stadium, with Scotland fly-half Finn Russell setting the tempo with a try after seven minutes. Japan's fullback maestro Kotaro Matsushima responded with a scintillating score, as the contest truly ignited. A real contender for match of the tournament, Japan and Scotland traded blow for blow, with a spot in the knock-out stages being contested like a heavyweight title.

Kenki Fukoaka added two tries to close out the match for his nation, with the sharpshooting of Yu Tamura establishing enough daylight from the tee for the win. This victory saw Japan become the first tier two nation to beat two tier one sides (Ireland and Scotland) at the same Rugby World Cup. What made this fixture even more special is that despite the chaos caused by Typhoon Hagibis, the debris was cleared in time by the hard-working communities, so that the match would take place for a historic Japan win.

4. Breaking into the Top 10 with a Perfect 10

In a fixture that could well have flown under the radar for the wider rugby world, Japan's three-point triumph over Italy in the Summer of 2014 holds great precedence in the history of the Brave Blossoms. This win over the Azzurri sent Japan up to 10th place in the World Rugby rankings for the first time in their history, and marked a definitive milestone in the upwards trajectory of Japanese rugby.

The Brave Blossoms had long been dominant in the Asian Five Nations, with their 21st title achieved that previous April of 2014. However, this narrow win over Italy held far more significance, than any 132-10 thrashing of Sri Lanka ever could. Since 2006, Japan had been progressing outside of their Asiatic bubble, under the guidance of former All Black John Kirwan.

Voyages into the Pacific Nations Cup brought sporadic successes, as Japan tested their resiliency against the hard-hitting South Sea Islanders of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. A winless run at the 2011 Rugby World Cup ended Kirwan's time with the Brave Blossoms, with Eddie Jones taking over the following year, to re-gain the upwards momentum that had since slipped off. Jones took his Japan side to a flying run of form, as nine consecutive wins branched across the 2014 Asian Five Nations and Pacific Nations Cups.

To complete the perfect 10, Japan took on a tier one opponent to send a statement across the rugby world. This first ever victory over Italy took place in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, in what concreted the new era of competition against Japan and the top tier nations. Japan took this winning momentum into the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with an unforgettable encounter with South African coming in over the horizon.

As we just touched upon, before the immortalised Eddie Jones era of Japanese rugby, former All Black John Kirwan took charge of the Brave Blossoms. The ex-winger was appointed to the Head Coach role after previous work with Italy, and oversaw Japan's campaign at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Despite not winning a match at the tournament, one result could be considered a definite success.

Kirwan took the reigns for Japan's 12-12 draw against Canada in Pool B, which ended a 16-year run of consecutive losses at the Rugby World Cup. This 13-match losing streak was put to bed, and sparked a slow burning ember, that would turn into the giant-slaying Japan that we see today. Kirwan's crowing moment as Japan Head Coach came in 2011, as excitement built for the Blossom's trip to New Zealand for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Japan entered their dominated Asian Five Nations as favourites that April, and achieved an expected clean sweep with high-scoring wins over Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, the UAE and Sri Lanka. However, it was Japan's later success that Summer, that made this an unforgettable year for the Brave Blossoms. John Kirwan led his side to win their first Pacific Nations title in 2011, completing a triumphant run as double champions.

Japan were only able to win the cup in the final play of the tournament, as Yuta Imamura scored his side's fourth try for a bonus point win over Fiji. This 24-13 win saw Japan leapfrog Tonga to take the competition's top spot at the last possible moment, in stunning circumstances to decide the Pacific Nations Cup. The crowd in Lautoka couldn't believe what they had witnessed, in a win that has gone down in the history books amongst rugby's tier two nations.

4. First Pacific Nations Cup Title - 2011 (After Joining in 2006)

5. Japan Break into the World Rugby Rankings Top 10

First ever victory over Italy ahead of 2015 Rugby World Cup

- Highest Ranking of Seventh (2019)