2015 Rugby World Cup: Morning coffee helped Japan upset South Africa

Japan has staged the greatest ever Rugby World Cup upset after stunning South Africa 34-32 in their tournament opener, and ending its 24-year drought at the RWC. The Brave Blossoms gambled on the final minutes of the game, producing a winning try instead of settling for a draw with a kickable penalty. However, Japan coach Eddie Jones admitted if it was not for a morning coffee with captain Michael Leitch, his side would not have shocked the Springboks.

Jones, who was appointed in 2012 to lead Japan in the World Cup, still cannot believe his side produced the biggest upset in the history of the RWC. But the Australia-born coach insisted the win was all thanks to a morning coffee with Leitch, the Brave Blossom’s hero on Saturday’s clash against South Africa.

“I went and had coffee with the captain in the morning [before the game], down at the beach at Brighton — it was actually a sunny day, so that was amazing — and I said to him, ‘When we get penalties, if you think you want to give it a go, just give it a go,'” Jones told News. “And that’s what he did.”

Jones also said Leitch made a “great call” to lay down the bet of his career, instead of opting for a kick goal and play for a draw. The New Zealand-born skipper, on the other hand, revealed that he noticed the Springboks were panicking, leading Japan to scrum.

“We wanted to scrum rather than take the kick because they were down a man and I personally wanted to go for a win rather than a draw,” Leitch told the Rugby World Cup’s official website. “I didn’t want to let the boys down.”

Japan forward coach Steve Borthwick, a former English rugby union player, confessed that Jones has actually spoke about the script of the game two days before their World Cup clash against South Africa. Borthwick told the Telegraph that Jones gave the Brave Blossoms “clarity and belief” that they could beat the Springboks, who will battle off Samoa in their next game.

Japan will try to replicate their victory on Wednesday against Scotland, who has won against the Brave Blossoms in their last four meetings.

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