AT THE WORLD CUP
Those hefty losses pale in comparison to
the 145-17 spanking they suffered against
the All Blacks in the same stadium. They
leaked 21 tries, including six to Marc Ellis
and hat-tricks from Jeff Wilson and Eric
Rush. It was a record World Cup loss until
2003, when Australia thumped Namibia
142-0, but stands alone as the most points
ever conceded in a World Cup fixture.1999
The joy of trumping regional
rivals Hong Kong, South Korea
and Taipei in 1998 to qualify
for the showcase was all too
short-lived in 1999 as the Japanese
suffered a shattering loss to the physical
Samoans in Wrexham (43-9) and were
blown away 64-15 by what ESPN called a
“scoring rampage” by the Welsh in Cardiff.
The boot of fly-half Keiji Hirose kept
things more respectable in the last pool
outing against the Pumas, but Argentina
still won the final contest 33-12.2003
The World Cup expanded for
the Australian event in 2003
and Japan lost all four of their
matches. But by the first event
post-millennium, there was a sense the
Blossoms were on the move. Against
Scotland (32-11) they were in contention
until the closing minutes, they made
France work for their victory (51-29) and
missed a few chances against Fiji (41-13).
After another loss to the USA (39-26),
Japan assistant coach Mark Ella said of
the team: “They have the potential to go
further, but it will take a lot of hard work.”2007
Many Japanese players were in
tears and although it was not a
victory, it was significant all the
same: in the last match of their
2007 campaign in France, Japan drew
12-12 with Canada to end a run of 13 World
Cup defeats. “Today was like a World Cup
final for both Japan and Canada and I
think 40,000 people have probably gone
away pretty happy,” the then-Japan coach
John Kirwan said after the dramatic,
come-from-behind draw in Bordeaux.
Earlier in the tournament they were
routed by Australia and Wales, but they
only lost by four points to Fiji before the
big draw. Things were improving.2011
Then it happened again. Well,
sort of. The tables were turned
in Napier in 2011, when the
Canadians came from behind
to snatch a draw at 23-23. Japan eyed an
end to a winless run stretching back to1991, but as Canada skipper Pat Riordan
said, “the job is done” and the two drew
for the second competition in a row.
There was an 83-7 loss to New Zealand,
a 47-21 defeat by France and a closer loss
of 31-18 to Tonga in the mix too, but the
finish was once again encouraging. If only
Japan could take that next major step...2015
Quite simply, Japan pulled off
rugby’s greatest-ever shock,
stunning the Springboks 34-32
in Brighton. The winless run
ended. The world buzzed. Head coach
Eddie Jones said: “Japan beating South
Africa? I had to look at the scoreboard at
the end just to see if it was true or not.”
Despite losing to the Scots, Japan would
also overcome Samoa and the USA in
2015, becoming the first team to win three
games but still miss out on the knockouts.
No wonder inspirational captain Michael
Leitch says of hosting in 2019: “Our main
objective is get out of the pool stages.”The HostsAt a stretch
Akihito Yamada scores
against Samoa four years agoOn the move
James Arlidge on his way
to a try against France in 2011Tangled up Facing Ireland at the 1991 World Cup