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Sporting Witness: Rugby's greatest upset

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Rugby's greatest upset

09/09/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Rugby's greatest upset

How Japan shook the world by beating South Africa at the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup

The Japan rugby union captain, Michael Leitch, tells the story of how his team shook the sporting world by beating South Africa at the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup in England.

In 2015, Japan’s Rugby Union team pulled off one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time, when they beat South Africa in their opening match of the World Cup in England. 

The Brave Blossoms’ win over one of the giants of world rugby would have been unimaginable before the team’s remarkable transformation under its captain Michael Leitch and head coach Eddie Jones.  

Michael Leitch spoke to Theo Whyte about the match, and how a last minute decision changed Japanese rugby forever. This is a Whistledown production for BBC World Service. 

(Photo: Karne Hesketh of Japan scores the winning try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Japan at the Brighton Community Stadium on September 19th 2015. Credit: Getty Images)

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