Japan vs South Africa (Springboks)
2019 Rugby World Cup quarter final
Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium
Date: Sunday, 20 October, 2019
Kick-off: 11.15am BST
Hosts Japan are out to create more history as they face South Africa in the fourth and final quarter-final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Japan’s 28-21 win over Scotland in their final Pool A match secured their first-ever place in the last eight.
Jamie Joseph’s side are looking to repeat their remarkable 32-34 win over the Springboks in 2015 when they stunned the two-time champions to cause one of the biggest upsets of all time.
Looking back, even since 2011, this team has grown so much and it is scary to think about how far this team could actually grow.
“The last four games, we are getting better each time, and the confidence is growing. This is great for Japanese rugby, for rugby in Asia and for tier-two rugby.”
Whilst almost all of the pre-match attention has been focussed on the hosts, the Springboks squad have been quietly preparing to write their own chapter in the history books.
Coach Rassie Erasmus has known his favoured team for some time and it no surprise to see his South Africa side packed with forwards.
The Brave Blossoms were the stand-out side in the pool stage at their own tournament. Their stunning victories over Ireland and Scotland have inspired a new generation of rugby fans.
26-year-old Kotaro Matsushima became an overnight sensation with his hat-trick against Russia, and then went on to light up the Scotland match with a dazzling performance.
The Pretoria-born wing was the joint-top try-scorer in the competition coming into this weekend.
Japan also have a quality kicker and distributor at ten in Yu Tamura. The 30-year-old is the top scorer so far with 48 points.
If the fairy tale ends here, then you can be certain the Boks will have put in a heck of a performance.
South Africa are aiming to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals for the fifth time in seven appearances. Under Erasmus they are a solid outfit but also possess attacking potency of their own.
Cheslin Kolbe, who trained with Matsushima at under-20 level, was a star performer for his club Toulouse this year. The diminutive wing was sensational in the pool games and will be a serious threat out wide.
But what South Africa really relish is a physical battle. They will look to launch their powerful ball-carriers at the heart of the Japanese.
The scrum is one area that the Brave Blossoms have improved, but they will do well to just keep parity up front.
Japan know their real strengths lie in their fitness, set-piece routines and devastating line speed.
Japan have made one change to their starting line-up, bringing Ryohei Yamanaka in at fullback in place of the injured William Tupou.
Tupou suffered a concussion in Japan’s win over the Scots and is not involved in the matchday 23.
30-year-old winger Lomano Lava Lemeki is named among the replacements as cover for the back three.
Jamie Joseph also makes two changes to the bench with forwards Wimpie van der Walt and Amanaki Lelei Mafi replacing Uwe Helu and Hendrik Tui.
Rassie Erasmus had rotated his squad through the pool stage to ensure his players all had game time before the knockout stages but has settled on the same matchday squad that crushed Italy 49-3.
South Africa’s key man Kolbe has returned from an ankle injury. Kolbe scored twice against Italy but was kept out of the Springboks’ final Pool B match against Canada as a precaution to ensure he was ready for the quarters.
South Africa defeated Japan 41-7 in a World Cup warm-up match in September and their power and big-game experience should see them ease through as comfortable winners.
It would be incredible to see the hosts keep the dream alive, but the Springboks should prove one step too far.
2019 Rugby World Cup quarter final
Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium
Date: Sunday, 20 October, 2019
Kick-off: 11.15am BST
Hosts Japan are out to create more history as they face South Africa in the fourth and final quarter-final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Japan’s 28-21 win over Scotland in their final Pool A match secured their first-ever place in the last eight.
Jamie Joseph’s side are looking to repeat their remarkable 32-34 win over the Springboks in 2015 when they stunned the two-time champions to cause one of the biggest upsets of all time.
Looking back, even since 2011, this team has grown so much and it is scary to think about how far this team could actually grow.
“The last four games, we are getting better each time, and the confidence is growing. This is great for Japanese rugby, for rugby in Asia and for tier-two rugby.”
Whilst almost all of the pre-match attention has been focussed on the hosts, the Springboks squad have been quietly preparing to write their own chapter in the history books.
Coach Rassie Erasmus has known his favoured team for some time and it no surprise to see his South Africa side packed with forwards.
The Brave Blossoms were the stand-out side in the pool stage at their own tournament. Their stunning victories over Ireland and Scotland have inspired a new generation of rugby fans.
26-year-old Kotaro Matsushima became an overnight sensation with his hat-trick against Russia, and then went on to light up the Scotland match with a dazzling performance.
The Pretoria-born wing was the joint-top try-scorer in the competition coming into this weekend.
Japan also have a quality kicker and distributor at ten in Yu Tamura. The 30-year-old is the top scorer so far with 48 points.
If the fairy tale ends here, then you can be certain the Boks will have put in a heck of a performance.
South Africa are aiming to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals for the fifth time in seven appearances. Under Erasmus they are a solid outfit but also possess attacking potency of their own.
Cheslin Kolbe, who trained with Matsushima at under-20 level, was a star performer for his club Toulouse this year. The diminutive wing was sensational in the pool games and will be a serious threat out wide.
But what South Africa really relish is a physical battle. They will look to launch their powerful ball-carriers at the heart of the Japanese.
The scrum is one area that the Brave Blossoms have improved, but they will do well to just keep parity up front.
Japan know their real strengths lie in their fitness, set-piece routines and devastating line speed.
Japan have made one change to their starting line-up, bringing Ryohei Yamanaka in at fullback in place of the injured William Tupou.
Tupou suffered a concussion in Japan’s win over the Scots and is not involved in the matchday 23.
30-year-old winger Lomano Lava Lemeki is named among the replacements as cover for the back three.
Jamie Joseph also makes two changes to the bench with forwards Wimpie van der Walt and Amanaki Lelei Mafi replacing Uwe Helu and Hendrik Tui.
Rassie Erasmus had rotated his squad through the pool stage to ensure his players all had game time before the knockout stages but has settled on the same matchday squad that crushed Italy 49-3.
South Africa’s key man Kolbe has returned from an ankle injury. Kolbe scored twice against Italy but was kept out of the Springboks’ final Pool B match against Canada as a precaution to ensure he was ready for the quarters.
South Africa defeated Japan 41-7 in a World Cup warm-up match in September and their power and big-game experience should see them ease through as comfortable winners.
It would be incredible to see the hosts keep the dream alive, but the Springboks should prove one step too far.
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