sports

Japan bows out of Rugby World Cup with 28-18 win over U.S.

19 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

Hold your heads high brave Blossoms. You've done yourselves proud and Japan proud with your fantastic performances throughout the entire tournament. Your dedication and bravery has gained you the respect from the rugby world and I hope that this is massive boost for the popularity of the sport within Japan as well as an inspiration for other Asian nations (and even nations out of the traditional Rugby markets). I am looking forward to 2019 and I hope that next time you get the chance to play Ireland because we would love to see what would be a epic game between two sets of honourable players.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Take a bow Japan Rugby, three wins out of four games In a World Cup pool, and really it's an injustice you aren't in the quarter finals... If you had played Scotland after a decent rest, I'm positive you'd be there now. I hope Japanese rugby grows and grows after this amazing World Cup and I'm already excited for the Japan World Cup in 4 years!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

A very good result, and a shame they can't go on this time around. Here's hoping, though, that they will continue to do better in the future and go on to the finals and perhaps even win.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Great job Japan!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Hold your heads high brave Blossoms. You've done yourselves proud and Japan proud with your fantastic performances throughout the entire tournament. Your dedication and bravery has gained you the respect from the rugby world and I hope that this is massive boost for the popularity of the sport within Japan as well as an inspiration for other Asian nations (and even nations out of the traditional Rugby markets). I am looking forward to 2019 and I hope that next time you get the chance to play Ireland because we would love to see what would be a epic game between two sets of honourable players.

Why would this post get 3 "bad" votes?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

What a great performance. Their victory over the Boks in particular is one of the biggest upsets ever.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Very well done Japan! its only the British team that should fall on there swords! can someone explain to me how on earth can Japan win 3 out of 4 matches but still go home? shurley they had enough points/goals to qualify? Beating Samoa by 25/5 points is worth a medal by its self!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Very well done Japan! its only the British team that should fall on there swords! can someone explain to me how on earth can Japan win 3 out of 4 matches but still go home? shurley they had enough points/goals to qualify? Beating Samoa by 25/5 points is worth a medal by its self!

Both South Africa and Scotland won 3 from 4 matches as well... and they also had bonus points which Japan never acquired. It really is a shame though. Would love to have seen Japan make the QF's and beat Australia as well!!

Well done Brave Blossoms. You've done amazingly!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Very well done Japan! its only the British team that should fall on there swords! can someone explain to me how on earth can Japan win 3 out of 4 matches but still go home? shurley they had enough points/goals to qualify? Beating Samoa by 25/5 points is worth a medal by its self!

Not quite right there squire... The 'England' rugby team are indeed wringing their hands as the first host country to exit in the group stages. The two other 'British' sides - Wales and Scotland progress (though I don't recommend using the 'B' word in either country on match-day.)

Japan's exit, while sad, was a question of maths and a four-day turnaround before facing a fresh Scottish team.

I'm pleased by Japan's success, but concerned that without it AND without the Olympic stadium crisis the Japanese general public still wouldn't have any idea they were hosting a major sporting event in FOUR years.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Well done Japan. As a wallabies supporter, I'd have been worried if you'd come up against Australia - with our former coach in charge. Thanks to you, rugby is on everyone's lips in Japan

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Really impressive performance from Japan.

Great stuff! Onwards and upwards. 

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Very well done Japan! its only the British team that should fall on there swords! can someone explain to me how on earth can Japan win 3 out of 4 matches but still go home? shurley they had enough points/goals to qualify? Beating Samoa by 25/5 points is worth a medal by its self!

South Africa and Scotland won 3/4 matches as well. And even without the bonus points Scotland would've still progressed based on better goal difference.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And even without the bonus points Scotland would've still progressed based on better goal difference.

In the event of a points tie Scotland's victory over Japan would have seen them progress before 'goal difference' was considered.

--

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Never heard in any other sports of a team that won 3 out of 4 test matches not proceeding to the finals. I think it's unfair for them not to give Japan extra credits for beating the former champion South Africa.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Never heard in any other sports of a team that won 3 out of 4 test matches not proceeding to the finals. I think it's unfair for them not to give Japan extra credits for beating the former champion South Africa.

Oh puleeeez, stop this whining already.

As others have pointed out, two other teams in the same group have won 3 matches too. And their overall performances were better. If you want Japan to go through, then some other 3rd-placed teams should go through too. But the rules were made beforehand.

Look, we've had all the in-depth analysis today on TV, including the coach being half Japanese and married to a Japanese woman, and a run down of every single detail of the Japanese team as if rugby was always that popular. But now it's finished - even the Japanese reporters and cameramen should be landing in Narita by now. I guess only rugby fans will continue watching. My next thought is what other sport and Japanese team the Japanese public don't normally care about is suddenly going to be put on a pedestal.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Praising Japan's team earns a down vote: surprise surprise. But unless Japan starts a rugby championship like they do for football - their progress in 2015 will mean nothing in 2019

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan Rugby restored PRIDE in Japan and rest of the Asia in the term of Rugby. Japan is a genuine force to be reckoned with, with wining three games in world Cup. “Sayonara” U.S world Cup Rugby exit our failure we depend too much on SIZE rather than Rugby skills, first time this tournament, size barely mattered against opponents whose verve and skills. Cheers to Japan Rugby!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Christopher GlenOCT. 13, 2015 - 12:44AM JST Praising Japan's team earns a down vote: surprise surprise. But unless Japan starts a rugby championship like they do for football - their progress in 2015 will mean nothing in 2019

Japan has a rugby union league (Top League). They also will compete in Super Rugby (Aus/NZ/SA/Argentina based) next season. According to a recent Japan Times article, sales of rugby-related memorabilia exceeded expectations by a significant amount. Just because it's not on the same level as baseball/football in terms of participation doesn't mean it "means nothing"...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If that is so, they had better start giving games more coverage then.

it "means nothing"...[

If you looked at the context, you will realise that Japan has a golden opportunity to improve their rugby playing level, by pouring more resources into the game

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites