Television ratings set during Japan's loss against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals reached an average of 41.6 percent in eastern Japan, the highest of any match in the current tournament, a rating agency said Monday.

Video Research Ltd. said the rating for the live broadcast of the game Sunday by public broadcaster NHK hit 49.1 percent at one point in the Kanto region, of which Tokyo is part. South Africa defeated Japan 26-3 in the game.

In the Kansai region, which includes Osaka and its vicinity, the rating peaked at 47.9 percent, and the average figure stood at 41.4 percent.