South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus names squad for RWC quarterfinal against Japan
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe has returned from an ankle injury to be named to the starting side for Sunday's Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against Japan. Kolbe scored twice against Italy but picked up an injury and was kept out of the Springboks' final Pool B ...
Japan claimed its third straight win in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with a 3-0 victory over Tajikistan on Tuesday. Takumi Minamino scored the first goal in the second half on a header. He finished with two goals, while ...
Demand for Japan gear rising at frenzied pace during Rugby World Cup
With Japan reaching the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, fans are scrambling to get their hands on official merchandise. Except the Brave Blossoms have become so popular, demand is far outpacing supply. World Rugby has said more than 200,000 jerseys have been ...
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe ready to challenge Japan's wings in Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Cheslin Kolbe got a real kick out of watching Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima burn off the Scottish defenders last weekend. Now the Springboks winger wants to show the Japanese flyers what he can do with the ball in a bit of space. In an ...
Japan has 'nothing to lose' ahead of quarterfinal clash
Japan's Rugby World Cup heroes on Wednesday vowed to go for broke in their historic quarterfinal against South Africa on Sunday, insisting the Brave Blossoms have "nothing to lose" after reaching the knockout round for the first time. "The goal for the Japan team was ...
World Rugby chief Bill Beaumont says Brave Blossoms have transformed the sport
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said Tuesday that Japan's performance at the Rugby World Cup has "changed the face" of the sport. Asked whether Japan could become a Tier-1 nation and play in either the Six Nations or the Rugby Championship, Beaumont said, "What we ...
More than half of Japan watched Brave Blossoms' victory over Scotland on Nippon Television
More than half of Japan tuned in to watch the Brave Blossoms' 28-21 Rugby World Cup win over Scotland on Sunday that earned Japan a place in the knockout stage for the first time, figures released by a ratings tracker showed. Peak audience share clocked ...
Brave Blossoms pose 'scary' challenge for South Africa, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus says
Two weeks ago, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus described it as a "scary" prospect. It got a whole lot scarier this week. South Africa is now in Japan's way at the Rugby World Cup and the two-time champion will have to be at its strongest ...
Collective unity behind Japan's remarkable run
The defining moment during Sunday's enthralling Rugby World Cup game between Japan and Scotland in Yokohama was not Kenki Fukuoka's superb second try. Nor was it any of the umpteen tackles put in by Luke Thompson or Ryoto Nakamura. It came 21 minutes into a ...
Brave Blossoms warn rivals 'there's more to come' after reaching Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Japan's players allowed themselves a moment of satisfaction after beating Scotland to reach the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on Sunday, but warned their next opponent, South Africa: "we're not finished yet." "We're not packing our bags and saying 'that's enough,'" said ...
Japan qualified for the knockout stages of a Rugby World Cup for the first time Sunday on their ninth attempt, a remarkable achievement for a side that was regarded until recently as tournament pushovers. The Brave Blossoms, who won all four pool-stage games in the ...
Japan prevails over Scotland and secures historic berth in Rugby World Cup quarterfinals
Japan beat Scotland 28-21 on Sunday night to claim a place in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever, winning Pool A with a perfect record of four wins from four. In a game that was only given the green light to ...
