Opinion | Rugby World Cup: Wales looking for historic victory to cement their place among game’s royalty

The biggest weekend on the rugby calendar is here in Yokohama with two huge semi-finals, although one most certainly seems huger than the other. England playing the All Blacks on Saturday has seemingly sucked all the air out of the room.

But not for the Welsh fans in Tokyo who are revving up for Sunday clash with South Africa. “Not going to lie to you, don’t care what happens with England this weekend,” Tom from Cardiff says with a shrug. Along with his wife and another couple, they have been in Japan for three weeks and are taking a midday break in a cafe just outside the Welsh team hotel in central Tokyo.

Wearing their red rugby T-shirts, of course, with the iconic dragon I spotted them from a half a mile away. And not a moment too soon, either. After coming out of a press conference where Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins and hooker Ken Owens had spoken, I had little to work with.

The day before England coach Eddie Jones was the type of quote machine that makes a lazy hack even lazier. In front of a large gathering of English and international media he was a maestro of mirth and mystery. With a mischievous grin plastered on his face, he looked like he could stay on the podium for hours.