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Tom Bell

Winners
Japan in bloom
It’s no surprise that Japan excelled as host and had a team to build on their 2015 upsets. Some of the Brave Blossoms’ play, however, had to be seen to be believed. The likes of wings Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima made cases for inclusion in a tournament XV, while the showing against Scotland – stuck on fast-forward – was as thrilling as anything you’ll see in a sporting arena. Japan were made to wait for this after the last World Cup was awarded – again – to England, taking place in football stadiums and hitting the profit margins requested by the sport’s rulers. How pointless that now seems.
Kolisi’s rainbow Boks


South Africa’s first world champions had Nelson Mandela behind them in 1995, but were not truly multiracial. Their second winners in 2007 had the iconic Bryan Habana, but years of introspection about quotas followed. To see Siya Kolisi, his country’s first black captain, lift the trophy in 2019 was to witness a moment of arrival. It’s all the more impressive given where the Springboks were two years ago before Rassie Erasmus took over as coach: humbled by Italy, spanked 57-0 by New Zealand and eighth in the world. What a turnaround.
All Blacks still in credit

Losing semi-finalists, but played most of the slickest rugby, won Japanese hearts and were one of three sides to lose once. They played and operated largely as they did in 2011 and 2015, exemplified by Steve Hansen, their outgoing coach. Granted, “Shag” did invite a journalist outside for questioning the All Blacks’ desire – at least the hack was a Kiwi. In 2015, asked for his thoughts after winning a semi-final, Hansen launched into a fairly left-field monologue about sport being about values, character, process – no mention of his team or the outcome. In Japan, he greeted a losing semi much the same, while captain and keen cricket fan Kieran Read took a leaf out of statesmanlike Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson’s book and focused on the All Blacks’ mantra of leaving the jersey in a better place. They succeeded, and bow out double world champs, second best for a day, winners for life.
In-house hairdressers

It’s a feature of World Cups that players stave off boredom with a group trip to a local barber who’ll administer the only cut available. Several England players were identifiable at the bottom of rucks by a sort of “soft Mohawk”. The All Blacks had their hair maintained in camp, and not only centre Jack Goodhue, whose mullet was discussed at press conferences. “To be fair, it is the highlight of the week,” assistant coach Ian Foster said. “They line up about six chairs in the team room – it’s quite a show.” He did not need to name names, with Messrs Mo’unga, Bridge, Williams and Read sighted at training with identically severe backs and sides. “There have been some mis-cuts,” Foster suggested. “George Bridge is hoping for some sunny days to get rid of the white line around his head.”
losers
Northern lights dimmed

A devastating loss but the team have done us proud pic.twitter.com/DLTGAkdco9
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 2, 2019

Wales punched their weight, but other northern hemisphere countries left with questions to answer. Ireland arrived as world No 1 and departed major flops. France summoned a half of inspiration in their quarter-final before sabotaging themselves.
England seemed to have returned as a world force, only to produce the greatest underperformance by a World Cup finalist. How they fell so far short on the biggest day of their careers will occupy them for some time.
Scotland and Italy went home early at a time when Georgia, who acquitted themselves well, are hitting a glass ceiling kept in place by the refusal to open up the Six Nations.
France’s under-20s have been the world’s best for the past two years, while most of England’s 2019 squad are young enough to try again in 2023, when France host. By then, 20 years will have passed since England became the sole northern hemisphere winners.
Australians, except Eddie Jones

Besieged in the bowels of Yokohama stadium on Saturday by scrutiny of his England players’ nervy display, an indignant Jones felt the need to reiterate: “Listen, we’ve taken a side who couldn’t even get out of their 2015 group to one win from being world champions.”
Jones’ Aussie compatriots could use that sort of return as they rebuild after Michael Cheika’s resignation. Plenty in Australia would welcome him for a second go at leading the Wallabies after a campaign of reckless tactics and scattergun selection.
We always hear that rugby there trails Aussie Rules and rugby league in attracting talent, so could it capture Jones, who in England still lives in a hotel and was not planning to complete another World Cup cycle? He relishes playing the underdog.
Pacific islanders, except Fijian exiles

Fiji’s Semi Radradra shone, but even he paled beside the remarkable Marika Koroibete. The latter, though, is one of several current Fijians to have chosen to play for Australia. That is his right but the ease by which players qualify for nations in which they accept club contracts continues to impede Fiji – who pushed Wales and Australia without some who might have tipped the balance.
Another case in point is Virimi Vakatawa, raised in Fiji but France’s star man. And we wonder why the quarter-finals tend to comprise the same old teams?
Samoa, the next big thing 20 years ago, are in the doldrums. Tonga have stalled, having scared South Africa in 2007 and downed France in 2011.
A less-discussed aspect of the Israel Folau affair was that after being sacked by Australia he tried to play league for Tonga. If Folau feels so attuned to his parents’ Tongan roots, why wasn’t he wearing red in Japan?
Toutai Kefu, Tonga’s coach, said similar things about Billy Vunipola before the No 8 played against them with England. Billy and brother Mako grew up in Wales and Manu Tuilagi in England – not their parents’ native Tonga and Samoa. But mightn’t Tuilagi have considered playing for Samoa like his brothers did if they were challenging to win World Cups?
Kefu did win it, of course – with Australia, fully 20 years ago.


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Japan responsible for ‘representing Asia’ amid Covid-impacted rugby stagnation, says star Kazuki Himeno

Japan’s Brave Blossoms to face France in two games in July, officials hoping to revive spirit of 2019

Rugby World Cup 2019

Kolisi’s rainbow Boks and Australians, except Eddie Jones: winners and losers from Japan’s Rugby World Cup

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit celebrates with his teammates. Who else won at the Rugby World Cup? Photo: AP

New Zealand's centre Jack Goodhue reacts after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on October 26, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 19, 2019, England's fly-half Owen Farrell (L) tackles Australia's centre Jordan Petaia during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Australia at the Oita Stadium in Oita. - The 19-year-old Petaia became Australia's youngest-ever World Cup player with an electric debut against Uruguay, as he crashed over for one try and set up another in a crucial 45-10 bonus-point win. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 19, 2019 New Zealand's wing Sevu Reece holds onto the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between New Zealand and Ireland at the Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo. - All Black wing Sevu Reece was one of only six uncapped players in the preliminary World Cup squad but the 22-year-old forced himself into the first-choice XV with a string of glittering performances. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)

TOPSHOT - England's full back Elliot Daly (L) fights for the ball with Australia's wing Marika Koroibete during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Australia at the Oita Stadium in Oita on October 19, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

‘Our players understand they haven’t done anything yet’: England coach Eddie Jones coy before Rugby World Cup final against South Africa

England coach Eddie Jones has crafted win after win for his squads on the grandest of stages. Photo: AP

Owen Farrell of England (C) lines up among teammates as New Zealand players perform Haka during the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at International Stadium Yokohama in Kanagawa, Japan on October 26, 2019. (Photo by AFLO)

England coach Eddie Jones walks into a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019. England will play South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday Ov. 2. in Yokohama. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

epaselect epa07950429 England's Ben Youngs (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a disallowed try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 semi final match between New Zealand and England at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan, 26 October 2019. EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ NO COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCATION WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ENTITY

Rugby World Cup: all hail England as fans in Japan left in awe after huge win over New Zealand

England secured a famous win over the world champions in Japan. Photo: EPA

Photo: Tim Noonan

Sport

Rugby

Opinion

Comment


Japan hosts the first tournament out of the world’s strongholds for the sport, so how did things turn out for everyone involved?
There are some clear victors (the South Africans, of course) and some interesting also-rans who came up surprisingly short



Japan hosts the first tournament out of the world’s strongholds for the sport, so how did things turn out for everyone involved?


Japan

New Zealand

Australia

Nelson Mandela

Ireland

South Africa

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Opinion | Kolisi’s rainbow Boks and Australians, except Eddie Jones: winners and losers from Japan’s Rugby World Cup

Japan hosts the first tournament out of the world’s strongholds for the sport, so how did things turn out for everyone involved? There are some clear victors (the South Africans, of course) and some interesting also-rans who came up surprisingly short

Japan hosts the first tournament out of the world’s strongholds for the sport, so how did things turn out for everyone involved?

There are some clear victors (the South Africans, of course) and some interesting also-rans who came up surprisingly short