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<\/p>\nWorld Cup fever has hit France with Rugby Union's most prestigious tournament getting underway this week.<\/p>\n
The opening game of the competition pitted two sides who could eventually face off in the final in October, with hosts France producing an impressive second-half showing to defeat New Zealand 27-13 in front of a raucous Stade de France crowd.<\/p>\n
Part of what makes the first few weeks of the Rugby World Cup so interesting is seeing teams that would never usually face off against each other. While the big hitters like France, New Zealand, Ireland and England usually go head-to-head regularly, tier two nations often only get the chance to play these sides at a World Cup.<\/p>\n
As a result, they often find themselves on the end of heavy defeats when they do play them, but that wasn't the case back in 2015 when Japan produced the biggest shock in Rugby World Cup history by beating South Africa in the group stages.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/b>Welsh Rugby World Cup presenter leaves fans speechless with leggy display at Eiffel Tower<\/b><\/p>\n
Facing off against each other at Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium, South Africa – who at the time were two-time World Cup winners- entered the group B contest as heavy 1-500 favourite with the bookies, who gave Jones' Japan side no chance of winning.<\/p>\n
But what unfolded in the opening game of group B proved to be one of the moments of the tournament. After 80 minutes of back and forth rugby, Japan somehow found themselves with an opportunity with the clock in the red to win the game, the score sitting at 32-29 to the Springboks.<\/p>\n
Do you remember where you were when Japan beat South Africa back at the 2015 World Cup? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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Relentless pressure from Japan ensued, with South Africa repelling wave after wave of attack, clinging on desperately for dear life. But eventually, the Springbok defensive wall broke. <\/p>\n
Japan moved the ball through the hands out wide and into the clutches of winger Karne Hesketh, who dived over the line under pressure from South Africa's JP Pietersen to dot down for the game winning try. Cue wild scenes in the Amex, with spectators in attendance in shock at what they had just witnessed.<\/p>\n
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England's rugby team will be aiming for glory in France, with Umbro supplying their kits for the tournament. It is the first time that the supplier have been handed the chance to produce the kits, with a traditional white home shirt emblazoned with the iconic red rose.<\/p>\n
From \u00a375<\/p>\n
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And speaking after the contest, Japan skipper Michael Leitch described it as a real "David v Goliath" battle. "It was always going to be a hard battle," Leitch told reporters after the game. <\/p>\n
"It was David v Goliath but we have been training for this day for the last four years. We have worked extremely hard, all the coaching staff and the players, but it was a full-on team effort. <\/p>\n
"The Springboks really came out and tested us but we knew if we just chopped them and kicked it on we\u2019d come off the winner. I\u2019m not surprised. We came out here to do a job and, like I said, we have been training for this for that past four years. I know the whole world is surprised, but in our camp we knew we could do it."<\/p>\n
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But despite the win, Japan failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, even after defeating South Africa who won the group. Pool B at the 2015 World Cup also featured Scotland and Samoa, with the former dismantling Japan 45-10, which eventually proved the difference when it came to qualifying for the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, South Africa topped the pool, and advanced to the quarter-finals where they beat Wales 23-19. However, they would fall agonisingly short of making the World Cup final, losing their semi-final clash to eventual champions New Zealand 20-18.<\/p>\n