Japan’s Brave Blossoms are undoubtedly World Rugby’s biggest improvers over the past decade.
Shocking the rugby world in 2015 with a World Cup victory over the mighty Springboks, Japan put the world on notice. Despite not quite making it out of the pool at that World Cup, the benchmark had been set for all future Japanese teams.
Four years later at their home world Cup they would go one step further as they disposed of at the time the world number one team in Ireland to top their pool and set up a quarterfinal date with the Springboks.
This time the Boks would have their number and would eventually go on to win the tournament.
Despite this Jamie Joseph’s side gained international recognition not only for their performances but also for their sublime attacking play.
Fast forward to 2022 and this attacking flair remains as the heartbeat of the Japanese game and was on full display as they push both the All Blacks and France hard.
This try below is surely one of the best we have seen this year and serves as a reminder to their Pool D opponents that they will provide a real threat to qualify for the knockout stages once again.
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