Japan’s win ‘greatest moment in Cup history’

JAPAN’S shock 34-32 win over two-times world champions South Africa is the greatest moment in Rugby World Cup history, the coach of England’s victorious 2003 side, Clive Woodward, said yesterday.

Writing in his Daily Mail column Woodward – who got the better of current Japan coach and the then Australia handler, Eddie Jones, in the 2003 final in Sydney – said belief and courage combined with clever coaching could make any dream come true.

“Japan’s win over South Africa, engineered by my old mate and sparring partner Eddie Jones, is the greatest single moment in World Cup history and arguably the most important development the modern game has ever seen,” Woodward wrote.

“To use the technical term it was bloody marvellous.

“It was a performance of breathtaking brilliance and courage and also a coaching coup of thrilling panache which sends out a message to the entire sporting world, not just rugby.

“Underdogs can become world beaters if you truly believe,” the 59year-old, whose side won the 2003 World Cup in dramatic fashion with a drop goal by English superstar Jonny Wilkinson in the dying seconds of extra time, said.

Woodward, who is now a respected pundit, had his verbal tussles with Jones down the years when he was coaching, but the Englishman said that was largely for show.

“Eddie is a very engaging and bright guy, great company, who calls a spade a spade,” Woodward said.

“Of all the coaches I ever tangled with, Eddie was – and clearly still is – absolutely the best in terms of maximising the talent he has available and thinking outside the box.”

Jones quipped after the victory that he was too old at 55 still to be coaching, and reaching the quarterfinals would allow him to retire and be like Woodward sitting in the comfort of a studio.

“It’s what we live by as a side and it’s based around having the courage to play our kind of rugby, having pride in the national team and having respect for yourself and your teammates.” – AFP