Japan pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history yesterday, defeating two-time World Cup champions South Africa 34-32 in a ferocious encounter at Brighton Community Stadium.

Replacement Karne Hesketh raced in at the corner in the 84th minute to snatch victory from a pulsating contest in the Pool B opener.

Ferocious tacking from Japan kept them within two points of the Springboks at half-time after driving mauls brought tries for South Africa’s Francois Louw and Bismarck du Plessis, with Michael Leitch touching down for Japan.

The reliable boot of fullback Ayumu Goromaru nudged Japan in front early in the second half, but that was quickly cancelled out by a try from South African lock Lood De Jager.

Both sides exchanged a series of penalties before Springboks snatched another try as replacement Adriaan Strauss burst through the defence. But then Japan found space out wide, sending Goromaru in at the corner; his conversion levelling the scores.

Another Springbok penalty looked like breaking Japanese hearts before Hesketh grabbed the winner in overtime.

Earlier, slick Ireland put an underwhelming warm-up campaign behind them by crushing Canada 50-7 in their World Cup Pool D opener at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

The Six Nations champions, recently ranked second in the world behind New Zealand and looking to go beyond the quarter-finals for the first time, were out of sight after scoring four first-half tries.

Other results
Pool C: Georgia vs Tonga - 17-10
Pool D: France vs Italy - 32-10

Today’s matches
Pool B: 13.00 Samoa vs USA.
Pool A: 15.30 Wales vs Uruguay.
Pool C: 17.45 New Zealand vs Argentina.