Springboks' shock loss to Japan in 2015 still vivid for Erasmus

While the return to England to face Japan has brought up some memories of the 2015 Rugby World Cup shock, the current Springbok side aren’t really thinking back to that day in Brighton ahead of their clash with Eddie Jones’ side at Wembley on Saturday.

There is a big sense of deja vu for some British press members this week. After all Eddie Jones was Japan’s coach then and after stints at England and Australia, is Japan’s coach again. The setting is similar, but the stakes are not quite the same.

So it was inevitable that coach Rassie Erasmus would be asked about that day in Brighton, when the biggest World Cup shock ever took place, and lowly Japan rocked the Springboks in their opening World Cup game.

PLAYED JAPAN TWICE SINCE 2015

Still, the Boks have played Japan twice since then, including a highly-charged quarterfinal in Japan in 2019, and come through unscathed, and the once-burnt, twice shy approach will ensure that they don’t underestimate the Japanese side again in any way.

Erasmus was asked about his memories of the day, and didn’t really want to take the bait. It was clear the Bok coach was more focused on the here and now than nostalgia.

“Yes, I think I can remember where I was. Yes, 100 per cent,” Erasmus smiled, then pivoted.

“But we've played them twice since then, you know. One warm-up match and one quarterfinal. I think it was a quarterfinal, it was a play-off game in Japan. (The 2015 game) will always be one of the iconic wins for them, and that's well done. Like our first loss against Italy, I remember that match.

“I remember when we first lost to Wales, I was a player. We were playing at the Millennium Stadium. I can remember clearly where I was there, because Mark Taylor was in the centre and he ran over me and he scored the winning try. So those kinds of things happen.

“We all have been part of history-making things. Australia beat us for the first time in a long time at Ellis Park. That wasn't a nice feeling. I guess for Japan that will always be one of their greatest moments, and obviously that will motivate them.

PLANNING FOR PRESENT, NOT PAST

“But I don't think we, at this stage, think about that. When we're planning a game, we are analysing Japan and how well they played last weekend and how they're building under Eddie and what they're trying to do. We always try to make plans and see how we can win the next match. But none of us can run away from how well they did in that game.

“I was in my bar, if you want to know exactly, at home, watching the game.”

Rassie was also playing down any sort of rivalry with Jones, who is known as one of the most outspoken coaches in the world. Both coaches have ample respect for each other and Erasmus was keen to point that out, and added if there was a bottle of red on the line, Eddie’s side needed to win the test match to claim it.

RESPECT FOR EDDIE

“My first interaction with Eddie was when I was with the 2007 World Cup team before they were going to leave, and I was working with them, and then I got the stormers job, and then Eddie took over from me.

“ I was there for about three or four matches with him in a training camp in Cape Town, and we were there. That was the first time we really started exchanging rugby talk and so on, and I know a lot has been said about Eddie as a guy that speaks his mind.

“ I enjoy people who do those kinds of things, and he was one of the guys when I got banned, he picked up the phone and phoned me and supported me, sort of. He told me in so many words that those were stupid things, but he understands why and how. I always had a lot of respect for him, and I think people always try to build up a thing between coaches, but he's one of the coaches I really respect.

“We do have a bottle or five afterwards but we only do that when we're winning, so if he wants it, he must do it.”