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Rugby World Cup | Group Stage
Sep 19, 2015 at 4.45pm UK
 
South Africa
32-34
Japan
Louw (18'), du Plessis (34'), de Jager (44'), Strauss (62')
FT
Leitch (30'), Goromaru (69'), Hesketh (80')

Top five Rugby World Cup upsets

Sports Mole looks back at some of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history following South Africa's defeat to Japan at the 2015 tournament.

The second day of the 2015 Rugby World Cup saw what has been dubbed the greatest upset in the history of the tournament, with two-time champions South Africa falling to a last-gasp try in their match against Japan.

It is just the second time that Japan, who are ranked 13th in the world, have won a match at the World Cup, with their only previous victory coming over minnows Zimbabwe in 1991.

Here, Sports Mole looks back at some more big shocks at the tournament.



1. South Africa 15-12 New Zealand - 1995

If yesterday's loss was the low point of South Africa's Rugby World Cup history, then the high point would be their 1995 win over New Zealand in the final, giving the Springboks their first of two titles at the tournament.

The All Blacks, who won the inaugural tournament in 1987 before finishing third four years later, had been heavy favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup before the start of the tournament, and did little to suggest they would not win as they cruised through to the final, led by Jonah Lomu's four-try performance in the semi-finals.

All the points were kicked in the final, with Joel Stransky and Andrew Mehrtens leaving the two teams level at 12-12 at full time, but Stransky added the title-winning drop goal in extra time to hand South Africa the title.

In one of the most iconic moments in the history of the World Cup, Springboks captain Francois Pienaar was presented with the Cup by South Africa president Nelson Mandela.



2. Tonga 19-14 France - 2011

Despite going on to reach the final at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, France suffered a surprise defeat in the pool stage of the tournament when they were beaten by Pacific Island nation Tonga.

Many of the players in the Tonga squad were based at French clubs, so had a good understanding of their opponents. France put in an error-strewn performance, allowing Suka Hufanga to put Tonga in front in the first half.

Kurt Morath kept the Tongans ahead with a string of penalties in the second half, although the fly-half also missed four attempts, allowing Vincent Clerc to make the scores close with a consolation try in the final seconds.

The result left both sides with two wins and two defeats from their four pool matches, but France had done just enough to progress as runners-up in Pool A behind New Zealand, having secured more bonus points in their earlier fixtures.



3. Argentina 17-12 France - 2007

Four years before their surprise defeat to Tonga, France were slipping up on home soil as they were beaten in the opening fixture of the 2007 tournament by Argentina.

Argentina's centre Juan Martín Hernández is tackled by France's wing Yoann Huget and France's captain Thierry Dusautoir during the international rugby test match France vs Argentina on November 22, 2014© Getty Images

Still one of the developing nations of rugby at the time, Argentina dominated from the start with their physical style of play, allowing Felipe Contepomi to add four penalties, while Ignacio Corleto scored the Pumas' only try. France had to rely on the kicking game for their points, with David Skrela making four of his five penalty attempts.

The sides came face to face again in the third-placed playoff after being beaten by England and South Africa respectively in the semi-finals, with Argentina securing another win over the host nation.



4. Western Samoa 16-13 Wales - 1991

Wales finished third at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, so the side were one of the favourites for the 1991 tournament, particularly as they were to play all their pool matches in front of their own fans in Cardiff.

It should have been an easy start to the campaign for Wales, as they faced a Western Samoa side that had not qualified four years earlier. However, To'o Vaega run in two tries, while Sila Vaifale cross the line for a third, leaving a crowd a 45,000 stunned at the Cardiff Arms Stadium.

Wales also lost to eventual champions Australia in the pool stage, having beaten the Wallabies in the third-placed playoff four years earlier, ensuring that they failed to get out of the group, leaving Australia and Western Samoa to progress.

The result was no fluke though, as the united Samoa side returned to Cardiff in the 1999 tournament, clinching a 38-31 win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.



5. Ireland 24-28 Argentina - 1999

Eight years before the Pumas were upsetting France in the opening match of the 2007 tournament, Argentina were causing another surprise on French soil, defeating Ireland in a quarter-final playoff.

Ireland came into the tournament as an improving side, finishing second in their pool behind Australia to secure a playoff game for a spot in the quarter-finals.

David Humphreys and Gonzalo Quesada traded a series of penalties before Argentina winger Diego Albanese went over in the corner inside the final 10 minutes to progress at the expense of their highly-rated opponents.

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England's Jonny Wilkinson kicks the winning drop goal against Australia during the final of the World Cup on November 22, 2003
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