The early stages of this year's rugby World Cup provided one of the greatest upsets in the event's 32-year history. On September 28th, in the sweltering heat of the Shizuoka Stadium, the hosts, Japan, beat Ireland, then the second-best team in the world, for the first time ever. The result sparked raucous celebrations around the country. Japanese tv presenters bowed in front of images of the victors before reading the news. The commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency boasted that his country had rewritten sporting history.
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