Turn back the clock to the second day of the tournament where the rugby world was rocked to its foundations after Japan caused a seismic shock and stunned former world champions South Africa at Brighton Community Stadium.
The Springboks were rocked to their core by a sensational team performance by the Brave Blossoms who defied all odds to create one of the biggest upsets in any sport.
But it could have been so, so different.
Captain Michael Leitch turned down a certain three points which would have levelled the scores in the dying seconds. That in itself would have been a monumental achievement for the second tier nation. But for Leitch and his team it was simple – death or glory.
As it turned it, it was glory when replacement winger Karne Hesketh scored in the corner to send a nation and the entire rugby world into a frenzy. Twenty million viewers back in the land of the rising sun witnessed players and fans alike with tears of joy streaming down their faces.
Brave, gallant and bold were just some of the terms to describe Leitch’s gutsy decision.
Fast forward seven days and in the crucial Pool A game at Twickenham, England’s Chris Robshaw is in exactly the same position to level the scores against arch enemy Wales. Minutes from the final whistle England have two choices, go for goal to share the honours or go for glory and kick to the touchline and charge to victory from a line-out.
The contrast in opinion couldn’t be more stark. Idiot, insane and naive were just the printable comments as we now know Robshaw’s – and England’s – decision was in vain.
Again grown men were reduced to tears, but this time in frustration as England’s World Cup hopes were left hanging on tenterhooks. Such are the margins between success and failure. But as Esther Rantzen was rather fond of saying, ‘That’s Life’
