Luke Thompson could barely rise himself to walk off the Shizuoka Stadium pitch.
It wasn’t one of those time-wasting, dilly-dallying ploys that you’d see in soccer. It was pure, genuine exhaustion and you could see it etched across the Japanese lock’s face.
Every step took its toll at this stage. The man was out on his feet. He’d fought the battle of his life, and he’d come out thumping his chest.
That man, the 38-year-old Christchurch native has travelled a long, winding road with the Japan rugby team. Hard to believe but this is his fourth World Cup with the brave blossoms. Saturday morning’s clash against Ireland would be his 66th cap for his adopted country.
He made sure it was a historic one.
This, 11 years on from his debut was one of his finest ever hours, as he spearheaded the 8/1 outsiders’ stoic challenge. Eventually they took down the World Number One ranked team.
In Luke Thompson’s 63 minutes on the pitch, he played a huge part in that. From the word go, he was pumped. Everything in green that made an attempt to move, he hit it back to where it come from.
He tackled hard and he tackled fierce. There was literally no way past that man on Saturday. He kept Garry Ringrose, Ireland’s liveliest and most elusive back honest early on.
In the following hour, he’d pull, drag and mill any Irish man that came near him. Stockdale was floored, Carty was buried. By the time he made that tired, painstaking amble towards the sideline, his stats were a frightening, if unsurprising read. His opponents were weary at the mere thought of his thumping presence. His Japanese comrades were feeding off his fercocious will.
19 tackles he’d attempted. 19 tackles he’d nailed. Didn’t miss one. Ireland’s backs and forwards were equally confused and dumbfounded. There was no way by him.
And that’s why the whole of Fukoroi roared. They appreciate his grit. His honesty of effort sustains them. There was nothing disingenuous about that 63rd minute trot.
He’d left it all out there and this was a deserved win for him and for Japan. They’ve soldiered through the tough times, like 2007 and 2011 when Japan were winless in their campaigns. 2015 saw them burst to life, beating South Africa and unluckily and unbelievably getting dumped out at the pool stages despite winning three games.
This was a long time coming, and it meant a lot to these lads. It would be very easy to criticise the likes of Thompson, a New Zealander playing for Japan. But he’s a Japanese citizen, has lived there for the last 15 years.
That’s the way the game is now and we must accept it.
Alongside him in the pack, James Moore had 23 tackles and zero missed. Frankly ridiculous stats and though they are a testament to this Japanese side, they are a damning indictment of Ireland’s one-dimensional play. Big, burly props should be beaten at least a few times.
Ireland didn’t have it in them. They were carrying straight and hard but there was no invention. It’s too easy to defend against. New Zealand for example, always bank on their ingenuity to find a way. South Africa the same, for some reason, Ireland just didn’t have it today.
A long way to go for Ireland. For Japan and for Luke Thompson, this was huge.
It's tough to lose, but that was a sweet one for Japan.
In 2015, they became the first team ever to win three games, and still not qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarter finals.
This was well deserved for them 👏pic.twitter.com/NCrn7CVtu8
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 28, 2019
