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Agence France-Presse

Underdogs Uruguay pulled off the greatest win in their history to beat Fiji 30-27 on Wednesday, the first upset at the Rugby World Cup in Japan after a pulsating game at the Kamaishi Recovery Stadium.
The South Americans had only ever won two games at the World Cup and are ranked nine places below the more celebrated Pacific islanders, whom they had never beaten.
But they capitalised on an error-strewn performance by Fiji, whose hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages now hang by a thread.
Uruguay’s captain Juan Gaminara broke down in tears at the end of the game, saying: “We are not the biggest, we are not the tallest but we came here to win.”

“Since we qualified, we have been thinking about this game and you saw the passion. I’m really proud,” added Gaminara, whose squad contains several players with semi-professional status.
The thrilling game had a much deeper significance as it was played in Kamaishi, one of the towns hardest-hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated north-eastern Japan.

A moment they will never forget | @RugbyUruguay#FIJvURU #RWC2019 #RWCKamaishi pic.twitter.com/Zhykx97tQf
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 25, 2019

The stadium, the only purpose-built venue at the Rugby World Cup, was built on the site of a school destroyed by the waves and hosting the match was seen as a powerful sign of recovery.
As Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino looked on, the crowd observed a moment’s silence to remember the more than 1,000 people killed in the tsunami, several children in the crowd removing their caps and bowing their heads in prayer.

With emotions running high, Fiji were first on the scoresheet in the seventh minute, Mesulame Dolokoto dotting down to complete a slick line-out move that came after a delightful chip and catch by fullback Alivereti Veitokani.

This is the spirit of rugby! @RugbyUruguay's Santiago Arata takes time after historic win to console Fiji Player #RWC2019 #FIJvURU #RWCKamaishi pic.twitter.com/y9G9vhQ2M4
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 25, 2019

But Uruguay showed immediately they were not there to make up the numbers and hit back via a mazy run from scrum-half Santiago Arata, one of the smallest players on the pitch, who evaded several tackles before touching down under the posts for an easy conversion.
Fiji’s huge forward superiority eventually told as prop Eroni Mawi bundled over from close range. But Uruguay refused to go away and again took the lead as No 8 Manuel Diana barged over for a converted try.

And the minnows leapt further ahead with 26 minutes on the clock, Juan Manuel Cat finishing off a flowing move down the left. A penalty just before half-time gave battling Uruguay a deserved 24-12 lead at the break.
Fiji had taken a shock lead of their own into the second half of their defeat by Australia, but this time they found themselves needing a dramatic comeback.
After Josh Matavesi missed a relatively simple penalty that would have steadied the nerves, lock Api Ratuniyarawa finished off a move that featured a sensational offload.

And replacement scrum-half Nikola Matawalu dived over following an outrageous dummy to closed the gap to 22-27 and set up a nail-biting last 10 minutes.
Fiji threw everything at Uruguay, but a Felipe Berchesi penalty took them out of sight and they clung on for dear life in the final stages, Matawalu’s last-minute try not enough to prevent victory.
The Pacific islanders, who were seen as an outside bet to cause a shock of their own in Pool D that includes Wales and Australia, were left to rue a comedy of errors including several relatively simple missed kicks.
A disconsolate captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu said: “Everything went wrong today. It’s not the result we wanted. It’s not how we wanted the game to go today. We underestimated a very good Uruguay team.”


Minnows Uruguay stun Fiji in Rugby World Cup’s first shock

Uruguay players celebrate after defeating Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in Kamaishi, northeastern Japan. Photo: AP

TOPSHOT - Fiji's centre Jale Vatubua (C) is is tackled by Uruguay's centre Juan Manuel Cat (L) and Uruguay's flanker Santiago Civetta (R) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Fiji and Uruguay at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi on September 25, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

TOPSHOT - Fiji's centre Levani Botia (L) is is tackled by Uruguay's centre Juan Manuel Cat during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Fiji and Uruguay at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium in Kamaishi on September 25, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Fiji's players greet the crowd after their loss to Uruguay during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match in Kamaishi, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Satoru Yonemaru/Kyodo News via AP)

Uruguay's Nicolas Freitas, in blue, runs with a ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Fiji and Uruguay in Kamaishi, northeastern Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (Ren Onuma/Kyodo News via AP)

England off to a winning Rugby World Cup start with victory against Tonga

England’s Anthony Watson in action during their opening win against Tonga. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong Sevens: Japan coach looking to give the sport a shot in the arm ahead of Rugby World Cup

Kensuke Iwabuchi is hoping for a good showing from his Japan team to see them get off the bottom of the World Series table. Photo: Kyodo

Japan's Yoshihiro Noguchi (C, R) fights for the ball with France's Terry Bouhraou during the Rugby Sevens tournament match France vs Japan, on December 9, 2017 at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

Japan’s tattoo problem is about to get messy with the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics

Lionel Messi’s leg tattoos are usually covered during games, but Japan remains in a prickly position giving what athletes wear is crucial to their success. Photo: EPA

New Zealand's All Blacks scrumhalf TJ Perenara transport the ball during the Rugby Championship match against Argentina's Los Pumas at Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 29, 2018. All Blacks won 35-17 to became champion of the Rugby Championship. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

In this picture taken on October 28, 2017, former Japanese porn star Mana Izumi checks her new tattoo at a tattoo studio in Tsurugashima, Saitama prefecture. - Tattoos still provoke deep-rooted suspicion in Japan as the country prepares to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. People with body ink are refused entry to public swimming pools, bathing spots, beaches and often gyms, while visible body art can be harmful to job prospects. (Photo by Behrouz MEHRI / AFP) / TO GO WITH Japan-tattoos-crime, FEATURE by Alastair HIMMER

Human artwork Tim, his back covered in a tattoo applied over two years by Wim Delvoye, contemplates a canyon in the caramel-coloured sandstone of subterranean gallery Mona, currently Tasmania’s number one tourist attraction, at MONA (the Museum of Old and New Art), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, March 30, 2019. [12MAY2019 HOTSPOTS POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: PETER NEVILLE-HADLEY

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina's leg tattoo could make an appearance at next summer’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics like it did at Wimbledon and Rio. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Rugby


South Americans had only won two games at the World Cup and are ranked nine places below the Pacific islanders
Uruguay captain Juan Gaminara breaks down in tears at the end of the game after error-strewn performance by Fiji



Uruguay captain Juan Gaminara breaks down in tears at the end of the game after error-strewn performance by Fiji
