A decade has passed since South Africa's Springboks suffered a humiliating 34-32 defeat to Japan at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, an event dubbed the 'Miracle of Brighton' that marked a turning point for the sport in the country. The loss exposed deep flaws in the national team's preparation and led to a period of decline. Now, ahead of a rematch, reflections highlight lessons learned under coach Rassie Erasmus.
The 34-32 loss to Japan on 19 September 2015 at Brighton's Amex Stadium remains South African rugby's darkest day. With time expiring, Japan captain Michael Leitch rejected a penalty kick to level the score, instead pushing for a try. Replacement winger Karne Hesketh crossed the line for the winner, igniting 30,000 fans as if Japan had claimed the World Cup trophy.
Japan's coach Eddie Jones, previously involved in South Africa's 2007 World Cup victory, called it his finest achievement. Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer was stunned, while lock Lood de Jager fought back tears in his post-match comments. The next morning, Meyer warned of worse to come, blaming self-serving franchises and poor conditioning.
Meyer's successor, Allister Coetzee, took over in 2016, but the team spiraled further, losing to Italy for the first time and suffering record defeats to the All Blacks, Ireland, and Wales. By 2017, the Springboks had fallen to sixth in the World Rugby rankings, hitting rock bottom.
Rassie Erasmus's appointment in 2018 brought rebuilding. He addressed systemic issues, maximizing the player base at home and abroad. In 2019, Erasmus, captain Siya Kolisi, and a transformed squad won the World Cup final 32-12 against England in Yokohama. Erasmus described the triumph as a starting point for a dynasty, cautioning against past complacency.
Erasmus often invokes the 2015 defeat to motivate, recalling skipped training sessions from 2011 and his insights as high-performance manager from 2012-2015. He foresaw Japan's 2019 strength, despite a 41-7 warm-up win; they met again in the quarterfinal, where South Africa prevailed 26-3 after a gritty battle.
Now, on 1 November 2025 at Wembley Stadium in London, the teams rematch. Japan, ranked 13th, recently lost 19-15 to Australia. Eddie Jones returns as coach, bolstered by South Africans Gary Gold and Victor Matfield. The Springboks, atop the rankings with an 82% win rate over two seasons, include eight Brighton veterans. Erasmus ensures no underestimation, knowing history could repeat.