Japan

Japan captured the hearts and minds of the rugby-following world last weekend with a momentous and historic 34-32 victory over South Africa.

Welcome to a new regular feature at Talking Rugby Union where will take a look back at the good, the bad and the funny of the Rugby World Cup over the past week.

Japanese captain Michael Leitch has warned Scotland that the Brave Blossoms have no intention of being World Cup one-hit wonders.

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter will put out a near first-choice line-up as he looks to avoid becoming the second side to slip up against World Cup shock troops Japan.

Japan have moved above their next World Cup opponents Scotland in rugby union's official world rankings.

The shockwaves of Japan’s 34-32 victory over South Africa on Saturday are still reverberating around the rugby world.

Japan stunned South Africa with a 34-32 win at Brighton in World Cup Pool B on Saturday.

Japan head coach Eddie Jones knows his side will assume the role of David when they take on one of rugby's true Goliaths in South Africa.

Stuart Hogg admits he has had to ask his veteran Scotland colleagues if he should tone down his playful high-jinks - before he gets on their nerves.

After 2014 turned out to be one of the most promising years in Japan’s burgeoning rugby adventure, 2015 has been a stark reminder of the challenges facing emerging rugby nations.

There will be no shortage of expectations hoisted upon the likes of Julian Savea, Duane Vermeulen and George North when the Rugby World Cup begins later this month.

World Rugby says it is "extremely disappointed" that Japan's new National Stadium will not be ready to host games at the 2019 World Cup.

The stadium where David Beckham's penalty handed England a football World Cup victory over Argentina in 2002 heads the list of venues to host Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

In stark contrast to Round 1, there are ten games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 2 and if you get through this round with a 100 per cent record then as Fitzy used to say, "full credit".

The November Internationals Round 1 went as predicted with wins for the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks and the Wallabies, but these matches were more a celebration of rugby than the results.

There are only three games in the November Internationals 2014 Round 1 and only one of these is a test match. You could say it is the calm before the storm.

Western Force and Wallabies winger Nick "Honey Badger" Cummins has announced that he will leave the Western Force and Australian rugby at the end of the Super Rugby season and move to Japan.

The June Internationals and Pacific Nations Cup are almost over for another year. The Southern Hemisphere teams still seem to hold the dominance with exception of an understrength Argentina team.

Steve Borthwick turned down one more year at Saracens to take up the "huge attraction" of coaching Japan alongside Eddie Jones.

The November Autumn Rugby Internationals Round 4 features ten mouth-watering matches including the All Blacks vs Ireland match which is sure to see history made