There can't be many phrases as condescending in sport as 'Tier 2'.

Brave Blossoms' scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka has compared their new found support after defeating Ireland as being akin to “what the All Blacks are in New Zealand.”

If there was anything more striking than Japan’s performance on the field on Saturday in Shizuoka, then it was the conduct of their players and coaches off it after they had electrified a nation and a tournament that is already a success because of their win against Ireland.

Japan ended their World Cup campaign exactly how they started it – by making history.

Samoa 5 Japan 26: Japan coach Eddie Jones believes his players have put the pride back in Japanese rugby regardless of whether they qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals.