Samoa Named Goromaru MVP, Rugby World Cup
Japan shined in the Rugby World Cup pulling an all-important win over Samoa 26-5 on October 3. Fullback Ayumu Goromaru scored 16 to cinch Japan's second win in England.
After the game, Goromaru was named MVP by the team Samoa. He tweeted, "Look, to me this is more valuable than the Match's MVP (MOM). Such an honor coming from the opponents. I sure want to grow up to be a member of such a team".
The team Japan's victory over South Africa in the first match in England put the team Scotland ill at ease. When Scotland downed Japan, the
British media made a crack: "This puts matters in order" or to that effect. By beating Samoa, the team Japan proved it untrue. Japan demonstrated in a brilliant manner how rugby can be played despite the physical disadvantage.
Japan rebounded from a loss to Scotland to stay in the race toward the quarterfinals of the World Cup Rugby 2015.
Goromaru was born on March 1, 1989. He plays at fullback for Yamaha Júbilo and the national rugby union team. He first played in an international contest in 2005 at age 19, the second youngest to play for all Japan. Goromaru was instrumental in Japan's historic victory over South Africa in the first match in the 2015 World Cup in England - the match now dubbed the greatest upset in the history of rugby union.
Incidentally, the Japan SR Association (JSR) announced October 5 that Japan will participate in the Super Rugby, the top league in the southern hemisphere, with a team "SUNWOLVES". The name was selected from among several options e.g. rising samurai, rising sun, ninja, etc. "The closest image to a team Japan seemed a herd of wolves hunting in groups", confided JSR CEO Yuchi Ueno.
