In The Scrum | Rugby World Cup: all hail England as fans in Japan left in awe after huge win over New Zealand
- England secure a famous win over the world champions in Japan
- England supporters in Tokyo seem more stunned than elated
Next stop the finals and surely the streets of Tokyo would be alive with English revellers coming back from the match in Yokohama looking to paint the town in rose coloured hues. Or maybe not. There were Halloween party-goers all over raucous Roppongi mixed in with a number of white England rugby shirts, who were obviously happy but far from wild or delirious.
Manning had just come back from the match in Yokohama and was queuing up for a few ales at Legends Sports Bar.
“Do you know what’s been nice about the tournament?” he asked. “Everybody has been lovely from the start. OK, we’re on the high horse now after that match, but the Kiwis and even the Aussies have been cool and genuine in their support. And I like to think we would be too if they had beaten us.”
He admits they played well, but I tell him he’s soft selling things, they played spectacularly and didn’t miss a tackle all night. “Yeah, and that’s not like us,” he adds.
Manning is from Birmingham and the guy he is travelling with is the nephew of a high ranking J-League referee who has been their host for the last two weeks. “Ah mate, the things we have seen,” he says with a smile. “What a country, what a country, and what a team today. Wow.”
