Rugby-South African power ends Japan's fairytale run

A powerful South Africa ended the hopes of millions of Japanese rugby fans when they ground down the host nation 26-3 in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday. Japan had set their home tournament alight with a scintillating style of organized chaos that swept them through their pool unbeaten with victories against tier-one nations Ireland and Scotland.

Their fairytale run, however, ended against a formidable Springboks defensive effort that slowed the Japanese speed, while the South Africans, who only led 5-3 at halftime, relied on halfback pairing Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard to keep them pinned in their own half. The Springboks, who scored three tries - two from winger Makazole Mapimpi - but wasted a string of other changes, will now face Wales in the semi-finals in Yokohama next week after they recorded a 20-19 victory over a 14-man France, who had to lock Sebastian Vahaamahina sent off at Oita Stadium earlier on Sunday.