Editorial: Courage really can deliver

New Zealand All Blacks during the national anthems before for the second Pool C match between New Zealand and Namibia in London. Photo / NZME.

Despite its detractors, rugby remains New Zealand's national game.

For every Kiwi rugby fanatic, it remains their "game of the gods".

So when the first whistle was blown to kick-start the chase for the William Webb Ellis Trophy in England, there was always going to be an upset or two. That a team with the most innocuous of nicknames - the Brave Blossoms - was responsible for it, was simply sensational. Japan's 34-32 win over the much-vaunted Springboks is rated as the biggest upset in rugby's World Cup history, albeit that the event has only been held every four years since 1987. But this result goes beyond those boundaries. It is one of the biggest sporting upsets of all time.

There have been other sensational results.

In a world heavyweight boxing title bout - ironically in Japan - James "Buster" Douglas dropped champ Mike Tyson in the 10th round. Bookmakers hadn't given Douglas a hope.

Then there was the "miracle on ice" at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid when a bunch of amateurs and college players making up the US men's ice hockey team beat the USSR in the semifinals 4-3. The Soviets had won the previous four Olympic golds.

Ten years later, Cameroon beat Argentina 1-0 in the first round of the World Cup in Milan. The African team's victory over Diego Maradona's side was a potent symbol of the continent's new standing.

When Ireland faced off against Pakistan in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in Jamaica, no one gave the Irish a prayer. But they won and advanced to the knockout round while the Pakistanis headed home.

And rugby fans will never forget the day in 1978 when the men from Munster beat the grand slam All Blacks 12-0 at Thomond Park, Limerick. It was a result so memorable a play and a book have been written about it.

But the effort of the Brave Blossoms was a result for the ages; a result that showed what courage can deliver.