The Japanese national team has come in for plenty of much-deserved praise for their decision to go for the win against South Africa in their opening game of the Rugby World Cup.

After a superb performance by the Brave Blossoms, Japan trailed 32-29 with time almost up - almost. Japan earned a penalty almost in front of the South African posts, and captain Michael Leitch opted for a lineout, rather than a penalty attempt. The penalty goal would have tied the game, and most likely the game would have ended in a tie.

You know the rest; Japan was held up in-goal, then just barely held onto the ball in the ensuing scrum, sent it wide right, recycled, and sent it wide left where Karne Hesketh went over to become a national hero.

The choice, though, wasn’t really that hard. In fact, it would have made almost no sense at all for Leitch to opt for the penalty kick. Why?

Time. Eighty seconds remained in the game when the penalty was called. It is certainly likely that the restart would have been allowed. South Africa would have had a chance to win it anyway.

Points. Japan had scored two tries in the match so far, while South Africa had scored four. That me ants that if the two teams tied, Japan would leave with two points in the standings, and South Africa three, and ahead of Japan.

A loss for Japan would have given them a close-loss bonus point. So a tie, at three points, would net Japan only two points, while a loss would be one. The benefit of a tie, then, would have been small.

The benefit for a win, though, would be enormous - four points in the standings, and South Africa down to two points (four tries and a close loss). That’s why, when there was a second penalty in the scrum at about 80 minutes, Leitch had to still go for the try.

Yellow Card. South Africa was down a man due to a yellow card, giving Japan an extra man in the scrum. Obviously that gave them an advantage. 

Honor, And finally, yes, there’s a sense of honor. In rugby, we still keep playing even when the hooter has gone. In rugby, we celebrate going for it all. And in Japan, they do that a lot, too. How could the players show their faces at home if they didn’t at least try for the win?

In the end, the choice to go for the try was admirable, and successful, but it was ultimately no choice at all.