5 Things You Wouldn't Have Believed In 2010

BY STEVEN SMITH

If you told someone in October 2010 that Japan would beat South Africa at a Rugby World Cup inside the next decade, they'd laugh in your face. The Cherry Blossoms spent 2010 playing against the likes of Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, but would beat the then two-time World Champions on the grandest stage of them all just five years later. Simply baffling.

We could have went for England's early exit at the pool stage exit of their 2016 World Cup, but the suggestion they'd appoint their first overseas coach following that would seem even more ludicrous in 2010. The Aussie had just ended up on what was, at the time, the coaching scrapheap in Japan with Suntory Goliath following eighth and ninth place finishes with Saracens. Nine years later, he led England to a Rugby World Cup final. Absolutely mental.

Seriously lads; a decade ago today Rob Baxter's men were newcomers in the Premiership and on a run of three consecutive defeats, which included a home loss to London Irish. If someone was to suggest the struggling newcomers would be European champions a decade later, it would have been thought as utterly ludicrous.

This is unheard of throughout history. After five wins in the previous 10 installments of the competition, including the 2010 Six Nations, fans wouldn't believe Les Bleus would pick up the wooden spoon just three years later in 2013. A team that included the likes of Louis Picamoles and Wesley Fofana lost to Italy.

The number 8 was absolutely insane for England during the 2009 U20 tournament, scoring five tries and being nominated for Young Player of the Year. Earmarked as Lewis Moody's successor by head coach Martin Johnson, Fearns would never play for England despite winning many plaudits for his performances with Bath. He did knock out Bath teammate Gavin Henson on a night out in the city, so at least that's something.