The rugby world has reacted with praise and astonishment after Japan pulled off the biggest upset in the sport’s history with a last-gasp victory over South Africa in their opening game of the World Cup. As Japanese sports fans digested the enormity of their compatriots’ feat in Brighton in the small hours of Sunday morning, rugby stars past and present took to social media to applaud the tactical brilliance of the Brave Blossoms and their Australian coach, Eddie Jones. Japan’s 34-32 victory, sealed with a late try by New Zealand-born Karne Hesketh, is expected to galvanise the public amid chaotic preparations for the next rugby World Cup, which Japan will host in 2019. By lunchtime on Sunday Japan was still struggling to take in the historic win on the Sussex coast. The result came too late for most newspapers’ deadlines, and TV networks stuck to their normal schedules. Later editions carried news of the victory on their front pages. Sun Sports heralded the most famous victory in the history of Japanese rugby with the headline: “Global impact!” before praising Jones for masterminding an “historic” win, while Tokyo Sports carried a large photograph of the team celebrating their win. Before last…