Japan coach Jamie Joseph keen to forget 2015 miracle as he plots new shock against South Africa

Japan have blocked out the Miracle of Brighton from 2015, as they look to beat South Africa again and keep running a story that is gripping a nation.

After the Springboks on Thursday named a mighty pack and a 6-2 bench split that allows them to replace the entire tight five, Japan made just one injury-enforced change to their XV.

Full-back William Tupou drops out of the side after a head knock suffered in Sunday’s famous win over Scotland.

Ryohei Yamanaka replaces Tupou, while Amanaki Mafi returns to the bench. Prop Jiwon Koo has recovered from the injury that forced him off against Scotland.

Eight of the players involved four years ago against South Africa are in the squad but coach Jamie Joseph does not want to “draw on” that game.

"No we won't be drawing on that at all, in fact, I've been trying to forget about it for the last four years,” said Joseph. “Everyone talked about it but we're a different team, different players.

"Yes, we got some same players but that was an amazing achievement at the last World Cup, we're working on our own things and we won't be alluding to it."

Captain Michael Leitch said his team were not satisfied with simply getting out of Pool A with four wins.

"Our first goal was to get out of our pool, but now we've achieved that goal we've got to shift the goalposts and try to win this quarter-final match," he said.

"The country is behind us and really excited. Every game for us now is a final. Every game we have to treat as our last.

“This is not the end of the story… We’re not satisfied.”