THE 2015 Rugby Union World Cup has had two memorable flash points so far for fans to savour.

Those Brave Blossoms from Japan ignited the tournament when they defeated the mighty Springboks in an historic victory.

In a moment that will live long in the memory, Japan gambled at the end of the match to eschew the penalty and run the ball for victory.

We all knew they were successful and the rugby earthquake was heard from Tokyo to Cape Town.

This was the moment when we all realised that the minnows were no longer taking part in the competition for the top nations to rack up cricket scores against.

Japan provided the shock of the tournament but under wily coach Eddie Jones they are developing a style of play that suits their players and narrows the gap between them and the established world order.

For proper development though, the smaller nations need regular rugby matches against the top sides. But Jones is departing as coach after the tournament so it remains to be seen whether Japan will continue its rate of progress.

Italy in the Six Nations and Argentina in the southern hemisphere championship have shown that exposure to a higher level of competition brings improvements.

The world of rugby union needs to think through its competitive structure so that it becomes more inclusive and helps develops the game of the Pacific nations.

The second flashpoint of the tournament came when Wales came back from what looked like defeat at Twickenham last Saturday and pulled off a Houdini-like escape to beat England in their west London fortress.

Those Welsh warriors were losing top players to injury as though they were in an episode of Casualty but the backs-to-the-wall team spirit was truly inspiring.

The collective never-say-die approach was epic in its intensity and they never wilted under English pressure.

But while Wales bask in the afterglow of a famous victory, and the nation enjoys putting one over England, they still have a tough task when they face Australia in their final pool game.

The pool of death has opened its trapdoor and Stuart Lancaster’s men are facing having to defeat Australia today to ensure they are not the first sole host country to exit at the pool stages.

But it was the way that England failed to make their dominance count told the bigger story and underlined why so many pundits wrote off their RWC prospects before the tournament started.

Lancaster had not worked out his first-choice team, nor had decided on a consistent playing style.

For Wales he chose to be defensive, eschewing playmakers like fly-half George Ford and instead looking to stop the big Welsh ball-carriers.

This negative approach did not show confidence in his hitherto first-choice playmaker Ford and it remains to be seen what damage has been done by the selection gamble.

Lancaster’s schoolmasterly approach to discipline is well known and before the tournament he refused to select Manu Tuilagi and Dylan Hartley for transgressions.

While it might be a commendably hair-shirted approach to team selection, Lancaster has singularly failed to impose game discipline on his players over their persistent habit of gifting penalties to opponents.

If the coach cannot get through to the players then he either has to drop them or accept the consequences. Against Fiji the team got away with the penalty count but Dan Biggar punished every offence and that won the game for Wales.

What was even more apparent was the lack of on-field leadership and the seeming inability to change a failing game plan.

This was further compounded by captain Chris Robshaw’s inexplicable decision to opt for a line out rather than kick for the three points on offer and take the draw.

In fact, as there were still four minutes of play left a penalty score would have meant Wales kicking off back into English possession and a further scoring chance.

Owen Farrell had a 100 per cent kicking record on the night and most would have bet their house on him making a successful kick.

Robshaw defended his decision but it has not escaped attention that he has form in taking the wrong option in pressured situations.

Ultimately, that is Lancaster’s failure to ensure the team has on-field leaders who make the right calls at pressure moments.

It is also his responsibility that the team does not seem to be able to change tactics during a game to suit the situation they find themselves in.

But the team are still relatively inexperienced, with Ben Youngs the most capped player on just 51 caps.

Contrast that with Wales where Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau won their 50th caps against Fiji and six other players have more than 50 caps.

It has been said that this world cup has come far too early for England’s inexperienced side but they do have home advantage and extra rest time.

The Welsh victory over Fiji has further ramped up the pressure on the men in white who have to beat Australia today or their world cup dream will end.

Those elusive bonus points might still help decide which of the three teams go through as England gained them against Fiji and Wales.

As Wales coach Warren Gatland said: “Both us and Australia failed to get a bonus point against Fiji and that could be important if they beat the Wallabies.”

We can expect a titanic struggle at Twickenham today and English fans will need nerves of steel as their team take on a rapidly improving Australia.

But between Japan-South Africa and England-Wales the tournament has already seen two memorable games. We can only hope that we will see even better matches as the tournament continues.