Rugby World Cup 2015: Is 'bird poop' to blame for Springboks defeat to Japan?

London: The South African rugby team has blamed 'bird poop' for their incredible 32-34 loss against Japan after being reportedly plagued by seagulls taking a dump on their World Cup training grounds.

The South African team chiefs were reportedly furious at the birds which had been pooping all around the Springboks training ground, Daily Star reports.

South Africa's captain and centre Jean de Villiers (C) reacts after losing the Pool B match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup to Japan at the Brighton community stadium in Brighton, England, on Saturday. Japan won 34-32. Pic/AFP

The groundsmen even had to 'recruit' a Hawk, George the Harris', to protect the players training at Eastbourne College's Memorial Grounds.

Head groundsman Richard Maryan told the newpaper that he had spent "many months painstakingly preparing the pitches" for the Springboks training. But all that was to no avail after flocks of gulls "ruined his hard work" by dumping on the pitches and goal posts.

Richard said: "We had hundreds of gulls on the pitch after we had cut the grass and they were making an horrendous mess."

Japan stunning two-time winners South Africa is the biggest shock in Rugby World Cup history.

Nearly four minutes into added time, replacement back Karne Hesketh charged into the edge of the left corner, the crowd's roar could probably be heard in Tokyo, and Japan's players collapsed to the ground in a mixture of joy and disbelief.