What a weekend of rugby, with a result that may change rugby forever, even if it won't be common place to see tier-two teams shock the first tier for a few years yet.
But Japan's victory over South Africa showed that the so-called minnows of the rugby world can compete one day if we invest in them and support them.
It was just an amazing match to witness, and as it unfolded people up and down the country - and indeed rugby supporters all over the world - found themselves screaming at the television, willing Japan on. This RWC is now set up. To boot the 2019 RWC in Japan has been given an early shot in the arm.
Hats off to Japan, but so too to Michael Bradley's Georgia, who took on and beat Tonga. It wasn't quite the seismic result that the Cherry Blossoms secured in Brighton, but the result at Kingsholm, and the Georgian celebrations, should not be undervalued in any way, shape or form.
It kind of puts into perspective the type of challenges everyone faces in this competition; every team deserves respect and the day you don’t give that respect is the day that you can slip up.
Job done by Ireland
Ireland did what they needed to do against Canada. Joe Schmidt is always looking for perfection and he will look for improvement in so many areas, which will keep Ireland grounded.
We gave away too many turnovers; having said that we had loads of ball, so with that much ball you will have turnovers. We were disjointed at times before and after half-time, but we still ended up putting 50 points on the opposition, a team that will have been right up for it in their first game of the competition.
The real plus points from an Irish perspective were the form of Johnny Sexton at No 10; the play of Iain Henderson in the pack; and the return - however quietly - of Cian Healy for the last 20 minutes.
Will there be many changes for the Romania game? Probably not because the team needs to play together. Joe will probably want to get the job done against Romania and then get players off the park and rested for the box office matches against Italy and France to come in rounds three and four.
Les Bleus and Azzurri dish up dour affair
The France-Italy clash was not the prettiest game and both teams lost significant players for the tournament in Andrea Masi for Italy and Yohann Huget for France.
With 36 penalties in the game, continuity was at a premium. Italy struggled at scrum time, which is one of their traditional strengths, but also didn't have their talisman Sergio Parisse present and available. They're a much better side with him in the XV - both mentally and technically.
The only concern that I have with France is what they are capable of, and at times, for no apparent reason, they will turn it on.
There is nothing in particular that worries me about Ireland's apparently crucial game against France, but then that's when the real RWC starts for us and the form of both sides could be very different.
Underestimate Argentina at your peril; New Zealand look like top dogs
The other round one match of note in our context was New Zealand versus Argentina. Argentina will almost certainly be our opponents should we win our group, and they showed the typical obduracy and technical skill to put everyone on warning.
Anyone who thinks Los Pumas are a foregone conclusion, should we face them in the quarter-finals, are deluding themselves.
Watching New Zealand play is almost tiring, they are perpetually in motion and are definitely worth avoiding for as long as possible in the tournament; they’re the best team in the World Cup, but in a one-off match anything can happen.
RWC has begun with a bang
As a whole, everyone involved in rugby should just be rejoicing after this opening weekend, because it's captivated the imagination of the public straight away.
True we are going to witness some massive mismatches and huge scores, but the minnows have already done enough to show they can grow. The opening ceremony was a stunning experience to be at, and the matches are just going to get bigger and bigger.
Role on the mid-week games and next weekend.
