He just made his case to be the next All Black coach after Japan's glorious win over Ireland in Fukuroi on Saturday night.
It was a gutsy win by the home side, with plenty of energy and accuracy on attack and tons of fire and courage on defence.
Behind it all was head coach Joseph, along with assistant coach Tony Brown.
They hatched a plan, long in the making, to bustle hard for everything, be accurate in attack and defence and outlast the more experienced Irish.
They did that successfully and are now looking good to make it through to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
That was not the end of the southern connection for the Japan side. The strength and conditioning trainer for Japan is Simon Jones, who has previously worked in the south and will return to train the Highlanders next season.
The chief analyst for the Japan team is Highlanders analyst Andy Watts, who has been with the Japanese side for the past couple of seasons.
He has been with the Highlanders since 2014.
On the paddock, Japan hooker Shota Horie was man of the match on Saturday night. He put on a dynamic performance for the Japan team. He played for Otago in the 2012 season. Alongside him that year for Otago was halfback Fumiaki Tanaka.
The popular Tanaka, who also played for the Highlanders, came on to the field in the second half in Fukuroi and played his usual quick game, linking the forwards and the backs to a stunning victory.
The win, after years of planning by Joseph and Brown, has set the side up well for its goal before the tournament started - to make the quarterfinals.
As for after the tournament, Joseph (49) has surged back into contention to be the next All Black coach.
But Joseph, who coached the Highlanders to the Super Rugby title in 2015, will have his name back in lights, after the win over the Irish. His contract comes to an end with Japan at the conclusion of the World Cup and who knows where his future lies.
Brown, who has become recognised as one of the sharpest attacking coaches in the world, has been mentioned as a coaching assistant for both Foster and Robertson, should one of those two get the top job.
Brown (44) is returning to Dunedin after the tournament to link back up with the Highlanders as an assistant coach next year. He previously coached the Highlanders from 2014 to 2017 and was head coach in 2017 after Joseph departed to coach Japan.
The Highlanders were expecting Brown to be part of their coaching team next season and it appears he will be at the franchise for just the one year.
Both Brown and Joseph have family living in Dunedin.