Former All Black stars wasted no time stamping their authority on the new Japan Rugby League One season, with Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Brodie Retallick all playing key roles in a dramatic opening weekend across the competition.
Defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo showed the steel that has defined their recent success, grinding out a 26–22 away win over Shizuoka BlueRevs to launch their title defence. It came against a side that beat them twice last season and was settled only in the dying moments.
Mo’unga, who will return to NZ rugby at the end of the season, set the tone early, crossing in the sixth minute for Brave Lupus’ first try of the season and underlining his continued influence at flyhalf. The visitors led 19–5 deep into first-half injury time before former NRL winger Valynce Te Whare struck for the BlueRevs to narrow the gap at the break.
Momentum swung again in the second half when dual international Charles Piutau scored on his season debut to give Shizuoka the lead. Brave Lupus hit back through another familiar southern hemisphere name, with former All Black and Flying Fijians centre Seta Tamanivalu crashing over with 15 minutes remaining. No further points were scored as the champions clung on for a valuable opening-round victory.
Saitama Wild Knights backed up last week’s demolition of Brave Lupus by piling on 37 points in a comfortable 37–19 win over Urayasu D-Rocks at Kumagaya. Hooker Atsushi Sakate was outstanding, scoring a hat-trick of tries as the hosts kept their foot on the gas.
Urayasu rallied to close within eight points with 15 minutes left, but the Wild Knights had too much depth, with Sakate’s third try sealing the result. Saitama sit second on the ladder, one point behind early leaders Tokyo Sungoliath.
Sungoliath claimed top spot after a 43–25 bonus-point win over Toyota Verblitz, powered by Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe. Kolbe followed up his opening-round try with two more, finishing with 17 points as Sungoliath overran a Verblitz side that led entering the final 10 minutes.
Kolbe’s tries were carbon copies, both created by offloads in contact from Tevita Tatafu and Harry Hockings that tied up defenders and left the winger space on the edge. Former All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith scored his first try of the season for Verblitz, but it was little consolation as Toyota’s poor record in the fixture stretched to one win from their past 17 matches.
Kubota Spears are level second on the standings after a strong late surge saw them pull clear of BlackRams Tokyo 50–28. Led by former All Black halfback TJ Perenara, the BlackRams showed plenty of fight and closed to within a point midway through the second half before conceding three tries in the final 17 minutes.
Kobelco Kobe Steelers and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars both recorded their first wins of the season, leaving Mie Honda Heat and Yokohama Canon Eagles winless. Kobe pulled away after halftime against Heat, scoring four tries to one, with ex-All Black lock Brodie Retallick crossing for his first of the campaign after scoring 10 last season.
The Dynaboars led 12–0 at halftime in the Kanagawa derby but were forced to survive a tense finish after South African prop Pieter Scholtz was sent off with 15 minutes to play.
In Division Two, Hanazono Kintetsu Liners confirmed their status as early favourites with a dominant 40–10 win over Green Rockets Tokatsu. Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks stayed unbeaten with a 40–27 victory over Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex, while former Wallaby Toutai Kefu claimed his first win as Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves coach in a 36–14 defeat of Hino Red Dolphins.
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/q385QtD Blacks star kicks off Japan farewell season in style, ex-teammates also on a tear
Post a Comment