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A six-try haul earns Malo Tuitama a spot in the Top League team of the week alongside some international superstars
Round 6 of the Top League saw some big results, notably in Kobe where Kobelco Steelers produced a sensational 57-0 win against Toshiba Brave Lupus to make it six wins from six for the campaign.
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Panasonic Wild Knights are the only other side with a 100% win-rate this season as they maintained pole position by beating NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Meanwhile, Yamaha Jubilo put 69 points past Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Nagoya to keep in touch with the top two of Panasonic and Kobelco.
Here’s who impressed us from Round 6 of the Top League.
1. Shintaro Ishihara (Suntory)
There’s no finer sight in rugby than a prop bulldozing through the defensive line. A couple of rare breaks for the Suntory loosehead sees him secure the No. 1 jersey in this week’s team, including a solo run that led to Takaaki Nakazuru’s third try of the game against Hino Red Dolphins.
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Turning 30 in June, Ishihara’s Brave Blossoms career may be behind him having not featured for Japan since 2018. However, he could find himself as an alternate option in the front row for Jamie Joseph if he continues to rampage through defences as he did in Tokyo at the weekend.
2. Yusuke Niwai (Canon)
On the 22nd day of the 2nd month of the year, it had to be the Canon No. 2 that put in a man-of-the-match performance against Sanix.
Captaining the side, the former Sunwolves hooker ran the set-piece at Hanazono and was at the heart of the scrum that was key in his side’s 22-10 victory. Sanix simply could not contest with Canon’s dominant scrum and were penalised several times in the first half, leading to Niwai and Eagles taking full advantage.
3. Taichi Chiba (Ricoh)
25-year-old Chiba was duly awarded the man-of-the-match award after Ricoh’s win against NEC Green Rockets.
Ricoh were devastating in the scrum, with the tighthead prop pivotal in securing several penalties as NEC wheeled and collapsed the scrum. The win was Ricoh’s second of the season, and with favourable fixtures in the next three weeks against NTT Docomo, Hino and Mitsubishi Dynaboars, they will be hoping to add to those two wins to alleviate any potential relegation concerns that have crept in over the first few weeks of the campaign.
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4. Hamish Dalzell (Panasonic)
At 201 centimetres tall, Dalzell towers over most players in his native New Zealand. In Japan, Dalzell has a good half a foot advantage over opposing players as he showed against NTT Docomo at the weekend.
Panasonic posed a constant threat from the set-piece thanks to Dalzell, executing mauls from line-outs to devastating effect to secure a 40-3 victory over Docomo at Hanazono.
5. Brodie Retallick (Kobelco)
There were many highlights from Kobelco Steeler’s nine-try thrashing of Toshiba but the sight of the 2015 World Cup winner galloping down the left wing like a thoroughbred for Steelers’ third try has to be up there.
Unlike some overseas players who come to the Top League, Retallick is certainly not here for a holiday. Not only was the All Black confident and composed with ball in hand, his work at the breakdown helped secure clean ball for the Kobelco backs and Taumua Naeata to exhibit some champagne rugby against Toshiba
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6. Tom Franklin (Kobelco)
Similar to Retallick, Franklin’s work at the breakdown could not be understated on Sunday in Kobe. He limited Toshiba to minimal clean ball at the breakdown, highlighted by the fact he and his teammates prevented them from getting on the scoreboard.
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The former Highlanders forward was a secure option as a jumper in the line-out too, providing the platform for Hirotaka Hirabara to touch down from a resulting maul on the full-time buzzer.
7. Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz)
There was no bigger cheer in Nagoya on Saturday than when Aichi-born Himeno burst through the gap between Sione Vatuvei and former Wallaby Bernard Foley to score the only try of the first half.
The Verblitz captain was a constant menace at the breakdown against Kubota, exemplified by his jackle after the buzzer which earned Verblitz a match-winning penalty as the hosts triumphed by two points.
One of the most promising young talents in the game right now, it’s staggering that no European move has been linked with the 25-year-old yet despite his impressive performances at the recent World Cup.
8 Taumua Naeata (Kobelco)
Taumua Naeata has been in sensational form for Kobelco Steelers this term, with the former front-row forward deployed in the No. 8 jersey as his devastating ball carrying ability has been realised.
He was instrumental in many of Steelers’ nine tries against Toshiba, with his impressive offloads paving the way for Richard Buckman and Brodie Retallick to cross the whitewash in the first 25 minutes, before touching down himself shortly after. The Tongan’s support play was second-to-none and adds another fearsome bow to Kobe’s back-line arrow when he finds himself on the wing alongside the likes of Ataata Moeakiola.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1222535732591460354
9. Koki Arai (Canon)
Scrum-half Arai’s quick thinking from a penalty close to the Sanix line led to Hosea Saumaki touching down in the first half for Canon Eagles. The 26-year-old Teikyo graduate, who has represented Japan at youth level, was quick to the breakdown and kept the phases flowing for Canon as they secured their first win of February.
10 Matt McGahan (Ricoh)
It wasn’t only in the scrum that Ricoh won the game against NEC. Fly-half McGahan’s decision making at No. 10 was crucial in creating breathing space between the two sides at the weekend.
The 26-year-old is developing a solid understanding with halves partner Matt Lucas, as was evident against NEC, with McGahan running an arrowing line following a pass from Lucas, before offloading to Keagan Faria for the first score. A clever swivel and spin from McGahan in the second half perplexed the Green Rockets defence as he galloped to his first try for Ricoh.
11. Malo Tuitamu (Yamaha)
Quite frankly, one of the most outrageous performances the Top League has ever seen in its 17 seasons. A six-try (yes, SIX) haul against Mitsubishi Dynaboars meant we had no choice but for the former New Zealand Under-20 winger to be the first name in this week’s team.
Tuitamu’s support play saw him always at the receiving end of Yamaha offloads following breaks, while he also burst through the Dynaboars defence himself on several occasions to make it 10 tries from his three starts this season (again, yes, TEN tries). Yamaha have scored 199 points across those three games too.
Panasonic’s Koki Takeyama’s impressive brace of tries against NTT Docomo would have seen him in the side were it not for Tuitamu’s insane six-try haul.
12. Matt Giteau (Suntory)
The Wallaby centurion rolled back the years in Suntory’s thrashing of Hino to put in a masterclass performance at inside centre. Giteau combined expertly with No. 10 Hikaru Tamura, brother of Brave Blossoms’ stand-off Yu, to carve out openings for the likes of wingers Shota Emi and Takaaki Nakazuru. He orchestrated the Sungoliath ensemble to fine effect, dotting down for two tries himself and scoring 22 of his side’s 69 points overall.
13. Timothy Lafaele (Kobelco)
The Brave Blossoms centre caught the eye with his outrageous offloads at last year’s World Cup and he continues to impress in the Top League this term in his debut season for Kobelco Steelers.
His class was evident at the weekend, scoring two trademark tries in the space of five first-half minutes as Kobelco ran riot against Toshiba. His first try saw him evade two tacklers to touch down in the right corner, before running a perfect line a matter of minutes later that fooled even Japan captain Michael Leitch. In addition to the two tries, Lafaele’s handling was impeccable throughout as Kobelco ran in nine tries against a good Toshiba side.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8-NP5iA0Xc/
14. Takaaki Nakazuru (Suntory)
The 2016-17 Top League top try-scorer showed why he is still one of the best Japanese finishers in the league with an 18-minute first-half hat-trick of tries against Hino Red Dolphins.
The 29-year-old winger was glued to the right touchline in the first forty, on the receiving end of offloads from the likes of Giteau and Kotaro Matsushima. The once Sunwolves man now has five tries in his three games this season and has scored in each of those matches.
15 Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Now in his second stint in the Top League, le Roux’s experience shone through for Verblitz in their narrow win against Kubota.
Starting in his regular position of full-back, the Springbok was often the first receiver at the breakdown, calling the shots in the back-line. Le Roux used the wet conditions in Nagoya to his advantage with an expertly-weighted dink-kick with the outside of his left foot, which settled perfectly in the in-goal area for Honeti Taumohaapai to touch down. His quick hands also paved the way for Yuki Okada to cross in the first half, only for the elements to intervene and see the 24-year-old fumble the ball over the try-line at the last.
WATCH: Catch up on all the action from Round 6 of the Japanese Top League with these highlights.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments