Watch: Aaron Smith and Mark Telea’s tries help Verblitz overcome Brave Lupus

Two former All Blacks have helped Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz side overcome Todd Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus on Saturday afternoon.

It was a crucial win for Verblitz, gaining some much-needed momentum in this year’s Japan Rugby League One season after a disappointing start to the season.

Aaron Smith and Mark Telea both scored between the 50th and 60th minute, extending the lead to 39-14 after the first-half masterclass by the home side, leading 27-7 at halftime in Nagoya.

Former Highlanders back Michael Collins started on the left wing for Blackadder’s side, while Mo’unga and New Zealand-born Japanese international Michael Leitch also featured.

For Verblitz, Patrick Tuipulotu’s younger brother, Hamdahn, started at loosehead prop, joining Smith and Telea in the starting lineup, with Kiwi lock Josh Dickson on the bench.

In true Smith fashion in the 53rd minute, he saw a small gap to the left side of the Brave Lupus defence, darting off the back of the ruck to score an important try early in the second half.

Smith got low and powered his way over the line despite a couple of defenders attempting to stop the 125-Test former All Black halfback.

Telea’s try, in the 58th minute, was after a period of dominance from Verblitz inside the away side’s 22.

Smith was quick to the ruck to the left of the posts, before firing a pass to Rikiya Matsuda, who quickly shifted the ball onto Telea in space.

The 19-Test All Black winger saw the gap, threw a dummy to his left, and managed to get the ball down after numerous defenders struggled to hold Telea up from the ground.

Kiwi midfielder Rob Thompson then crossed for Blackadder’s side, but it was too little too late as Hansen’s side moved up to tenth on the Japan Rugby League One table after nine games.

The Brave Lupus still sit comfortably in the playoff spots in fifth, one point behind fourth, and eleven points behind the Saitama Wild Knights in third place.

Next weekend, Verblitz will travel to Kyoto to take on the eleventh-placed Mitsubishi Dynaboars, while the Brave Lupus will host TJ Perenara’s Ricoh Black Rams.