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Watch: Aaron Smith scores superb solo try in high scoring Japan League One draw

Aaron Smith scores solo stunner

Former All Black halfback Aaron Smith has once again shown his class with ball in hand as he scored a fantastic solo try in Toyota Verblitz’s 30-30 draw against Tokyo Sungoliath. 

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Although the Verblitz side has struggled early on in this Japan League One campaign, the team coached by Steve Hansen and Ian Foster has more than enough experience and quality to pull back some form. The likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Joseph Manu, Aaron Smith and Kazuki Himeno are all part of the playing group.

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The 125-Test halfback fought for the ball at a ruck less than five meters from the line before passing it to a trio of Verblitz forwards. They quickly passed it back to Smith on a wrap-around play, opening up a gap for him to scamper through under the posts.

The gap in the Sungoliath defence opened up after Smith put a left foot step on the oncoming defender and powered through a couple of last-ditch tackles close to the line to score a well-worked try.

It was a try showcasing Smith’s experience and expertise around the ruck, being able to create space for himself when nothing else was on.

Toyota Verblitz have fell to 10th on the Japan League One ladder after three games, as they look towards next weekend’s home game against the Black Rams Tokyo.

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M
Mzilikazi 26 minutes ago
How law changes are speeding up the game - but the scrum lags behind

Regarding the scrum, I would pick up on your point made below, Nick. "....reffing the scrum is not easy at all, prob the single most difficult area in the books." Those of us who have coached the scrum, and /or refereed, would fully agree. And I have read on the pages of rugby forums for years now the opinion of experienced international props. "I could not detect exactly what happened in that particular scrum"


Ofc the problem is heightened when the referee has not played in the pack, has never been in a scrum. It is very clear, at least to me, that many top level referees don't begin to understand the mechanics of the scrum.


I feel the laws are adequate as they stand to a great extent. The problem, as I see it, is that referees right up to top level just don't apply them in the the letter of the law or in the spirit they should .


Any significant downward pressure by a prop to cause a collapse should be penalised. For example look at the scrum clip at 54.49 mins. It is the Leinster LH who forces downwards first, then the Munster TH "pancakes" I believe the Leinster prop is the offender there.


I also think that with most of the wheels in those clips, it was Leinster who are the offenders. That can be hard to pick though in many cases. Another point is the hooker standing up. That was being penalised 3/4 years ago. So Kellaher would have been penalised back then in that first clip at 04.17.


I think the directive should be given now to referees at all levels to stop giving penalties simply because a team is being moved backwards. And the directive should be "order the team with the ball to clear it, and within 3 secs."


It would help if a change was made to remove the option to take another scrum after a penalty is awarded. Must take a tap or a kick.

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