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Brodie Retallick continues try-scoring spree as All Blacks and Wallabies star in Top League
Aussie young guns Dylan Riley and Jack Cornelsen were to the fore as Panasonic Wild Knights ended the unbeaten run of NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes to stay top of Japan’s Top League standings.
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The Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights pushed on from a 10-7 halftime advantage to win 26-13 in Osaka on Sunday.
Forward Cornelsen’s tireless work rate helped to stem the tide of the Red Hurricanes’ early dominance of possession and territory, while Riley’s power in the midfield helped to create the opportunity for Panasonic’s three tries.
Former Australian under-20s international Riley proved a real handful for the defence, allowing midfield partner Hadleigh Parkes to also play a key role as he scored one try and set up another.
The Wild Knights are one of two unbeaten teams in the white conference of the tournament.
Defending champions Kobe are the other, but only just, after surviving a stern challenge from the Damien Hill-coached Ricoh Black Rams.
With Aussie Isaac Lucas calling the shots from flyhalf, the Black Rams overturned a 17-7 halftime deficit to lead 19-17 before All Black-laden Kobe scrambled out of jail with a late penalty goal to win 20-19.
Kobe lock Brodie Retallick scored his third try in four matches and he has more so far this season than each of his All Black teammates at the club, winger Ben Smith and flyhalf Aaron Cruden.
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The other game from the conference saw former Queensland flanker Ed Quirk part of a turnaround by the Canon Eagles, as they rebounded from a 47-0 drubbing by Panasonic last week to upset Yamaha Jubilo 40-32.
In the red section, former Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley’s Kubota Spears continue to head the standings after a routine 38-7 win over Honda Heat.
The other game from that side of the draw played on Sunday saw former Wallabies flanker Liam Gill’s NTT Communications Shining Arcs held to a 26-26 draw by the Mitsubishi Dynaboars.
Bad weather that hit the main Japanese island of Honshu on Saturday saw a number of other players with Australian connections denied an opportunity.
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Harry Hockings, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon all missed out as their Suntory Sungoliath’s match with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Tokyo was called off after only 15 minutes due to nearby lightning strikes.
Former NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels outside back Andrew Kellaway (NEC Green Rockets) was also left idyll with his match at Kashiwa was postponed.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments