Northern | US

Concerning Springbok injury hampers Kubota's JRLO title bid

TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 24: Richie Mounga of Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is tackled by Keijiro Tamefusa and Malcolm Marx of Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay during the NTT Japan Rugby League One match between Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on January 24, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
Comments
Comment

The 1977 World War Two classic ‘A Bridge Too Far’ told the true story of the tragic Battle of Arnhem, in which a lightly armed airborne division of Allied troops dropped onto the strategically vital bridges near the Dutch town, only to be overwhelmed by the well prepared and superior armed German forces that were waiting for them.

ADVERTISEMENT

It’s a theme that could well be true of the Japan Rugby League One championship decider, where a well-rested and fully loaded Kobelco Kobe Steelers lie ready and waiting for the battered and bruised Kubota Spears.

While Dave Rennie’s Kobe came through Saturday’s 69-23 quarterfinal romp against Tokyo Sungoliath unharmed and armed with an additional round of ammunition in terms of confidence, his Kubota counterpart Frans Ludeke was left assessing the damage on Monday, after the previous day’s 26-24 win over Saitama Wild Knights.

VIDEO

The at times brutal semi-final saw both suffer heavily, with the Kubota boss, while justifiably proud of his side’s achievement in making back-to-back finals, having to contemplate the prospect of facing Kobe without World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx along with the South African-born backrower Tyler Paul; arguably the most improved player in the league this season.

Marx, Kubota’s talisman, is out with a bicep injury that will be of concern to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, while Brave Blossoms boss Eddie Jones will have similar worries over Paul – the league’s top tackler – who has been scratched by a toe injury.

The injuries to two of their key men are hardly encouraging ahead of a date with the top qualifiers, who ended Kubota’s 25-game unbeaten run at Spears Edoriku Field with a 24-19 success last month.

Fixture
Japan Rugby League One
Kobelco Kobe Steelers
23:05
6 Jun 26
Kubota Spears
All Stats and Data

Winners three years ago, when they captured a Japanese nationwide league title for the first time, and unbeaten in seven against Kobe prior to their recent defeat, the Spears bring plenty of ring craft to the occasion at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
It is their third final appearance in the five seasons of the league, tying the Wild Knights.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ten of the squad that featured in last weekend’s semi-final were also on the field for the 17-15 win that lifted the 2022-23 title.

For all their big names, their opponents are experiencing League One’s final battle for the first time.

Kobe has not triumphed since the 2018 edition of the old Top League, when a side with Wayne Smith as Director of Rugby, and All Blacks Dan Carter and Andy Ellis steering the on-field operations, crushed Sungoliath 55-5.

Ludeke can call on the experience of two Super Rugby titles in his preparation, but whereas the Bulls were at home and well rested for those deciders, this time his troops are the ones who are dropping into the battlefield with the odds stacked against them.

ADVERTISEMENT

We will soon know whether their mission, like the movie, was a Bridge Too Far.

Related

RugbyPass App Download

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!


Whether you’re looking for somewhere to track upcoming fixtures, a place to watch live rugby or an app that shows you all of the latest news and analysis, the RugbyPass rugby app is perfect.

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close