Dave Rennie has last laugh over two ex-All Blacks coaches

Incoming All Black coach Dave Rennie got the better of his predecessors as Kobelco Kobe Steelers gained an important 38-24 win over Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s Toyota Verblitz in the latest round of Japan Rugby League One today.

Led by the second hattrick of tries in nine matches from rookie fullback Shunsuke Uenobo, Kobe led for much of the contest, collecting a try-scoring bonus point to close the gap on the league-leading Saitama Wild Knights to one point.

The Wild Knights came from 21-7 down to beat a gallant Shizuoka BlueRevs 34-24, after Kwagga Smith’s side threatened an upset when they led by 14 points a minute before halftime.

The visitors outscored the BlueRevs 20-3 after the break.

While they couldn’t repeat their jaw dropping 59-point victory over Tokyo Sungoliath from earlier in the season, third-placed Kubota Spears still found a way to inflict misery on their western Tokyo rivals, grinding out a 27-22 victory which condemned Sungoliath to a fourth consecutive defeat.

The five-time nationwide champions, who are considered Japanese rugby royalty, having fielded some of the games most famous names, last lost four in-a-row 22 years ago.

While Sungoliath remain in the top six, and almost certain to make the playoffs, they have dropped to fifth, one below BlackRams Tokyo.

The BlackRams ended Mie Honda Heat’s three-match winning run on Friday night, crushing their rivals 49-5.

The emphatic eight-try-to-one victory has left TJ Perenara’s side needing just one further win to qualify for the League One playoffs for the first time.

In-form Australian utility back Isaac Lucas, who is Japan eligible, scored twice for the second time in three weeks during a withering first half assault which saw the BlackRams lead 39-0.

Honda didn’t trouble the scoreboard until the 79th minute, with the defeat a major blow to the Suzuka-based club’s finals hopes.

Three tries by Kelston Boys’ High School (Auckland)-educated centre Viliame Takayawa helped Yokohama win the battle at the foot-of-the-table, handing the Graham Rowntree-coached Urayasu D-Rocks an 11th straight defeat as the Eagles prevailed 33-15 at Oita.

The powerful 29-year-old scored twice in six minutes just before halftime to pull his side clear 21-7, before adding a third midway through the second half, as Yokohama ended a record eight-game losing run in home matches.

Two tries from Maori All Blacks captain Billy Harmon bookended the Eagles scoring in their fourth win of the season which has allowed them jump out of the relegation series positions.

Their place has been taken by Sagamihara Dynaboars, who slumped to a 45-26 loss against sixth-placed Brave Lupus, in a result that has given the defending champions much needed breathing space following the defeat of the three teams ranked immediately below them.