Ex-All Blacks collide as things heat up in Japan Rugby League One

Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights coach Robbie Deans and his Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo counterpart Todd Blackadder are good mates, but the two former Glenmark club (New Zealand) stalwarts probably took their close relationship a bit far when their teams fought out a thrilling 28-28 draw in Japan Rugby League One.

Today’s replay of last year’s epic competition decider provided a nerve-jangling sequel, as the defending champions overturned a 16-7 halftime deficit, despite having had first use of a gusty breeze, to lead 28-23, only to be pegged back by a try five minutes from time.

Last year, the Wild Knights had what would have been the match-winning score overruled by the Television Match Official for a forward pass, moments before the final whistle.

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This time, it was Brave Lupus who had points rubbed out, with winger Joe Naikabula brought back due to foul play by All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu before he had set his teammate on a clear run to the tryline.

The home side could have been forgiven for feeling it was a square up, both for last year’s final, but also for earlier in the match when a deliberate slap down by Brave Lupus fullback Kanta Matsunaga, which denied the Wild Knights what appeared almost certain to be a try, went unpunished.

The visitor’s recovery, after being almost totally dominated in contact for the opening 50 minutes, was orchestrated by Richie Mo’unga, with the All Black flyhalf scoring the game’s first try and helping to create two more.

Fixture

Japan Rugby League One

Saitama Wild Knights

28 - 28

Full-time

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo

All Stats and Data

While Naikabula and fellow winger Yuto Mori were both try-scorers again, after having scored in the final, Saitama winger Koki Takeyama scored twice, with the second tying the scores and ultimately ensuring the Wild Knights retained their unbeaten record, and a five-point lead at the top of the standings.

A close finish had seemed unlikely in Kanagawa after the home side romped to a 41-7 lead, but Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars wound up enduring a tense finish, having to stand firm during a point-less final 12 minutes, after Toyota Verblitz ran in the final five tries of the afternoon.

Samoan international Matt Vaega (two) and Springbok Kurt-lee Arendse accounted for three of Sagamihara’s six tries, while ex-rugby league star Joseph Manu led the Verblitz recovery, scoring twice early in the second spell, although it was not enough for Toyota to avoid their fifth defeat.

Saturday saw significant wins for Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay (30-22) and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath (31-29) over Yokohama Canon Eagles and Kobelco Kobe Steelers respectively, with the Spears climbing to third while Sungoliath are now just one point outside of the playoff places.

Urayasu D-Rocks gave new head coach Greig Laidlaw his first win after they edged Mie Honda Heat 31-26.

Heat have lost five straight, as has Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo after their 32-24 defeat by Shizuoka Blue Revs.