Ex-Queenslander Greene stuns Mo'unga, orchestrates collossal League One takedown

Sam Greene was at the heart of a major upset as fourth-placed Shizuoka BlueRevs spanked Brave Lupus Tokyo 56-26 to complete a notable double over the defending champions in Japanese club rugby.

The Queensland-schooled flyhalf scored 21 points on Saturday, including a try, while overshadowing All Black opposite Richie Mo’unga as BlueRevs inflicted on Brave Lupus their first defeat since they beat them 34-28 in January.

After placing eighth in each of the league’s previous three editions, the win confirmed Shizuoka’s position in the post-season playoffs with three games in hand, following seventh-placed Yokohama Eagles’ 38-28 loss against Sagamihara Dynaboars.

Wallaby second-rower Matthew Phillip, who has signed for the Waratahs for next season, was a try-scorer in the loss, although the chances of his side featuring in the playoffs for the third season in a row are receding.

Countryman Samu Kerevi scored the eighth try of his last seven appearances, but it was not enough to prevent Urayasu D-Rocks falling to a 33-20 loss to Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers.

Fifth-placed Kobe may secure their ticket to the playoffs as soon as the next round, which takes place in the weekend following Easter.

Former Wallaby fullback Tom Banks scored a try, but it was not enough to get Mie Heat over the line against Saitama Wild Knights, with Friday’s 53-33 win on a wet night in Tokyo propelling the Robbie Deans-coached outfit back to the top-of-the-table.

Marika Koroibete scored one of the Wild Knights’ eight tries, off a sweet pass from Springbok Damien de Allende, but his chance of Wallaby selection may now be in doubt after he left the field with a leg injury.

Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley controlled the game behind a dominant forward pack as Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay moved up to second on a wet afternoon in Osaka on Sunday, overpowering Tokyo Sungoliath 30-10.

TJ Perenara took the bragging rights in his head-to-head against former All Black teammate Aaron Smith as Black Rams Tokyo hammered Verblitz 37-7.

Veteran Wallaby backrower Liam Gill was a try-scorer for the Black Rams, winning his own head-to-head duel with former Australian skipper Michael Hooper.