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Two former All Black halfbacks face off in Japan

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

These two former All Blacks have often been on the same team, training together, preparing for Test matches together, but this weekend Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara will go to battle against each other.

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Perenara is in his first season at the RICOH Black Rams in Setagaya, Tokyo and has started all three Japan League One fixtures this season.

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The 125-Test All Black halfback Aaron Smith has also started all three of Toyota Verblitz’ games so far this season.

The Japan League One fixture will take place on Saturday afternoon NZT at 6:40pm at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium.

Team Form

Last 5 Games

2
Wins
1
1
Streak
2
22
Tries Scored
14
34
Points Difference
-65
2/5
First Try
3/5
1/5
First Points
3/5
3/5
Race To 10 Points
3/5

Toyota Verblitz have struggled early in this new Japan League One season, without a win in their first three games, falling to 10th on the ladder.

Aaron Smith has been crucial for Steve Hansen’s side so far this season, scoring a superb solo try last weekend against Tokyo Sungoliath. 

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It’s Smith’s second season under Hansen at Verblitz, but this season they have also added former rugby league star Joseph Manu to their midfield stocks. 

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Manu joined Verblitz in the offseason on a one-year-deal, to try and learn the game and adjust to the different rules from the 13 man code. 

Ahead of the Japan League One season, Verblitz assistant coach Ian Foster talked to Martin Devlin on the DSPN podcast about Manu’s progress converting to a rugby union player.

“We know that the transition from League to rugby still just doesn’t happen overnight, but he’s picked it up real quick.

“History shows it’s not an easy transition, it also shows that people like Sonny Bill Williams have done it and done it well.”

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Hansen also has Kiwi Josh Dickson at their disposal in the tight five, as well as Japanese International Kazuki Himeno in the loose forwards. 

For the Ricoh Black Rams, it has also been a disappointing start to the campaign, losing two games out of their opening three.

But a win this weekend against Verblitz will give the Black Rams a massive morale boost after also beating Tokyo Sungoliath in a close match in round two of the competition.  

The Black Rams also have a Kiwi lock in their squad, former Blues and Northland NPC player Josh Goodhue has played at the Black Rams for multiple seasons now. 

Former Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson is the current Black Rams coach, after leaving his Harlequins director of performance development role earlier in 2024. 

Both teams will be looking to gain some much needed form, as the season goes full steam ahead.

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4 Comments
G
GP 4 days ago

I did not know Tabai Matson was coaching in Japan as well. As article says, he was an Assistant at the Chiefs. But he was very much a Canterbury product. He was in the title winning Canterbury team of 1997 and the Crusaders Maiden winning Super title side in 1998. Was an AB from here. He was one of the famed 4 M's, who played for both those teams , along with Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtens and Mark Mayerhofler. They were the inside back /midfield combo in both teams. He won a NPC title as Canterbury coach in 2012. Scott Robertson was one of his Assistants. Robertson took over the following year. Tabai Matson was an Assistant coach to Todd Blackadder at the Crusaders. Blackadder is now one of his rival coaches in Japan and was his captain at Canterbury and the Crusaders , which also included Robertson and the 4 M's.

B
Bull Shark 6 days ago

More coverage of Japan League One!


When do we want it? Now!


I’m definitely going to try watch more Japan league one this year. If I can manage my body clock for the live games.


RugbyPass, you need to get on it. Where are the games fixtures and stats etc?


As well as for the women’s games?


Maybe assign Ben Smith to it. He can channel that rabbity energy into burrowing into League One. Start adding some value to the world. Of Rugby.

I
Icefarrow 5 days ago

Trying to watch JRLO is annoying. It's ridiculous how not a single provider outside of Japan plays them. Was able to watch two matches a week last year on TVNZ+, now just one a week here. Seriously struggle to understand why Japan Rugby can't just stream it worldwide via subscription.

I
Icefarrow 6 days ago

Perenara will probably come out on top. His style seems to fit Japanese Rugby more than Smith's.

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JW 6 hours ago
Six former All Blacks eligible for new nations in 2025

He wasn't, he was only there a couple of years. Don't get me wrong, he's a player of promise, but without ever having a season at 10 at that level, one could hardly ever think he would be in line to take over.


But if you really want to look at your question deeper, we get to that much fabled "production line" of the Crusaders. I predict you'll know what I mean when I say, Waikato, Waikato, Queensland.


I don't know everything about him (or his area I mean) but sure, it wouldnt have just been Razor that invested in him, and that's not to say he's the only 10 to have come out of that academy in the last half dozen years/decade since Mo'unga, but he is probably the best. So it's a matter of there having been no one else why it was so easy for people to picture him being razors heir apparent (no doubt he holds him in more high regard than the blurb/reference of his recently published though). And in general there is very much a no paching policy at that level which you may not appreciate .


For England? Really? That's interesting. I had just assumed he was viewed as club man and that national aspect was just used to entice him over. I mean he could stil be used by Scotland given I wouldn't expect them to have a whole lot of depth even thoe fh's one of their strongest positions at the moment. But certainly not England.


Personally I still think that far more likely was the reason. He would/could have done the same for Crusaders and NZ, just without half as much in his pocket. And as an individual I certainly don't think he'd have chosen England over the All Blacks (as a tru blue kiwi i mean), and he of all people should know where he sits. He said he wants to play internationally, so I take that at face value, he didn't think that could be for NZ, and he might have underestimated (or been mislead by McCall) England (and Scotland really), or have already chosen Scotland at the time, as seems the case from talk of his addition.


Again though, he's a player who I'd happily rate outside the trifecta of Barrett/McKenzie/Mo'unga in basic ability , even on par with foreign players like Plummer, Sopoaga, Ioane, and ahead of a bunch in his era like Falcon, Trask, Reihana. I've done the same thing >.< excluding Perofeta from the 10 debate. Hes probably below him but I think pero is a 15 now.

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