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Former Australia U20s star shines for Wild Knights in Japan
Former Australian Under-20 representative Dylan Riley picked up his second try of the Japan Rugby League One season as the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights overran arch-rivals Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath 41-29 to remain on top of the championship table.
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The Gold Coast-schooled Riley, who made his international debut for Japan last year, finished as the joint leading try-scorer in the maiden edition of the league, but had been held scoreless this season until to two weeks ago when the Wild Knights beat Kobelco Kobe Steelers.
The 25-year-old scored from his own side of halfway yesterday off an intercept, with the try part of a bewildering six-minute blitz which saw Saitama, who had trailed 17-3 at halftime, turn a 24-10 deficit into a 31-24 advantage, inflicting a fatal psychological blow on their stunned opponents in the process.
By the time Suntory scored again, when utility back Taiga Ozaki crossed in injury time, the Wild Knights had scored 31 points consecutiv ely against the side they beat in each of the last two finals.
Riley’s try was preceded by one off a rolling maul from the Japan national team’s ex-Highlanders prop Craig Miller, while it was followed by the in-form fullback Takuya Yamasawa’s fourth try of the last three weeks, as the Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights extended their unbeaten run to 44 matches.
Their victims of last weekend, Bernard Foley’s Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, consolidated their hold on second on the standings by beating Shizuoka Blue Revs 40-27.
After being held scoreless by the Wild Knights, Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored the 15th try from 15 club appearances during his career in Japan, while Foley now has a league-leading 138 points for the season.
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The Yokohama Canon Eagles made the most of Suntory’s defeat to move up to third after a 41-21 win over Matt Toomua’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars but they were made to work hard after a try from the Wallab y flyhalf helped the home side build up a 21-5 halftime lead.
It wasn’t enough as the Eagles, led by star Springbok halfback Faf de Klerk, stormed home in the second period, blanking Sagamihara 36-0 to claim an important victory.
Sunday’s other match saw the Todd Blackadder-coached Toshiba Brave Lupus stay fifth following a courageous effort against NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, after playing 71 minutes a player down when prop Latu Taufa was sent off.
Reduced to 13 at one point when halfback Jack Stratton was yellow-carded, Brave Lupus fell behind 20-18 shortly after halftime but roared back, scoring the final 31 points of the game to claim a memorable win.
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Former Brumbies and Waratahs winger Peter Hewat’s Ricoh Black Rams recorded their third win on end to move up to sixth on the points table after beating Kobelco Kobe Steelers 41-26, with the ex-Queensland fullback Matt McGahan contributing 16 points to close to within 18 points of Foley’s season total.
Will Genia’s Hanazono Kintetsu Liners suffered their 11th defeat of the season despite a brave effort against Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz, with the former Hurricanes flyhalf Jackson Garden Bachop one of their three try-scorers in a 62-24 loss.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments