Israel Folau scores the second hat-trick of his career at 36

Israel Folau has scored just the second hat-trick of his career in Japan’s League One rugby union competition, but it was not enough to get his side over the line as Tokyo Sungoliath cruised to a 41-19 win over Urayasu D-Rocks.

The dual code star, who scored 10 tries from 12 matches on debut in the maiden season of League One, has been troubled by injury for much of his time in Japan.

Saturday’s game at Miyazaki was just the 36-year-old’s 21st appearance in the four years since his maiden season, from which he has added nine tries.

Despite now having lost their last seven, Steve Hansen’s bottom-placed Verblitz gave Saitama Wild Knights a scare, jumping to a 14-5 lead just after halftime before the league leaders recovered to win 26-20.

While still unbeaten, the Wild Knights were denied a bonus point, which allowed Bernard Foley’s Spears Funabashi Bay to move to within a point on the championship table after they beat Shizuoka BlueRevs 42-19, despite the ex-Wallaby being yellow carded and conceding a penalty try for a professional foul.

BlackRams Tokyo beat Yokohama 53-31 to move into the play-off places, while dropping the Eagles to second-last after Sagamihara Dynaboars came from behind to beat Mie Heat 44-34.

In Sunday’s game, Kobe Steelers fended off a stirring fightback from Brave Lupus Tokyo to consolidate third position, holding on to win a thriller 34-33 after they had built a 20-0 lead in the opening half an hour.

All Black Richie Mo’unga had the chance to win the game for Brave Lupus in the dying stages, but his conversion attempt missed.

Brave Lupus had beaten Kobe three times last term when they completed back-to-back titles.