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Wallabies star Len Ikitau surges past World Cup winners in Top 100 rise
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Cheslin Koble makes stunning return, All Black binned for dissent
Former Wallaby Berrick Barnes enjoyed a remarkable success on his first day on the Saitama Wild Knights coaching team as his side pummelled Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 46-0 to close out the first weekend of Japan Rugby League One.
Barnes is part of a new look coaching team at the league’s inaugural champions, with former Crusaders and Wallaby coach Robbie Deans having stepped back into an advisory role, but his successor Atsushi Kanazawa couldn’t have wished for a better start.
Completely dominant, the Wild Knights ruthlessly punished the two-time defending champions’ indiscretions, with injury-plagued fly-half Takuya Yamasawa reminding Brave Blossoms boss Eddie Jones of his talents with a flawless display, which included 26 points off the boot.
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Yamasawa’s Brave Lupus counterpart, Richie Mo’unga, was almost totally shut out of the game as the Wild Knights romped to a 33-0 halftime lead, with ex-London Irish and Saracens fullback Tom Parton scoring the third of their four tries.
After a stunning run to the playoffs last term, the league’s fifth edition might offer more of the same for Shizuoka BlueRevs after they opened with an impressive 39-27 win over Yokohama Canon Eagles, putting Leon MacDonald’s side away in the second half with three tries.
Saturday saw Kubota Spears extend their dominance of Kobelco Kobe Steelers at Hyogo, although their seventh consecutive win carried plenty of drama.
Spears lock Akira Ieremia was red-carded for dangerous play shortly after halftime, while the home side lost their All Black star Ardie Savea to a yellow card 10 minutes later, for dissent.
Anton Lienert Brown marked his Kobe debut with a try, but two by Haruto Kida proved the difference, with the Brave Blossoms winger scoring his second 10 minutes before the finish to see his side home, 33-28.
Tokyo Sungoliath opened in impressive fashion, with veteran Wallaby loose forward Sean McMahon and star Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe both scoring as their side scored the last four tries of the game to bury BlackRams Tokyo 29-15.
The Black Rams finished with 13 men after hooker Masashi Onishi and halfback TJ Perenara were yellow carded in the final stages.
Former World Player of the Year Pieter Steph du Toit was a try-scorer as Toyota Verblitz beat Mie Honda Heat 44-33, while an 81st-minute try by former Waikato winger Tana Tuhakaraina gave new Urayasu D-Rocks boss Graham Rowntree a perfect start, downing Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars 27-24.
In Division Two, Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok gained a win on debut as Hanazono Kintetsu Liners crushed defending section champions, Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, 40-14.
One-cap All Black Peter Umaga Jensen was a try-scorer for the winners, playing against his twin brother Thomas, who had a less successful afternoon, being yellow carded shortly before fulltime.
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