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Rennie's Kobelco Steelers in shocking tumble out of top four
Marika Koroibete returned to form with two tries while Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Steelers tumbled out of the top four in the latest round of Japan Rugby League One, which concluded in Hygo today.
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The Wallaby winger had scored just twice prior to yesterday, but his tries, along with another double by Brave Blossoms centre Dylan Riley – who has 12 for the season – were among seven scored by Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in their latest romp against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars.
Having been belted 81-21 earlier in the season, the Dynaboars at least shaved 28 points off that concession by losing 53-12, but the fact they have conceded 18 tries against the unbeaten league leaders in 160 minutes of playing time will sting as they contemplate the remaining four matches of their programme.
Former Wallaby coach Rennie and his Kobe charges will also be hurting after going down to third-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath 36-27 in an error-strewn performance today which saw first half yellow cards to All Black Brodie Retallick and fellow Kiwi Tiennan Costley, alongside the concession of five tries in a defeat more conclusive than the scoreboard suggests.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
3
3
Tries
5
3
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
97
Carries
140
7
Line Breaks
9
12
Turnovers Lost
8
3
Turnovers Won
6
Having dropped as low as eighth after three consecutive defeats earlier in the season, Kobe had been resident in the top four since early March, and now face the ominous task of beating second-placed Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo on Sunday to retain control of their semi-final prospects.
Despite the loss of Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe to a worrying knee injury early in the second spell, Suntory were always in control of the game, consolidating their hold on third, although they are seven points behind Brave Lupus, whom they will need to come unstruck if Sungoliath are to avoid the Wild Knights in the semis.
The Wild Knights beat Sungoliath in the finals of each of the final Top League and the maiden Japan Rugby League One.
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The title defence of Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, who beat the Wild Knights in last season’s decider, is almost certainly over after they were beaten on the bell by Brave Lupus, falling to their seventh defeat of the season.
They are now 11-points behind fourth.
In a frantic finish, a try on fulltime by ex-All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu, converted by his former Crusaders teammate Richie Mo’unga, saw Brave Lupus get home 22-20, despite having never been in front before the All Black flyhalf’s final kick.
Today’s win moved the Todd Blackadder-coached Brave Lupus to within a win of the playoffs.
They are 12 points ahead of the fourth-placed Yokohama Canon Eagles, who leap-frogged the Steelers on the table after a routine 31-12 win over Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on Saturday.
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Shizuoka Blue Revs (sixth, 29 points) and Toyota Verblitz (seventh, 29 points) kept their faint semi-final hopes alive with wins over Mie Heat (43-14) and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners (47-30) respectively.
All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith was a try-scorer for Verblitz while Hanazono’s Quade Cooper saw yellow in the final minute for dangerous play.
Shizuoka winger Malo Tuitama, who is the competition’s leading try-scorer, added two more to take his tally to 14.
His haul was overshadowed by a remarkable performance in Division Three where veteran South African Conrad van Wyk led his side to a promotion-sealing 46-22 win over Kurita Water Gush Akishima, scoring three tries among a 31-point haul.
A former Lions player in Super Rugby, the 36-year-old is now the leading point-scorer (143) and try-scorer (10) in the division.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
60 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
60 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
60 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
60 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
60 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
60 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
60 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
60 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
60 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
60 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
60 Go to comments