Malcolm Marx plotting to overcome old foe with help from prolific All Black

There was a time when Kubota Spears were cannon fodder for the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan Rugby League One.

Fourteen games between 2003 and 2023, 14 defeats; a chokehold that the six-time champions didn’t look like releasing.

They had no choice.

Led by the inspirational leadership of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, the Spears dethroned their nemesis in the decider of the league’s second edition, with that 17-15 win in a thriller replicated last term when Kubota eliminated the Wild Knights by four points in the semi-finals.

Now the pair meet again, at the same stage, with Sunday’s match their fourth in a semi-final since the game resumed in Japan after the Covid pandemic shutdown.

With five of the last seven matches between the teams decided by four points or less, including a last minute 32-30 win by the Wild Knights in March, another tight contest can be anticipated.

Fixture

Japan Rugby League One

Saitama Wild Knights

24 - 26

Full-time

Kubota Spears

All Stats and Data

This may favour Kubota, with Saitama – despite being consistently the most dominant force in the regular season – having surprisingly not managed the big moments in the play-offs well since they went back-to-back in winning the final Top League and maiden League One titles.

Their biggest strength this season could be their biggest weakness against the Spears.

The Wild Knights kick more than any other team in the league, which is a dangerous tactic against a Kubota side whose full-back, All Black Shaun Stevenson, has more collective try and ‘assists’ (6 tries, 16 assists) than any other player in the competition.

Saitama’s loss to Kubota three years ago was followed by an even more agonising final defeat by Toshiba Brave Lupus a year later, when the Wild Knights had what would have been the competition-winning try in injury time scrubbed for a contentious forward pass in the lead-up.

The Spears were seemingly advantaged in their semi-final victory last year by having to negotiate a quarter final the week before, while the Wild Knights sat on the sidelines after winning automatic entry into the last four.

New Wild Knights coach Atsushi Kanazawa faces the same conundrum, with his men having not stripped for action since their 45-0 wipeout of Brave Lupus three weeks ago.

The third-placed Spears, who narrowly missed out on landing the bye themselves, similarly dismissed the two-time defending champions last week, with their 26-3 win perfect preparation for the next edition of the trilogy with their old foe.

The weekend also sees the conclusion of the Replacement Battles with Division One sides Urayasu D-Rocks and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars having built what should be insurmountable advantages against challengers Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks and Toyota Shuttles Aichi respectively.

Division Two sides Nippon Steel Kaimashi Seawaves and Hino Red Dolphins hold narrow leads over SECOM SAYAMA RUGGUTS and SkyActivs Hiroshima, with the Division Three sides hosting the second leg of the ties.