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Lood de Jager's Wild Knights complete another regular season unbeaten
Lood de Jager’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights have stretched their unbeaten regular season away record in Japan Rugby League One to 49 games following Saturday’s 43-14 win at Yokohama Canon Eagles.
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The 15th straight win by Japan’s six-time national champions against Yokohama – a sequence which dates back to 2013 – completed the Wild Knights’ fourth unbeaten regular season from five since the sport resumed following the pandemic.
Their overall record through this period – including finals – now stands at an astonishing 87 wins from 90 outings as well as a draw ahead of their upcoming semi-final, which will be a re-match with the Eagles.
Despite being stretched by Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, where they only led by five before scoring late to confirm a 36-24 victory, Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, whom they trailed 13-20 after 55 minutes before scoring the final 11 points to win 24-20, and each of Kobelco Kobe Steelers (28-18) and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners (33-24), Saturday’s latest win left the Wild Knights ending the regular season having scored at an average of 47 per game.
Dylan Riley scored two tries to help them lead 31-14 at the interval and they then added 12 unanswered second-half points to dominate the Eagles who had their account opened by a Jesse Kriel try on 14 minutes.
The Wild Knights are the only side to have exceeded 100 tries, well clear of the next team in the rankings. Such statistics suggest that the title is a sure thing, but last year’s experience says it is not.
Back then, the Wild Knights averaged 34 points per game, losing just once in the regular season. They put 50 points on the Eagles in the semi-final, but this dominance counted for nothing a week later.
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After hanging on grimly for much of a contest played in front of 43,000 people, Kubota Spears Funabashi Bay edged ahead 10 minutes from time and wouldn’t be denied as they prevailed 17-15 to claim a maiden title.
The Spears won’t be defending their crown in the play-offs but they sent Sungoliath into their semi-final with Toshiba Brave Lupus in two weeks on the back of a three-game winless run after finishing their campaign with a 45-26 win in Tokyo.
In a fast-paced contest played at a sun-drenched Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, the Spears ran away with the game in its dying stages, scoring three times in the last 15 minutes, including a penalty try with the last act of the game after an early tackle denied winger Hiroyuki Yamasaki what would have been his hat-trick.
First-half tries from the Ozaki brothers, Taiga (two) and Seiya, had helped Sungoliath to a 19-14 half-time lead, and while Taiga completed his hat-trick shortly after play resumed, Suntory went scoreless over the remaining 37 minutes while conceding four tries and 31 points.
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The win was not enough to give Kubota a fifth-place finish, with Kobelco Kobe Steelers holding on to that position but only just, needing a 78th-minute try by hooker Takuya Kitade to get by a gallant Mie Honda Heat 33-31.
While the loss means Kieran Crowley’s men with enter their Replacement Battle having won just once in the regular season, the outing allowed ex-Argentine back-rower Pablo Matera to add to his match fitness as he returns from the leg injury sustained at the Rugby World Cup.
- Click here to watch Kubota Spears’ win over Suntory Sungoliath on RugbyPass TV
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1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
3 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
3 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
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