Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Richie Mo'unga stars as Toshiba make League One final amid talk of All Blacks homecoming

Richie Mounga of Toshiba Brave Lupus kicks a conversion during the NTT Japan Rugby League One Play-Off Semi Final between Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on May 19, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

A try by former Queensland Reds second rower Harry Hockings came too late to save Tokyo Sungoliath as they fell 28-20 to All Black Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second semi-final of Japan Rugby League One in Tokyo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brave Lupus overturned a 10-7 halftime deficit to grab the win on Sunday, advancing the side coached by former Crusaders and Bath boss Todd Blackadder to their first final in a decade.

Blackadder will face his former mentor with Canterbury and the Crusaders, Robbie Deans, in Sunday’s decider after the ex-Wallaby coaches’ Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights beat Yokohama Canon Eagles 20-17 in Saturday’s opening semi-final.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Hockings had been denied a try earlier in the second half, being bundled out in the corner by a tackle which included Mo’unga, as Sungoliath looked to rally after Brave Lupus had scored three tries after the break to take charge.

Mo’unga, who had been subjected to an aerial bombardment by Suntory in the first half while he defended from fullback, became an increasingly dominant figure after the break as Blackadder’s forwards upped the ante, dominating the contact area.

The All Black flyhalf orchestrated the first try after the break, with a short pass in behind the front line of the attack, opening a hole in the Sungoliath defence, which winger Jone Naikabula strode through before setting up outstanding backrower Takeshi Sasaki, who ran the perfect support line to cross for a game-changing try.

Points Flow Chart

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo win +8
Time in lead
40
Mins in lead
34
50%
% Of Game In Lead
43%
68%
Possession Last 10 min
32%
0
Points Last 10 min
7

Brave Lupus were fortunate not to concede a few minutes later when Sungoliath scrumhalf Naoto Saito thought he had scored, only to have the try scrubbed due to an unnecessary off-the-ball clean out which was deemed interference.

ADVERTISEMENT

Their luck continued after Sungoliath flyhalf Mikiya Takamoto had closed the game to a point with a penalty goal, when Shannon Frizell appeared to lose the ball as he placed it for his 10th try of an impressive debut season.

There was no doubt about the fourth Brave Lupus try, which was scored by Naikabula after a slick interchange with fellow winger Atsuki Kuwayama allowed the Fijian-born speedster to gallop down the touchline ahead of the chasing defence.

Player Line Breaks

1
Jone Naikabula
4
2
Seiya Ozaki
3
3
Takeshi Sasaki
2

Mo’unga’s fourth conversion of the afternoon stretched his side’s lead to 28-13.

While defeated, Hockings, who is product of Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar, continued to add to his fast-growing reputation, showing again why he has been rated as one of the best forwards in Japan since his arrival in 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although the 25-year-old is two years off qualifying for Japan, he is surely already on the radar of Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones as a long-term project.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
J
Jon 204 days ago

He's Big in Japan

G
Graham 205 days ago

As article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Steve Hansen's claims that All Blacks were 'robbed' of World Cup shot down 'Robbed' fans react to former All Blacks coach's bold statement
Search