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The All Blacks influence behind Japan Rugby League One contenders
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo are poised to become the second qualifier for the semi-finals in Japan Rugby League One when they take on Kobelco Kobe Steelers in a blockbuster finish to round 13.
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The pair will square off on Sunday afternoon in Tokyo with a win qualifying Brave Lupus for their second visit to the playoffs in three seasons, while doing serious damage to their opponents’ hopes of featuring in the competition’s knockout stages.
Todd Blackadder’s Brave Lupus have been beaten just once in 12 matches, losing 36-24 to the unbeaten Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in a game which could prove a prelude to next month’s grand final.
Blackadder oversaw the most remarkable run by any side in Super Rugby history in 2011 when his Crusaders outfit went an entire season without playing at home – after the Christchurch earthquake wrecked the now defunct Lancaster Park – and still made it to the final.
The former All Black captain has revived the fortunes of Brave Lupus since he joined from Bath in 2019, presiding over 44 wins from 64 matches (69%), as well as taking the club to its first semi-final since 2015.
Among those wins are the last four games against Kobe, with last season’s double followed by a 46-39 win on Christmas Eve, which was notable for an astonishing four tries by the recently arrived All Black Shannon Frizell.
The 30-year-old was not known as a regular try-scorer when he joined the club, having managed just 19 from 68 matches for the Highlanders and eight in 33 test matches for New Zealand, but he has gained a taste for the goal-line in Brave Lupus colours, scoring eight from 12 appearances to rank third among try-scoring forwards in the competition.
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The backrower’s influence has complemented that of Blackadder’s other big name offshore recruit, All Black flyhalf Richie Mo’unga, who has more than repaid the faith of the coach who gave him his first a shot at Super Rugby as a youngster.
The most dangerous conjurer of tries in the league, with more assists than any other player, Mo’unga has also weighed in with 126 points, which included 16 in Toshiba’s earlier win over Kobe.
After their loss to third-placed Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath last weekend, Dave Rennie’s men are treading a fine line in terms of the semi-finals and could be nine points behind Yokohama Canon Eagles with three to play should they lose.
The fourth-placed Eagles open the weekend as part of a rare Friday night double, chasing maximum points against bottom side Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Osaka, while the Wild Knights are also in action tomorrow as they seek an 18th win from their last 19 meetings with Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo.
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Saturday sees Shizuoka Blue Revs (6th) and Toyota Verblitz (7th) bid to keep their faint semi-final hopes alive against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars respectively, while third-placed Sungoliath should inch closer to playoffs’ confirmation with a win over 11th-placed Mie Honda Heat.
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.
54 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.
54 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
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 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.
54 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!!
54 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…
54 Go to comments