Two World Rugby Players of the Year go head to head

Two World Rugby Players of the Year. Two, two-time Super Rugby-winning coaches. Twenty-five wins in a row. Two weeks off before the finals. Lowest finishing semi-final opposition.

All are factors in Sunday’s glamour tie of the regular season’s final weekend in Japan Rugby League One, as Dave Rennie and Ardie Savea’s league-leading Kobelco Kobe Steelers travel to western Tokyo.

Waiting for them are Frans Ludeke and Malcolm Marx’s Kubota Spears who are third and have never been beaten in 25 previous engagements at the field named in their honour, Spears Edoriku.

With top seeding for the playoffs on the line, bringing with it a first-round bye and a draw against the lowest ranker of the remaining semi-finalists, there is a lot at stake for the two protagonists.

Not that the pressure is theirs alone.

Japan Rugby League One

Overall Standings

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

17

15

2

0

71

2

Saitama Wild Knights

17

15

2

0

69

3

Kubota Spears

17

14

3

0

69

4

Tokyo Sungoliath

17

8

9

0

44

5

BlackRams Tokyo

17

9

8

0

41

6

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo

17

8

9

0

39

7

Toyota Verblitz

17

7

10

0

33

8

Shizuoka BlueRevs

17

6

11

0

31

9

Yokohama Canon Eagles

17

6

11

0

30

10

Mie Honda Heat

17

6

11

0

30

11

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars

17

4

13

0

19

12

Urayasu D-Rocks

17

4

13

0

16

Conference A

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Saitama Wild Knights

17

15

2

0

69

2

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo

17

8

9

0

39

3

Shizuoka BlueRevs

17

6

11

0

31

4

Yokohama Canon Eagles

17

6

11

0

30

5

Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars

17

4

13

0

19

6

Urayasu D-Rocks

17

4

13

0

16

Conference B

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Kobelco Kobe Steelers

17

15

2

0

71

2

Kubota Spears

17

14

3

0

69

3

Tokyo Sungoliath

17

8

9

0

44

4

BlackRams Tokyo

17

9

8

0

41

5

Toyota Verblitz

17

7

10

0

33

6

Mie Honda Heat

17

6

11

0

30

Even though they have not named Richie Mo’unga, Toshiba Brave Lupus remain capable of putting a decent dent into the confidence of Saitama Wild Knights, who return home on Saturday still to be sure of a top two finish.

As unthinkable as losing to a Urayasu D-Rocks outfit who had lost their last 12 was, the Wild Knights losing just their second match ever at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium – against a team they whipped 46-0 on the opening day – would be almost as remarkable.

While the defending champions were squeezing into the final six last weekend, Tokyo Sungoliath were ending their unprecedented five-game losing streak with a statement win over Toyota Verblitz.

Although Sam Cane’s side can climb no higher than fourth, finishing with a flourish against fifth-placed BlackRams Tokyo would set them up nicely for another likely bout against TJ Perenara’s side in a quarterfinal.

The finish line has come a few weeks too early for Steve Hansen and Aaron Smith’s Verblitz, but with Hansen’s six years as Director of Rugby at the Aichi-based club coming to end, they won’t lack motivation for Saturday’s trip to Suzuka.

In Mie Honda Heat, they will find an opponent desperate to sign off on a winning note after their playoffs hopes were dashed by three straight defeats.

While a valiant effort at Kobe couldn’t keep the playoffs flame alight, Pablo Matera’s side have enjoyed a much-improved campaign, with their six wins one more than they gathered in two seasons since returning to Division One.

After 41 appearances in League One, Yokohama Canon Eagles say goodbye to Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk at Shizuoka, where the BlueRevs, despite failing to achieve back-to-back semi-finals, could still complete their second highest league placing, seventh, if they win.

Winning momentum is something Urayasu D-Rocks have, and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars want as they meet for a final tune up before the Replacement Battle.