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Woes continue for Green Rockets following Blake Ferguson sacking
Green Rockets Tokatsu have got their 2022 Japan Rugby League One campaign off to a dud start to cap off a dire week headlined by the sacking of ex-NRL star Blake Ferguson.
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Six days after Ferguson’s contract with the club was terminated due to his arrest for suspicion of cocaine possession, the Green Rockets were pumped 33-12 in their season-opener against the Yokohama Canon Eagles in Kashiwa on Saturday.
The opening weekend defeat comes after the Green Rockets opted to forge ahead with the match in spite of Ferguson’s arrest and subsequent sacking, which came before he had even played a match of rugby union since switching from rugby league.
The decision to continue to play the fixture as scheduled was one made in stark contrast to previous incidents where players in Japan were embroiled in drug scandals.
In those instances – such as the arrests of Joel Everson, Steven Yates and Ryota Kabashima for similar offences in 2019 and 2020 – the clubs of those respective players, and even the league as a whole, had fixtures suspended in a mark of seriously drug-related matters are taken in Japan.
To the surprise of some, though, the Green Rockets issued a statement on Wednesday outlining their intention to play the Canon Eagles, who eventually cruised to victory at Kashiwanoha Stadium.
Headlined by Brave Blossoms stars Yu Tamura and Amanaki Mafi, as well as former Wales lock Cory Hill, the Canon Eagles thrived even in the absence of star Springboks midfielder Jesse Kriel.
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No 8 Mafi crossed for one of his side’s three tries in typically rampant fashion off the back of a scrum midway through the second half.
His try was complemented by tries on either side of half-time, the first of which was scored loosehead prop Takate Okabo on the back of a well-worked lineout move, while fullback Jumpei Ogura scored the other from a cracking counter-attack instigated by wing Chihito Matsui.
First-five Tamura, meanwhile, ended the match with a personal tally of 18 points with an unblemished goal-kicking record of seven from seven.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Green Rockets, though, as the hosts ran in two tries of their own to add some respectability to the scoreline.
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Former Chiefs, Crusaders, Gloucester and NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes fullback Tom Marshall was key in both tries, the first of which he set up with a pinpoint cross kick for wing Hiroyuki Miyajima to latch onto and score from near the end of the first half.
In the dying stages of the second half, Marshall then weaved past a few defenders to help set substitute Kentaro Kodoma away for scintillating run which broke the defence apart and allowed Brave Blossoms star Lomano Lemeki to stroll on through for a try.
Lemeki, normally a wing or midfielder but played in the No 10 jersey, added the extras with the ensuing conversion attempt, but that mattered for little as the Green Rockets are now anchored to last place on the Division 1 standings at the end of round one.
The Green Rockets will, however, be handed a reprieve next weekend as the side’s scheduled opponents, the Saitama Wild Knights, will forfeit the match amid a Covid outbreak within their squad.
That outbreak already cost the reigning champions, led by former Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans, their opening match against the Kubota Spears, who were awarded a bonus point win for the Wild Knights’ default.
The same outcome will reportedly be afforded to the Green Rockets, enabling the club – whose director of rugby is ex-Wallabies boss Michael Cheika – to lift itself out of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere throughout League One, All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie began life in Japan with a 25-point haul against the Toshiba Brave Lupus, while ex-Wallabies star Israel Folau marked his return to rugby union with two tries for the Shining Arcs.
Yokohama Canon Eagles 33 (Tries to Takate Okabo, Jumpei Ogura and Amanaki Mafi; 3 conversions and 4 penalty goals to Yu Tamura)
Green Rockets Tokatsu 12 (Tries to Hiroyuki Miyajima and Lomano Lemeki; conversion to Lemeki)
Comments on RugbyPass
South Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to comments