World Cup winner stands in the way of yet more silverware for Mo'unga

There was a time in Japan Rugby League One when Richie Mo’unga appeared immortal.

After arriving last year with seven Super Rugby titles already on his CV, and announcing
himself to excited Japanese crowds with a further championship, fans were probably entitled to start thinking: ‘Does this guy ever lose?’

Kwagga Smith’s Shizuoka BlueRevs answered that question when they dominated
Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo 34-28 in January.

If there were any lingering doubts, they disappeared after the Springbok back-rower’s men
repeated the feat, putting 56 points on the defending champions last month.

Fixture

Japan Rugby League One

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo

18 - 13

Full-time

Kubota Spears

All Stats and Data

Denied the prospect of a third round when Kobelco Kobe Steelers unexpectedly beat the
BlueRevs in the quarterfinals, Mo’unga and Toshiba’s mortality will now be tested by Wallaby
fly-half Bernard Foley and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay in Sunday’s Division One
final.

The 2022-23 champions gained passage to the decider by seeing off Saitama Panasonic
Wild Knights a lot more comfortably than last weekend’s 28-24 scoreline suggested.

To stop Brave Lupus, and Mo’unga in particular, they are going to have to raise their game
again.

While questions still lurk about the 30-year-old’s ability to dominate in Tests in the same
manner that he bosses club rugby, his track record for each of the Crusaders and Brave
Lupus are a solid body of work which suggests he will get there, especially once he joins
forces again with Scott Robertson.

Although he won’t be available until his Japanese contract ends next year, the New Zealand
coach, who keeps abreast of matters in Japan, won’t have missed his former charge’s
masterful performance in Toshiba’s 31-3 semi-final demolition of Kobe Kobelco Steelers.

The All Black fly-half was at his imperious best, kicking five-from-five, which included a long-
range penalty goal and sideline conversion, while also producing two 40/20 field kicks during
a masterclass that was far too good for Kobe.

He had a strong platform to operate from for sure, but you still must do the business, and
Mo’unga nearly always does for his clubs.

But while Mo’unga starts the decider having lost just three of his 33 appearances for Brave
Lupus, Sunday is far from a foregone conclusion with hooker Malcolm Marx, who leads a
rugged Spears pack, boasting a Japanese record almost as good as the All Black’s.

Since arriving in 2021, Marx has played 39 matches for Kubota, won 35, scored 27 tries, and
inspired the Spears to their maiden title in the nationwide league.

It was telling that without their injured Springbok last year, Kubota’s title defence collapsed
almost as soon as it started.

With the 30-year-old in the van, the Spears’ South African-laden forward pack got the better
of their Wild Knights counterparts.

They will be aiming to make it difficult for Brave Lupus and their star fly-half as well.