Preview: Japan Rugby League One 2023-24 Round Two

Two teams who suffered chastening defeats on the opening weekend meet at Mie on Saturday, with the home side hosting a Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay side coming off a 52-26 defeat by playoff rivals Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, where the concession of a 35-7 halftime deficit after a sluggish first half proved decisive.

Mie Honda Heat were even worse at Kobe, although their first half was better than their second, where trailing 26-10 at halftime turned into a devastating 80-15 defeat.

They were not helped by the absence of the influential Argentine backrower Pablo Matera, who is still not ready to go after returning from the Rugby World Cup with a injury. Honda’s conquerors, Kobelco Kobe Steelers, will be aiming to back up their success from opening day as they travel to Suzuka on Sunday, with new skipper Brodie Retallick once again looking to play a lead role.

Appointed captain by his old Chiefs’ Super Rugby boss Dave Rennie, the All Black centurion scored two tries last weekend, taking the second-rower’s tally in Japan to seven from 10 matches, after he finished his maiden season with the club three years ago with five from nine games. Retallick scored 20 tries from 128 games at the Chiefs, and nine from his 109 All Black tests.

Ardie Savea also scored two tries on his Japan Rugby League One debut but while he missed going head-to-head with Matera last weekend, visiting Shizuoka will allow him to reacquaint himself with long-time Springbok sparring partner, and Blue Revs skipper, Kwagga Smith.

The pair last crossed paths when Smith, whose try last weekend took his tally in Japan to 16 from 23 matches, came off the bench for South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final.

The Blue Revs, who had a disappointing opening to the campaign, falling 43-30 against Toshiba Brave Lupus, were better on the road than on home soil last term, winning just twice, with a draw and six defeats from their matches at Yamaha Stadium.

Fun and Games at Fuchu Having brought All Blacks Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell to the club, raising the expectations for last year’s fifth-placed finisher, Toshiba got just the start they were looking for against the Blue Revs, ahead of Sunday’s Fuchu derby, where they renew their rivalry with near neighbours Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.

Sungoliath, who introduced Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe to League One, galloped away from the defending champions Kubota, but will know that a follow up victory over Brave Lupus will not only reap local bragging rights, but also inflict early damage on a likely playoffs rival.

The corresponding contest last season saw the sides share 74 points as Sungoliath prevailed 40-34, with winger Seiya Ozaki providing the star turn for Suntory with a hattrick. After scoring 18 tries last term, Ozaki began this season’s try-hunt with another hattrick at the first time of asking.

Brave Lupus internationals, Japan winger Jone Naikabula and All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu, also carry good tryscoring form into the derby, after each had scored two tries in last year’s game. Naikabula started this season with four tries in the win over the Blue Revs, while Tamanivalu again scored twice.

Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo coach Peter Hewat won’t have to look too far for a rousing pre-match speech to his players, as they size up their week two assignment following the gritty loss to Toyota Verblitz. The Black Rams were flogged 34-8 by Saturday’s opponents, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars, on the opening weekend last term, but recovered to finish seventh, while the Dynaboars later plummeted, eventually forced into the Replacement Battle after coming in 10th.

Mitsubishi received good service last season from ex-England Under-20 flyhalf James Shilcock, and they look to have struck gold again after further mining the Premiership, finding another England age-grade rep, James Grayson, whose clutch 80th minute penalty got them home 30-29 against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. Grayson kicked six from six, and that accuracy suggests he will a major threat throughout the competition.

Fun and Games at Fuchu

Having brought All Blacks Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell to the club, raising the expectations for last year’s fifth-placed finisher, Toshiba got just the start they were looking for against the Blue Revs, ahead of Sunday’s Fuchu derby, where they renew their rivalry with near neighbours Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.

Sungoliath, who introduced Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe to League One, galloped away from the defending champions Kubota, but will know that a follow up victory over Brave Lupus will not only reap local bragging rights, but also inflict early damage on a likely playoffs rival.

The corresponding contest last season saw the sides share 74 points as Sungoliath prevailed 40-34, with winger Seiya Ozaki providing the star turn for Suntory with a hattrick. After scoring 18 tries last term, Ozaki began this season’s try-hunt with another hattrick at the first time of asking. Brave Lupus internationals, Japan winger Jone Naikabula and All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu, also carry good tryscoring form into the derby, after each had scored two tries in last year’s game.

Naikabula started this season with four tries in the win over the Blue Revs, while Tamanivalu again scored twice. Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo coach Peter Hewat won’t have to look too far for a rousing pre-match speech to his players, as they size up their week two assignment following the gritty loss to Toyota Verblitz.

The Black Rams were flogged 34-8 by Saturday’s opponents, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars, on the opening weekend last term, but recovered to finish seventh, while the Dynaboars later plummeted, eventually forced into the Replacement Battle after coming in 10th.

Mitsubishi received good service last season from ex-England Under-20 flyhalf James Shilcock, and they look to have struck gold again after further mining the Premiership, finding another England age-grade rep, James Grayson, whose clutch 80th minute penalty got them home 30-29 against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. Grayson kicked six from six, and that accuracy suggests he will a major threat throughout the competition.

Can a Return to Osaka Provide a Silver Lining for Kintetsu?

Things may get no better for Kintetsu on Match Day Two, having to regroup on Sunday after the psychological blow of the one-point defeat against Mitsubishi, to face the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.

The seven-time champions ran riot against Yokohama Canon Eagles, despite leaving star Australian winger Marika Koroibete on the bench, with Springbok second row Lood de Jager also on the sideline. The Wild Knights won the corresponding match 41-6 at Kumagaya last term, with flyhalf Takuya Yamasawa bagging two tries in a 17-point performance.

At least Kintetsu are the hosts this time, although star Wallaby flyhalf Quade Cooper’s involvement is uncertain. Last season’s semi-finalists, Yokohama, will be hoping home advantage can drive an upturn in fortune after the galling 41-point loss to the Wild Knights.

The visit of Verblitz has a tasty All Black versus Springbok highlight, with rival scrumhalves Aaron Smith (Toyota) and Faf de Klerk (Canon) going head-to-head, with their international teammates, flyhalf Beauden Barrett (Toyota) and centre Jesse Kriel (Canon) also suiting up. Saturday’s match is undoubtedly on ‘enemy’ turf for Toyota, as it is being played at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium.

Divisions Two & Three – It’s England versus Wales

Division Two provides a classic contest from the northern hemisphere, as the first-round winners Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi and NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu collide at Aichi.

The Shuttles, who were untroubled during their trip to Kamaishi, are captained by one-cap England second row James Gaskill, who will be opposed in the Green Rockets leadership team by the former Six-Nations-winning Wales coach Wayne Pivac.

Pivac’s men started impressively at home – with Urayasu’s 12-game divisional winning run being torched in the blast – but know they will have to counter the Shuttles’ former England flyhalf Freddie Burns if they are to return to Tokatsu victorious. The well-travelled Burns, who played four tests for England, and featured in Super Rugby for the (Otago) Highlanders earlier in the year, was the Shuttles’ main man, and leading point-scorer, when he helped the side win promotion two seasons ago.