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Mo'unga back-up shines in his absence while Barrett magic secures win
Richie Mo’unga might have been at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium for today’s Fuchu Derby in Japan Rugby League One, but he did not provide the star turn.
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Instead, the All Black, who has been back in New Zealand on bereavement leave, watched on admiringly as his stand in, Hayata Nakao, gave a performance worthy of his more illustrious teammate during Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo’s convincing 36-27 win over Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.
The one-cap Brave Blossom had a hand in four of Toshiba’s five tries, as well as kicking five from six, as Brave Lupus completed a season double over their fierce west Tokyo rivals for the first time since 2010-11.
Nakao twice created the space for tries with clever passes, while inside centre Nicholas McCurran’s first half score came after the 29-year-old had opened up Suntory with a gem of a pop kick over the advancing defensive line.
The Toshiba flyhalf also initiated the attack that led to his side’s final try, which was the second of the afternoon for Kiwi winger Michael Collins.
While Suntory dominated for large periods, most notably when Toshiba were down a man late in the first half, they were harried into mistakes by unrelenting Brave Lupus defence, which forced the errors Todd Blackadder’s men were quick to seize upon.
Despite winger Seiya Ozaki scoring his fifth try from the last six derbies, and his 13th of the season, which closed Sungoliath to 17-10 at halftime, tries by Collins and winger Jone Naikabula in the 10 minutes after the break ultimately put the game out of reach.
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Brave Lupus are now confirmed in second, but will face a third derby in the semi-finals, after Toyota Verblitz beat Yokohama Canon Eagles 35-31, which means Suntory finish third.
Toyota’s win was achieved after an injury time try by fullback Taichi Takahashi.
It followed a 31-phase lead-up, much of it after the final siren, that was finally ended by a visionary kick in behind the defence by All Black Beauden Barrett that his teammate won the race for.
Verblitz can still finish fifth, but it would require Kobelco Kobe Steelers to drop their final game to Mie Honda Heat and that seems unlikely after Dave Rennie’s men showed their best side, dismantling Shizuoka Blue Revs 63-19 in Osaka.
Shizuoka had been unbeaten in five but four first half tries, one from World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea, saw Kobe race to a 28-0 halftime lead, from which there was no way back.
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Fifth remains a three-way contest, after outgoing champions Kubota Spears Funabashi’s kept themselves in the picture with a 61-24 win over Mie Honda Heat, who will feature in next month’s promotion/relegation series.
Heat had led 17-0 after 30 minutes before collapsing dramatically, conceding seven second half tries.
Although Hanazono Kintetsu Liners are similarly threatened, they were surprisingly competitive at Kumagaya, trailing the unbeaten Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights by just two at halftime, before falling 33-24.
Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo will join Honda and Kintetsu in next month’s Replacement Battle against the top three sides from Division Two, after a penalty goal in the 79th minute by ex-Northampton flyhalf James Grayson confirmed their fate by securing a vital bonus point for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars in a 31-24 defeat.
Needing to win to have any hope of overhauling their ninth-placed rivals on the point’s table, the Black Rams dominated the first half, scoring four tries to race to a 17-point advantage.
When winger Amanaki Taiyo Lotoahea’s 58th minute try was converted, Ricoh led 31-7 and salvation appeared at hand.
It wasn’t as the Dynaboars rallied to score two tries in the remaining minutes, before Grayson’s fateful kick salvaged the log-point which ensures that the Black Rams cannot overtake them on the final weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ned me old shinwah, it’s probably not a bad idea to learn how to spell the last names of great All Blacks wingers. (Otherwise we will demean our memories of Grant Bitty, Jonah Lima, Joe Rococo and Doug Howler.)
1 Go to commentsNo longer able to except the excuses offered up for Rob. The red jersey has lost it’s mana and become a joke. I do not wish Mr Penny any wrong but it is time to go. Do the right thing Rob and retire, PLEASE.
31 Go to commentsIt is a travesty that 8/12 teams play in the finals, and that 4 wins out of 14 might be enough to get you there, but every competition has this to some degree. If it was only the top 4 going through, then this season would have been over for 6 of the teams 4 weeks ago. Super Rugby is simply a feeder competition for the All Blacks and Wallabies. There are low stakes and no consequences because so few people care who wins Super Rugby. In football, winning the Champions League is the pinnacle for any player or fan. The fate of national teams in the world cup or Euros is a complete second fiddle to The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundelsliga etc… Same with the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB. Players and fans care deeply about their team winning NBA title, but don’t care at all about USA winning gold at the Olympics. Or more locally with Rugby League, the Hierarchy is probably NRL > State of Origin > International. For some maybe State of Origin is the top. Super Rugby is low consequence and low stakes because no one cares enough about the outcome. Players ultimately want to play for the ABs, not the Hurricanes or Blues. Casual fans aren’t talking about SR selections but everyone has an opinion on Sam Cane or Ian Foster. Super Rugby is a means to an end. The only context it has is how it effects who is selected for the ABs.
6 Go to commentsPlayoffs featuring 4 or 6 teams would mean the other teams playing meaningless games for longer and a further drop of interest in Australia. But yes a 12 team competition with 8 teams making finals is ridiculous.
6 Go to commentsJoe's picks will be more interesting than Razors. The dumping of Dave Rennie for Jones has to be one of the worst exec decisions of all time. Joe and Dave have similar styles and personalities, the players should like that. Predicting some success for Aus this year. Well more than last year!
2 Go to commentsHey Ben, Thanks for your opinion article. As a die hard rugby tragic and loyal supporter of the game can I say your article seems a touch negative so I would like to offer a slightly different spin on it. I am assuming that the sole purpose of the Super Rugby competition is not just to be a training camp for the International teams but an independent event and competition in its own right with sponsors, media companies and teams that need a financial return. Now, from this rugby fans perspective, I am enjoying the last few weeks of the competition and enjoying the fact that most teams can still make the play offs and nobody wants the wooden spoon. Most rugby followers would agree to it being a travesty if the Crusaders or the Waratahs now made it to the final but history tells us it is very unlikely with the importance of home ground advantage. Playing each team once and a four team final would give the competition integrity and a level playing field for all teams but I would be surprised if it could satisfy the financial demands of the TV rights. Maybe a six team finals series might be a possible compromise.
6 Go to commentsAll good choices John, even the Tah players ha ha. Others that might be worth a look would be ; Cale, Tom Lynagh, Uru, Keunzle, Anstee and maybe Rory Scott because we need a backup to McReight and he has improved a lot from last year and Tim Ryan.
2 Go to commentsWe only have 12 teams - and probably should only have 10. If we cut it down to 10, had a single round robin format, and only had semi-finals and a grand final, the final game would be on the first weekend of May. Meanwhile the AFL (similar to the NRL) runs until the last weekend of September and starts almost a full month after Super Rugby. At least the players would get plenty of rest!
6 Go to commentsAs article says re Japanese Final. Todd Blackadder up against his old mentor/ coach at Canterbury and the Crusaders , Robbie Deans. Both legends in this part of the world. Richie Mo’unga, ( another legend), playing brilliantly for Toddy’s team.Great to hear.
1 Go to commentsNo doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to comments