Japan Rugby Top League 2016-2017: Round 10 Preview

In the first game of a double header at the Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday, Kintetsu Liners play NEC Green Rockets. So far this season, Kintetsu have managed two wins for seven losses and sit in thirteenth place on 12 points. On the other hand, NEC have had three wins, one draw and five losses to sit in eleventh place on 15 points. On paper at least, there is little between these two sides, but it will remain to be seen which side hits the ground running after the November break. NEC have playmaker Yu Tamura returning from test duty while the Liners should be fresh and ready to go at their home base of Hanazono. If the Kintetsu forwards can get on top of their counterparts, Anthony Fainga’a in the centres and fullback Andre Taylor will be the danger men.

In the latter game in Osaka, Suntory Sungoliath play NTT Communications Shining Arcs. Suntory are yet to taste defeat with nine wins under their belt as they sit in second place on the table on 42 points, one point behind Yamaha. NTT are a much-improved side this year and they are sixth on the table with 26 points from six wins and three losses. Suntory had prop Kensuke Hatakeyama and fullback Kotaro Matsushima in the national side, and given the depth in the squad, they will start on the bench against NTT. Likewise, No8 Amanaki Mafi represented Japan last month and he will take his place at the back of the scrum in the starting line-up for his club side.

At the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Saturday, Toyota Verblitz play Canon Eagles. Toyota have 29 points from six wins and three losses and that sees them sit fifth on the table. Meanwhile, Canon are further down the table in tenth place from three wins and six defeats. The Eagles have had an up and down season, but still contributed three players to the Japan squad for the November tests. This included big Fijian-born lock Samuela Anise who made a big impression in Japan’s colours. The November break can change things for teams and Canon will be looking to string some good wins together starting with the Verblitz. Toyota are in their hometown, though, and they will be tough to beat in front of their fans.

Also on Saturday, in the first game of a double header at the ECOPA Stadium in Fukuroi city, Shizuoka prefecture, Honda Heat play Ricoh Black Rams. Honda are in the table basement with one win and eight losses and are in a race with teams like Toyota Industries and Coca-Cola to avoid relegation at the end of the season for the last placed team in the league. Ricoh are better placed with 19 points from four wins and five losses and will be targeting this game for a bonus-point win. The Black Rams have centre Amanaki Lotoahea back from national duty with the Japan side and he will be hoping to inspire his teammates to big things against the Heat.

In the second game in Shizuoka, Yamaha Jubilo play Toyota Industries Shuttles. The unbeaten Jubilo are the frontrunners after nine rounds and sit on top of the table on 43 points. On the other side of the pitch, though, the opposite is true for the Shuttles. The Toyota side sit on the bottom of the table with just the one win for eight losses. It will be a mighty challenge for the Toyota Industries, but a number of key players for the Jubilo may suffer some degree of fatigue after the November internationals. Yamaha had six players, all forwards in the Japan squad for the autumn tests and this will push the stamina late in the game. Nevertheless, this game pits the team at the top of the table against the team at the bottom of the table and Yamaha should have the personnel to maintain their winning way.

On Sunday, Panasonic Wild Knights play the second of two home games for the season at the Ota Sports Ground in Ota city in Gunma prefecture when they host Kubota Spears. Panasonic are in third place on 34 points, nine points adrift of Yamaha and with a relatively soft run home to the end of the season will be eying maximum points against the Spears. Kubota have notched up three wins and a draw from for five defeats and they will have to rise to the occasion in Ota. Panasonic hooker Shota Horie and Kubota centre Harumichi Tatekawa were co-captains of the Japan national side in November, but this weekend they will line up on opposite ends of the field. The Wild Knights also had the likes of halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and wings Kenki Fukuoka and Akihito Yamada in the recent Japan squad.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Munakata Sanix Blues host Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers at the Global Arena in Fukuoka. Sanix are mid table after five wins and four losses, but they have some very tough games over the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Kobe are fourth on the table with 33 points and still are in with a shot at the title if they keep the wins coming. Andy Ellis and Ryohei Yamanaka are key players for the Steelers while wing Karne Hesketh will be looking to carry on his good form with the Japan side last month. Kobe have everything to play for, but at home the Blues will guarantee a stiff opposition.

At the Kamoike Stadium in Kagoshima prefecture in the far south of Kyushu, Toshiba Brave Lupus play Coca-Cola Red Sparks. Toshiba lost more than they won in the first half of the season and the November break should have enabled the Brave Lupus to regroup. Pride is at stake for Toshiba after playing their way through to the Top League final last year, they sit mid table at this stage of the season. Every game is a big game for the Red Sparks with only the one win for eight losses to show for their efforts this season. Coca-Cola need to come up with a few more wins over the remaining six rounds or otherwise they will run the gauntlet of relegation for the last team on the table.