Japan Rugby Top League 2016-2017: Round 13 Preview

In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday, Canon Eagles play Kubota Spears. Canon come into this match on the back of an impressive 45-21 win over NEC on this ground last Sunday that gave them back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Eagles have underperformed this season and with so much talent in the side, they will be looking to make it three in a row. However, Kubota notched up their fifth win of the season when they beat Coca-Cola 36-17 last Saturday and this will give them confidence against Canon. Only one point separates these two sides on the table and that is an indicator of how close this tussle could be. Canon fullback Willie le Roux and Kubota wing Patrick Osborne were the key players for their respective sides in wins last round and they will have to be closely marked.

In the latter game in Tokyo, Toshiba Brave Lupus play Toyota Verblitz. This season has not been a good one for Toshiba, however, they turned things around last week with an emphatic eight tries to two 59-12 win over Kintetsu. It was vintage Toshiba on display with tight head prop Takuma Asama and playmaker Coenraad van Wyk both scoring doubles. On the other hand, Toyota went down 37-24 to the unbeaten Suntory at the Toyota Stadium last round. After a strong start to the season, Toyota have five losses against their name, including their last two outings. Nevertheless, the Verblitz still sit in fifth place on the table, although this could change should they lose to the Brave Lupus. Toshiba have tough matches against Suntory and Panasonic to close out their season while Toyota face Panasonic and Yamaha in their last two games.

At the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Saturday, Toyota Industries Shuttles play Ricoh Black Rams in the first game of another double header. The Shuttles overwhelmed Honda 49-24 at the Toyota Stadium last round for their third win of the season. Crucially, it lifted the Toyota side into thirteenth place on the table on 15 points, well clear of the relegation zone for last place. Ricoh put up tough resistance throughout the opening hour of their match against Panasonic at Chichibu last round, but faded over the final quarter to lose 45-17. Moreover, though, if the Black Rams can take that fighting spirit to Mizuho this weekend, Toyota Industries will be in for a long afternoon.

In the other game at Nagoya, Honda Heat play NTT Communications Shining Arcs. The result of this match could make or break the season for Honda with relegation now looming large. The Heat are on the bottom of the table on six points, well adrift of Coca-Cola on 12 points. They play NEC and Canon in their final two games and if they are to avoid the drop for the last placed team, two out of three wins is an imperative. Meanwhile, NTT steamrolled Sanix 33-7 in Kyushu last week, and so the Shining Arcs will be gunning for their eighth win of the season against Honda. NTT dominated proceedings throughout that match and never allowed Sanix to get a foothold and with centre Elton Jantjies controlling things superbly, the Heat will want to take note and prepare well for this clash.

In what will be a clash of the titans, Yamaha Jubilo host Suntory Sungoliath at the Yamaha Stadium in Shizuoka prefecture on Saturday. This is by far and away the biggest match of the season to date with the only two unbeaten sides in the league after 12 rounds going head to head. In all likelihood, the result of this contest could very well decide the Top League champion for the 2016-17 season. Yamaha have continued their rise over recent seasons and are now on the verge of claiming their first Top League title. On the other side of the pitch though, Suntory have taken the Top League crown three times and know what it takes to get there. The Sungoliath have remarkably rebounded this season after finishing in ninth place last year, their worst ever finish and they will throw down the gauntlet to Yamaha at the Yamaha Stadium. This fixture should attract a full house, with blue the predominant colour on display.

In the first game of a third double header on Saturday, Coca-Cola Red Sparks play NEC Green Rockets at the Level-5 Stadium in Fukuoka. This is a hometown game for Coca-Cola and they will want to take full advantage of playing in front of their fans. The Red Sparks fell 36-17 to Kubota in Chiba last round in what was their tenth loss of the season. They sit in second to last place on the table; six points clear of Honda and with the Shuttles and Ricoh to follow, another win will keep them in the major league for another year. NEC lost heavily to Canon at Chichibu last round going down 45-21 and with the losses mounting, the Green Rockets need a few more wins to avoid the promotion and relegation play-offs. The highlights of the season for NEC have been wins over Toyota and Kobe, while Coca-Cola grabbed a win over Toshiba but for both sides the wins have been few and far between.

In the other game at the Level-5 Stadium, Munakata Sanix Blues stay local to take the challenge of Panasonic Wild Knights. Sanix lost 33-7 to NTT in Miyazaki last Sunday, but this has been a memorable season for the Blues. They have an even card of six wins and six losses from their 12 games so far this year, which is a magnificent effort for a team coming back into Top League from the regional leagues. Sanix will be well behind the eight ball against the mighty Panasonic outfit but courage and determination have been the hallmarks of their season to date. Panasonic beat Ricoh 45-17 without a bonus point last round and remain well behind Yamaha and Suntory in third place on the table. With only three rounds left to play including this weekend, the odds are shortening on Yamaha or Suntory taking the title, but there are twists and turns left in the season yet.

In the only game on the Christmas Day Sunday in round 13, Kintetsu Liners play Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers at the Kincho Stadium in Osaka. This is a traditional battle between the two oldest clubs in the league with both sides tracing their respective histories back to the late 1920s. Down through the years, Kobe have been the more successful team and this year is no exception. The Steelers are near the top of the table in fourth place on 42 points, whereas the Liners are close to the bottom in fourteenth place on 14 points. Position on the table will be of little relevance on Sunday afternoon; however, as these mainstays of Japanese corporate rugby fight it out toe to toe for another win over their Kansai rival.