Japan Rugby Top League 2016-2017: Round 14 Preview

At the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Saturday, Toyota Industries Shuttles play Coca-Cola Red Sparks in the first game of a Toyota double header. The Shuttles have managed three wins so far this season and that is enough to avoid relegation, but not the promotion and relegation play-offs. On the Christmas weekend, the Toyota side lost 41-14 to Ricoh at this venue in what was their tenth loss to date. Coca-Cola on the other hand, are second to last on the table with a six-point gap over last-placed Honda. The Red Sparks are in a similar situation to the Shuttles in that they probably have enough of a gap over Honda to avoid relegation, but it still leaves them in the promotion and relegation play-offs. This should be a keenly fought contest between two evenly matched sides, though the home ground advantage might just get the Industries across the line first. Playmaker Sam Greene has been inspirational for the Shuttles this season and the battle with his opposite number in Timothy Lafaele could sway the game one way or the other.

In the other game at Nagoya, Toyota Verblitz host Panasonic Wild Knights. Toyota had a strong start to the season, but losses in their last three outings have taken the wind out of their sails. The Verblitz are assured of a mid-table finish this year, but if they can rise to the occasion in front of their home fans against the high-flying Panasonic outfit, an upset is not out of the question. There are only two rounds remaining in the season, including this one, and the odds of the Wild Knights defending their Top League title have lengthened significantly. However, to keep their name in the mix, Panasonic will be looking for a big win over Toyota in Nagoya. Veteran lock Toshizumi Kitagawa will lead the Verblitz and the added presence of Wycliffe Palu at No8 should inspire the Verblitz. Nevertheless, the Wild Knights are brimming with talent with the likes of hooker Shota Horie, flanker David Pocock and wing Akihito Yamada to name just a few.

In what amounts to the match of the round, Suntory Sungoliath play Toshiba Brave Lupus at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu city in western Tokyo. This is the annual battle for bragging rights in western Tokyo with both Suntory and Toshiba based nearby in Fuchu city. After their big win over Yamaha late last year, Suntory remain undefeated after thirteen rounds and are now in the box seat to claim the Top League title for the 2016-17 season. A win over archrivals Toshiba would all but secure the Sungoliath their fourth title and their first since the 2012-13 season. The Brave Lupus were runners-up last year, but they are having a topsy turvy season this year with more losses than wins pushing them well down the ladder. However, that will all amount to nothing on Saturday afternoon as they attempt to do what no other side has been able to do so far this year; beat Suntory. There are some big match-ups in this clash with Suntory talisman George Smith marking Liam Messam on the side of the scrum, while Stephen Donald and Richard Kahui will keep a close eye on each other in the backline.

In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday, NEC Green Rockets play Honda Heat. NEC beat Coca-Cola 27-3 in Fukuoka in their previous game in what was only their fifth win of the season. In all likelihood, the Green Rockets will not have to go through the promotion and relegation play-offs as they had to last season and wins over last-placed Honda and then Sanix will finish off their season nicely. For Honda, however, things are grim. The Heat finished eleventh last year, but this year relegation looms large on the near horizon. To avoid the drop, Honda will have to beat NEC here in Tokyo and then beat Canon in Osaka in the final round to have any chance of overtaking Coca-Cola who are six points above them on the table. The Heat lost 40-3 to NTT in Nagoya last round and they will have to dig deep to overcome NEC. If the NEC forwards get on top of their opponents, the halves pairing of Kaito Shigeno and Yu Tamura could prove decisive for the Rockets.

In the latter game in Tokyo, NTT Communications Shining Arcs play Canon Eagles. NTT beat Honda 40-3 in Nagoya last round, while Canon also come into this game on the back of a win after beating Kubota 27-15 on this ground on Christmas Eve. The Shining Arcs currently sit fifth on the table on 36 points while the Eagles are in ninth place on 29 points. All in all, both NTT and Canon have been in good form over recent weeks and this should guarantee an exciting spectacle for the rugby faithful in Tokyo on Sunday afternoon. Captain Kin Sho-Kei and back-row partner Amanaki Mafi have been leading the charge for NTT up front while Elton Jantjies has been the key to success in the backs. Meanwhile, Canon are growing in confidence with former All Black Adam Thomson opposing Mafi at the back of the scrum and the mercurial Willie le Roux is the man to watch in the backs.

In the first game of another double header on Sunday, Kubota Spears play Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers at the Kincho Stadium in Osaka. Kubota lost 27-15 to Canon in Tokyo on the Christmas weekend to keep them well down the ladder and the Spears must now regroup to face Kobe. On the other hand, Kobe beat Kintetsu 38-8 at this venue on Christmas Day to maintain fourth position on the table. Kubota rely heavily on their charismatic centre Harumichi Tatekawa and if the Steelers can shut him down a win becomes more likely. Top League title hopes for Kobe have evaporated, but they are still in the hunt for a place in the National Championship. The top three Top League sides will join the university champions in the Championship and with the Steelers only five points adrift of Panasonic in third place, their chances are still alive. Flanker Daiki Hashimoto will lead the way for Kobe while former All Black halfback Andrew Ellis is the pivotal link between backs and forwards.

In the latter game in Osaka, Yamaha Jubilo play Kintetsu Liners. Last round, Yamaha lost their first game of the season when they went down 41-24 to Suntory at the Yamaha Stadium in Shizuoka. The loss knocked Jubilo off the Top League pedestal with Suntory now three points clear at the top of the table. Yamaha have to beat Kintetsu and Toyota in their remaining games and hope either Toshiba or Kobe can beat Suntory. This is not a season to savour for the Liners with Kobe handing them their eleventh loss of the season on this ground on Christmas Day. The signs are not there that Kintetsu will be able to match it with Yamaha in this clash, but Jubilo will want to maintain focus on the task at hand. There is so much talent in this Yamaha squad and with so much at stake; the big names will have to stand up. Captain Yuhimaru Mimura will lead from the front with veteran playmaker Tatsuhiko Otao controlling the flow of the game and out wide, wing Chikara Ito is a real threat in open space.

Also on Sunday, Ricoh Black Rams play Munakata Sanix Blues at the Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium in Tokyo. Two weeks ago, Ricoh came away from Nagoya with a solid 41-14 win over Toyota Industries for their sixth win of the season. Meanwhile, the resilient Sanix side lost 55-14 to Panasonic in Fukuoka on the same day. The Blues also have six wins for seven losses so far this season after gaining their place back in Top League. Sanix have lost four or their last five games as the longer season takes its toll, but their efforts have been quite remarkable over the course of the year. Ricoh are based just around the corner from this venue and this should give them a leg up against the Blues who travel up from Kyushu. Former Japan back-rower Michael Broadhurst is a tower of strength in the forwards for the Black Rams while Tamati Ellison at number ten is crucial in the backs. It has been a real team effort for Sanix week in week out this year and against the Rams; watch out for Japan wing Karne Hesketh to make an impact from the bench.