Final Preview: The Fifty-fourth Japan Rugby Championship 2017
In 2017, the Fifty-fourth National Championship pits the top three finishing Top League sides and the university champion against each other. Suntory Sungoliath, Yamaha Jubilo and Panasonic Wild Knights finished first, second and third respectively while Teikyo University are the university champions. The condensed Top League season, along with the presence of the Japan Sunwolves in Super Rugby contributed to the abbreviation of the National Championship.
In the semi-finals, second-placed Top League side Yamaha Jubilo lost 36-24 to Panasonic Wild Knights who finished third, while Suntory Sungoliath as the Top League champions beat university champions Teikyo University 54-29.
Recent National Championship Finals
2017 (54th): Suntory v Panasonic
2016 (53rd): Panasonic 49 d Teikyo University 15
2015 (52nd): Yamaha 15 d Suntory 3
2014 (51st): Panasonic 30 d Toshiba 21
2013 (50th): Suntory 36 d Kobe 29
2012 (49th): Suntory 21 d Panasonic 9
2011 (48th): Suntory 37 d Sanyo 20
2010 (47th): Sanyo 22 d Toyota 17
2009 (46th): Sanyo 24 d Suntory 16
2008 (45th): Sanyo 40 d Suntory 18
2007 (44th): Toshiba 19 d Toyota 10
2006 (43rd): Toshiba 6 drew with NEC 6 (Joint champions)
2005 (42nd): NEC 17 d Toyota 13
2004 (41st): Toshiba 22 d Kobe 10
Final
Suntory Sungoliath (Top League Champion) v Panasonic Wild Knights (Top League 3)
Date: Sunday, 29 January 2017
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Kick-off: 14:00
Preview
Suntory Sungoliath won their fourth Top League title in 2016-17 to earn their place in the National Championship. The Top League champions beat Teikyo University, the university champions 54-29 in the semi-finals at the Hanazono ground in Osaka last Saturday to set up this decider against Panasonic.
As expected the Top League champions were far too strong for the university champions, even though the scores were locked at 21-all at the completion of the first half. The students could not maintain the intensity in the second half and this allowed a patient and determined Suntory side to take control and run out comfortable winners.
Suntory are yet to taste defeat this season after winning the Top League title undefeated and they now face Panasonic in the final as they look for their seventh national title with the last one back in 2013.
Panasonic Wild Knights finished third on the final Japan Rugby Top League 2016-17 table to earn their place in the 54th National Championship 2017. The Wild Knights beat second-placed Yamaha Jubilo 36-24 in their semi-final clash in Osaka last weekend to progress to the final. Panasonic are the reigning National Champions after they beat Teikyo University in the final last January and they are now hunting for their sixth national crown when they play Suntory in the final.
Suntory overwhelmed Panasonic 45-15 on this ground back in mid-September in the only meeting between these two sides so far this season. However, that will be water under the bridge come kick-off time on Sunday.
In the Top League era, Suntory and Panasonic, or Sanyo as they were previously known, have met in four National Championship finals with the former winning two and the latter also winning two.