Japan Rugby Top League 2017-2018: Round 9 Preview

In the first game of a double header at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon, Toshiba Brave Lupus play Munakata Sanix Blues. After a terrible start to the season that saw Toshiba lose four of their first five games, the Brave Lupus have turned things around with important wins over Toyota Industries, Coca-Cola and NTT Docomo in their last three outings. Toshiba now have 19 points from four wins and just as many loses as they line up Sanix for their fourth win in a row. Sanix started the season with a win and they looked like carrying on from their impressive season last year. Unfortunately, things have not worked out that way with the Blues dropping their last seven games to sit second to last on the White Conference table. The Brave Lupus have been buoyed by the return of their captain Richard Kahui in the centres and that is raising the performances of those around him. Coenraad van Wyk moves from fullback to flyhalf this week with Shohei Toyoshima up from the bench to slot in at fullback. Sanix had a close loss to Canon last round and that next win is not too far away, but players like lock Geoff Parling, flyhalf Hiroshi Tashiro and Japan international wing Karne Hesketh will have to work hard to make that happen. The Blues also have back-rower Jacques Potgieter on the bench as an impact player for the second half.

In the second game at Chichibu, NTT Communications Shining Arcs play Coca-Cola Red Sparks. NTT Communications could not match it with Yamaha over the full eighty minutes last week in Shizuoka, eventually going down 35-10 after leading 10-0 early in the game. The Shining Arcs now have 18 points from four wins and four losses, but they will definitely be targeting Coca-Cola for their fifth win of the season. Coca-Cola are experiencing a lot of pain and hardship this season and they are the only team in either conference without a win after eight rounds of play. The 47-7 loss to Toyota Industries in Shizuoka last Saturday will not help the confidence in the squad. For NTT, Kin Shokei captains the side from the side of the scrum in a pack that includes former All Black Isaac Ross coming in to the starting line-up in the second row. In the backs, Jumpei Ogura moves from his regular position at five-eighth to fullback with Brackin Karauria-Henry dropping back to the bench. The diminutive Hiraku Tomoigawa, who usually plays halfback, comes in to the starting line-up in the playmaking position. The pressure is on Coca-Cola to break the drought and captain Kota Yamashita on the side of the scrum will have to lead by example. Other key players in the run-on side for the Red Sparks include Hurricanes lock Mark Abbott and New Zealand-born Daniel Peters at fullback.

At the Kumagaya Sports Ground in Saitama prefecture on Saturday, Panasonic Wild Knights play Suntory Sungoliath. In a battle of the titans, the two remaining unbeaten sides go head to head with Suntory topping the Red Conference on 38 points while Panasonic lead the White Conference with the maximum 40 points. These two sides have stood head and shoulders above the rest of the field this year, but the rivalry does not stop there. Between them, they have taken the past seven Top League titles and the smart money is on the trend continuing this year. Panasonic are at full strength for this critical match that includes Keita Ishigaki and Shota Horie in the front row, David Pocock in the back-row and Fumiaki Tanaka and Berrick Barnes as the halves. In a star-studded backline, Japan international wings Kenki Fukuoka and Akihito Yamada are in sparkling try-scoring form. The Panasonic bench is also packed with international experience, including lock Kotaro Yatabe and utility back Digby Ioane. Nevertheless, the Suntory line-up is just as impressive. Locks Joe Wheeler and Shinya Makabe are workhorses in the engine room while the tussle at the breakdown between Pocock and George Smith will in itself be worth the price of admission. Another crucial battle will take place between the two number tens with Kosei Ono up against Barnes. Elsewhere, Kotaro Matsushima is a game breaker at the back for the Sungoliath.

At the Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium in Osaka on Saturday, Kubota Spears play Yamaha Jubilo. Kubota have 14 points on the Red Conference ladder from three wins and five losses, but they will be hard pressed to come up with a win over a solid Yamaha outfit this weekend. The Jubilo are second on the White Conference table on 30 points, albeit 10 points adrift of Panasonic, but with Ricoh five points further behind, they will have to keep the wins coming. Kubota do not have their talisman captain Harumichi Tatekawa in the match-day squad this week with the versatile Louis Fouche coming in to the starting line-up at number ten. Team vice-captain in hooker Hiroaki Sugimoto takes over the leadership in a pack that includes Japan international Justin Ives in the second row and big man Grant Hattingh on the side of the scrum. Yamaha captain Kyosuke Horie scored two tries from the back of the scrum last week to take his tally to eight five-pointers for the season and he will again lead from the front. Halfback Yuki Yatomi is playing to a high standard this year and his service will keep the backs moving forward. Centres Male Sa’u and Viliami Tahitua have formed a lethal combination for the Jubilo this year while fullback Ayumu Goromaru rarely misses his target from the tee.

In another double header on Saturday, at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Ground in Nagoya, Kintetsu Liners play NEC Green Rockets in the early game. Osaka-based Kintetsu have 12 points from three wins for five losses, but this still sees them sit well down the stronger Red Conference table. On the other hand, NEC in the White Conference have 17 points from four wins and four losses. Last weekend, Ricoh humbled Kintetsu 37-10 in Kyoto whereas NEC snuck home 28-27 over Kubota in Kashiwa. For Kintetsu, hooker Atsushi Kashimoto is back in the starting line-up as captain while Solomon T-Pole replaces Iopu Iopu-Aso at No8. Further, former Wallaby centre Anthony Fainga’a is in the run-on side to strengthen the backline. In the NEC side, No8 Adam Thomson is proving his worth after joining the Green Rockets earlier this year. In the backs, Yosuke Morita is again the goal-kicking playmaker while Amanaki Savieti and Maritino Nemani form a formidable centre combination.

In the second game in Nagoya, the Toyota brands clash with Toyota Industries Shuttles laying down the challenge to Toyota Verblitz. The Shuttles produced their first win of the season last weekend when they beat Coca-Cola 47-7 in Shizuoka and this should give them some confidence coming in to this encounter with the Verblitz. The Verblitz have proved to be the big improvers in 2017-18 and they will start as strong favourites to take the honours against the Shuttles. The Verblitz have 24 points from five wins and three losses against Yamaha, Panasonic and Suntory, but they really should have beaten both Yamaha and Suntory. The game was there for the taking against Suntory in Kyoto last Sunday, but the powerful Sungoliath came home with a wet sail to steal the results 32-31. For the Verblitz, back-rower Juan Smith has been handed the captaincy in what will be his final game of professional rugby. During the week, the former Springbok stalwart announced his retirement for family reasons. Smith earned 70 caps for South Africa, including victory at the 2007 Rugby World Cup under current coach Jake White. Meanwhile, former Wallaby Peter Kimlin at No8 and South African flyhalf Francois Brummer have been highly effective for the Shuttles so far this year.

On Sunday, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes play Canon Eagles in the first game of a double header at the Noevir Stadium Kobe in Kobe city, Hyogo prefecture. Docomo have performed well in their first season back in Top League, but the added intensity is starting to take its toll as the season progresses. The Red Hurricanes have lost their last three matches whereas the reverse is true for the Eagles with three wins in a row. Canon started the season with five straight losses, but since have had wins over Coca-Cola, Kobe and Sanix to see their fortunes rise. In the Docomo side, new recruit Ryan Kankowski along with captain and fullback Riaan Viljoen continue to be standouts for the Red Hurricanes and their talents and experience will again be needed against Canon. The Eagles are building a head of steam and they will be hard to stop. Japan international lock Samuela Anise comes in to the starting side this week to bulk up the pack while Takashi Kikutani and Ed Quirk drop out of the match-day squad. Toshiki Amano has cemented his place in the number nine jersey with some fine performances this year, while wing Hosea Saumaki and centre Tim Bennetts are dangers out wide.

In the second game at the Noevir Stadium, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers host Ricoh Black Rams. Kobe opened their season with six wins on the run, but serious loses to Canon and Panasonic over the last two weeks have put a dent in their title aspirations. Nonetheless, the Steelers still hold on to second place on the Red Conference ladder with 28 points, 10 points behind Suntory and four points ahead of Toyota, but they cannot afford to give up any more ground. On the other hand, Ricoh are showing good form as they quietly go about their business with five wins for three losses. The Kobe forwards will have to dominate up front against a big Ricoh pack if the Steelers are to get back to winning ways. That will start in the all-Japan front row of Hisateru Hirashima, Takeshi Kizu and Hiroshi Yamashita who between them have 135 caps for Japan. In the backs, halves Andy Ellis and Ryohei Yamanaka are the players to watch. Ricoh have the all-important momentum going forward and they will sniff a win coming against the Steelers. Flanker Daisuke Musha continues as captain of the Black Rams with forwards Franco Mostert, Pohiva Lotoahea, Michael Broadhurst and Shuhei Matsuhashi laying down the law where it matters. In the backs, flyhalf Robbie Robinson and centre Tamati Ellison are the threats.