In-form Marx key to Spears' JRLO hopes

ROUND 16 PREVIEW: Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx’ try-scoring form will be key for his Spears side when they face Mie Heat on Saturday, whilst it’s the battle of old friends when Wild Knights face Black Rams in the following Japan Rugby League One clash.

While their playing careers didn’t overlap, Wild Knights coach Robbie Deans and his Black Rams counterpart Tabai Matson know each other well.

A dual international for the All Blacks as a non-cap player in 1995 and 1996, and later as a two-test performer for his country of birth Fiji, Matson was also a key ingredient in the Canterbury midfield when Deans announced his prowess as a topline coach by winning the province’s first title in the National Provincial Championship for 14 years.

This background adds an interesting flavour to their sides’ clash on Saturday, with the Wild Knights looking to retain their three-point advantage at the top of the Japan Rugby League One standings while the eighth-placed Black Rams bid to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

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Although seven wins and 33 points separate the two sides, Deans will be aware of the threat the visitors pose, with Matson having made encouraging progress in his maiden season after having replaced Australian Peter Hewat.

Such has been the Black Rams competitiveness, they have picked up seven bonus points alongside their five wins, which has been enough to keep Black Rams in touch with the sixth and final qualifying position for the play-offs.

One of Matson’s most significant decisions was the appointment of All Black TJ Perenara as captain, with the combative scrumhalf having been an inspirational figure since arriving in December, leading the on-field transformation of a side that played in the relegation series last season, into potential play-off material.

Completing the transition may require the achievement of a massive upset at Kumagaya, with sixth-placed Tokyo Sungoliath having the opportunity to extend their advantage over the chasing pack when they travel to Osaka for the second match in succession, this time for a date with Verblitz that is crucial for both sides.

Sungoliath were dealt with severely by Spears Tokyo-Bay on their last visit to Kansai, although the 10-30 defeat two weeks ago proved less damaging than it may have been had other results not fallen their way.

Kosei Ono’s side will need to make their own luck over the final stages of the campaign though, especially as they still have to play the Wild Knights as well, which makes a win over Verblitz non-negotiable.

Steve Hansen’s 10th-placed side were surprisingly passive during their comprehensive 30-point defeat by the Black Rams two weeks ago and remain locked in a shootout with Kieran Crowley’s Mie Heat to avoid falling into the end-of-season Replacement Battle against the Division Two runners-up.

Heat faces a tall order against a Spears side that hasn’t lost since March 1, but the Spears need to maintain that record to hold third-placed Brave Lupus at bay, given they have an appointment with the Wild Knights themselves in seven days’ time.

The try-scoring form of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, with seven to date, is one plus for the Spears heading into the game, alongside an amazing record at Spears Edoriku Field where they have won their last 23 matches.

Brave Lupus have had two weeks to stew over the shock of a second defeat by BlueRevs this year, with the manner of their demise arguably more damaging psychologically than the result itself.

Such is the tightness of the race for a top two finish, with its first week bye in the play-offs, that the defending champions dropped from first to third following their second defeat of the season.

This doesn’t need to be ruinous, with the two side’s above them still to play each other, but it does mean Todd Blackadder’s side can’t afford any more mistakes. Nor can Friday night’s opponents, D-Rocks.

Although last season’s Division Two champions retain a mathematical – if unlikely – chance of avoiding the relegation series, this door could be shut completely should Brave Lupus inflict their 14th defeat of the season, and Verblitz beat Sungoliath.

Despite the bleak outlook, Greig Laidlaw’s side will keep on fighting, having matched their opponents for much of the most recent outings, and the league’s bottom-placed side have been given a boost by the acquisition of Nathan Hughes until the end of the season.

The 22-cap England loose forward replaces injured Springbok Jasper Wiese, after being unable to play for his parent club following long-term injury, due to Black Rams registering a replacement to fill their quota for foreign test capped players.

Hughes adds significantly to D-Rocks’ strike power, having scored 21 tries since he landed in Japan two seasons ago.

The Eagles and Sagamihara Dynaboars remain in play-offs’ contention, although both have difficult assignments, with the Eagles facing the unenviable task of a trip to Shizuoka where the BlueRevs have lost just once all season.

The Dynaboars did beat Kobe Steelers 34-26 in January, although their fifth-placed hosts will be well motivated to avenge that defeat as Dave Rennie’s side will most likely book their play-offs ticket should they prevail.

Kobe hasn’t featured in the post-season since 2018 when they won the Top League title.