Kolbe stars as Suntory Sungoliath make big statement
WRAP ROUND ONE: Cheslin Kolbe showed his incredible class as he kicked off his Suntory Sungoliath career with a 52-26 away win against reigning champions Kubota Spears.
Kolbe, who played at fullback, picked up the man of the match award during Sunday’s fixture.
He was joined in Suntory Sungoliath’s lineup by All Blacks captain Sam Cane, who got through 57 minutes on his league debut.
While the Spears at least salvaged a bonus point by scoring three second-half tries, the damage had already been done, with Suntory having carved out a 35-7 halftime advantage after a blistering first-half performance.
It was another amazing Japanese League One debut for World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea as his team recorded an 80-15 win over newcomers Mie Heat.
Captain Brodie Retallick scored the opening try four minutes after kick-off, and All Black Ngane Laumape followed suit six minutes later.
The home side had exactly the start they wanted and kept the pressure on the newly promoted Mie Heat by taking a commanding 26-10 halftime lead.
The visitors leaked a further eight tries in the second period, with Retallick getting a second, Savea scoring a brace, while hooker Takuya Kitade – who had joined the ‘party’ off the bench – celebrated with a hattrick inside of the last 20 minutes.
Saturdays was another tight one between Toyota Verblitz and Black Rams.
The fixture produced just three tries, and only three points in the second half, as All Black recruits Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith tasted victory on debut for Verblitz, who prevailed 15-8.
World Cup winner Kwagga Smith’s try was not enough as Blue Revs went down 30-43 to Brave Lupus.
Just like Smith, six weeks ago Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel were celebrating being crowned as world champions for a second time.
However, the Springbok pair left licking their wounds on Sunday, after South African teammate Damien de Allende’s SWild Knights brought them, and their Eagles colleagues, back to earth with a thud after a 53-12 trampling.
The season may be just a weekend old, but it’s only taken 80 minutes to underline to last season’s semifinalists just how tough it will be to reach the playoffs again.
Division One
Saturday, December 9
Kobe Steelers 80, Mie Heat 15
MDynaboars 30, Liners 29
Toyota Verblitz 15, Black Rams 8
Brave Lupus 43, Blue Revs 30
Sunday, December 10
Suntory Sungoliath 52, Kubota Spears 26
Wild Knights 53 Eagles 12
Division Two
Saturday, December 9
Green Rockets 32, Urayasu D-Rocks 29
Red Hurricanes 26, Voltex 22
Sunday, December 10
Aichi 52, Seawaves 7
Division Three
Saturday, December 9
Red Dolphins 30, Blue Sharks 16
Picture credit: @Sungoliath
