Springboks and All Blacks dominate Japan
WRAP: The Steelers ran riot in Japan Rugby League One, thrashing Dynaboars 61-10 at Hyogo. Less than two weeks after being named All Blacks coach, Dave Rennie’s side stormed to the top of the table, powered by All Blacks Anton Lienert-Brown, Ardie Savea, and Brodie Retallick, who crossed for his 12th try of the season – three clear of anyone else.
Lienert-Brown grabbed an early third-minute score, Savea got in on the act, and by halftime Kobe were already 47-0 up, with Retallick proving impossible to stop.
South African stars Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), and Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) were also in action, making it a day of SA dominance in Japan as the league heats up.
Helping Kobe’s march to the summit were the Saitama Wild Knights, who pulled off a heart-stopping 32-30 win over Kubota Spears.
Springbok centre Damian de Allende crossed early, giving the Wild Knights a 15-10 halftime lead, but the Spears hit back, dominating the middle of the second half.
With nine minutes left, the Wild Knights rallied, with second rower Ockie Barnard powering over and flyhalf Takuya Yamasawa holding his nerve to convert from the touchline, snatching a dramatic victory.
South African fans were also treated to a masterclass from Kolbe, who torched Brave Lupus for Sungoliath in a 60-21 demolition. Kolbe scored two tries and racked up 28 points, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s most lethal backs.
The Springbok winger now has 18 tries in just 34 appearances since joining Sungoliath three years ago, proving age is no barrier to brilliance.
Meanwhile, Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk marked his return from injury in the Eagles’ thrilling 31-26 win over Heat.
The former Bulls star ran for 59 minutes of controlled brilliance, orchestrating play and keeping Honda on the back foot despite tries from Fijian hooker Tevita Ikanivere and Los Pumas backrower Pablo Matera.
In Division Two, Manie Libbok saw red for Kintetsu Liners in a crazy 50-48 win over Kyuden Voltex, but not before Isileli Manu bagged a hat-trick for Aichi in a 36-24 victory over Blue Sharks.
Less than two weeks after being named the new All Blacks boss, Rennie masterminded a 61-10 hammering of Dynaboars at Hyogo, sending Kobe to the top of the Japan Rugby League One table.
The All Blacks influence was clear early. Anton Lienert-Brown crossed in the third minute, with Ardie Savea also on the scoreboard, as Kobe raced to a 47-0 halftime lead. Springbok fans had extra reason to cheer when Brodie Retallick, the towering All Black second row, bagged his 12th try of the season – three clear of anyone else – asserting his dominance in Japan’s fast-paced league.
Elsewhere, Isileli Manu bagged a hat-trick for Shuttles Aichi in a 36-24 win over Blue Sharks, while Wallaby Noah Lolosio edged past ex-Irish international Billy Burns in the flyhalf battle.
