Japan corresponent Matt McIlraith gives his verdict on this season’s Top League

Wayne Smith likened Japan’s Top League to the early days of Super Rugby. Fastpaced, highly skilled, and played with a refreshing openness.
The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning All Black assistant coach is well placed to judge. As Crusaders coach, he won the third and fourth editions of Super Rugby in 1998 and 1999.
More recently, as director of rugby, he won the 2019 Top League title with Kobe.
Last weekend, Smith’s former Canterbury teammate and good friend Robbie Deans, won the last semi-professional Top Leagu...