Japan Rugby League One Preview: Round Eight

Springbok star Faf de Klerk is back in business as Yokohama Canon Eagles host Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in the most intriguing clash of Match Day Eight, when Division One of Japan Rugby League One resumes this weekend.

De Klerk was replaced after 27 minutes of the Eagles’ win over the Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo on Match Day Seven, although the head knock he sustained wasn’t considered serious, with his withdrawal a precautionary measure.

The South African halfback and his inform Eagles are flying, but they will have to be at their best against a Brave Lupus outfit that fell on the wrong side of the referee during its loss to Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath last time but were only just edged out despite a decisive penalty count – and yellow card – against them.

While De Klerk was being withdrawn, ex-Wallaby flyhalf Matt Toomua received his first taste of rugby Japanese ‘style’ during a madcap afternoon where the Sagamihara Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Dynaboars and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers played out a tight first half, before going ballistic in the second, sharing nine tries in just 40 minutes.

Although the prospect of a win was long gone by the time the Dynaboars’ star recruit was injected into the game for the last 16 minutes, his long-awaited arrival could give Sagamihara the lift it needs to trouble the unbeaten Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, when the two meet on Sunday.

With the competition-leading Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights [who host the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners] and third-placed Sungoliath [who visit Ricoh] both favoured to win, the other significant action from a standings perspective could come further down the table, with the improving Shizuoka Blue Revs representing a major threat to a Kobe side just one point above them on the point’s table.

Ninth-ranked Toyota Verblitz also look well placed to improve their position, hosting an NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu outfit struggling to score points.

The home side welcomes back the Brave Blossoms’ star loose forward Kazuki Himeno, who has missed the last three matches due to injury, while there is also an intriguing positional switch, with Springbok fullback Willie le Roux moving to flyhalf, while regular pivot Tiaan Falcon drops to the back.