Japan Rugby League One 2022-2023: JRLO Round 15 Preview

THE JRLO ROUND 15 SEES FIXTURES FROM FRIDAY 14th APRIL TO SUNDAY 16th APRIL BEING PLAYED WITH GAMES IN ALL THREE DIVISIONS.

Saturday’s match at Kanagawa’s Nissen Stadium between Yokohama Canon Eagles and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath has huge ramifications on Division 1 of the JRLO. The fourth-placed Eagles kick off against Suntory knowing the state of play on the championship standings, with fifth-placed Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo having completed their Match Day 15 engagement in Tokyo the night before.

A win for Suntory will confirm a semi-final for the playoff regulars, while success for the star Springbok Faf de Klerk’s Eagles would put Yokohama in pole position for a place in the semi meaning they would need just one log point from their final round tie with Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

JRLO Round 15  – Division 1

Friday 14th April 2023

All times shown are Japan Time 

TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO v MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES SAGAMIHARA DYNABOARS – Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 7pm

After a hard-fought win at Shizuoka, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo will want to build the pressure on both Suntory and Canon.

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars have won just one of the last 10, a defeat will almost certainly condemn them to an uncomfortable bid for survival in the two-legged relegation battle.

Toshiba coach Todd Blackadder said after last week “We created quite a few chances, but we couldn’t convert them because we chose an off-road [off-load] pass with five metres to go.” Toshiba captain Takahiro Ogawa added “In the two league matches [to go], we need to focus on discipline and play our rugby to score goals [tries] and our defence will be confident, so we will work hard for next week.”

The Dynaboars side have yielded maximum points to three of their last four opponents and coach Glenn Delaney,  has seen his side drop from topping the table after round two, to tenth heading into the penultimate weekend of the regular season.

He said after last week’s 53-5 loss at Toyota: “They scored two tries first [in the early moments] and we couldn’t regain momentum from there. Everything started to go in the direction of the opponent [Toyota], and there were times when we entered the opponent’s half, but I think the big difference was that we couldn’t execute on that.”

HANAZONO KINTETSU LINERS v KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS – Hanazono Rugby Stadium Stadium, Osaka, 7pm

While Kobelco Kobe Steelers are not yet safe from slipping into the relegation playoffs, a win over neighbours Hanazono Kintetsu Liners should be enough to avoid those matches.

Kobe will want to ensure they are in the top flights with Ardie Savea, and Brodie Retallick heading their way next season.

Its been a season of disappointment for last year’s Division Two champions, and The Kintetsu Liners are already destined for a date with Division Two’s Finalization victors. Former Wallaby Will Genia’s team will want an opportunity to press the re-set button on their season, before the battle for survival starts.

Saturday 15 April 2023

YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES v TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH – Nissan Stadium, Kanagawa, 2pm

Pressure will ramp up on the loser of this fixture as the JRLO heads into the final rounds, with fifth-placed Brave Lupus having played the night before, both teams will know the competition’s state of play, and how it relates to them when the match kicks off on Saturday.

Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath holds the stronger hand, and they need only two points from the last two weekends required to be assured of qualification, with their final match against second-placed Kubota on Match Day 16.

Canon’s top four ‘tenancy’ will also get more complicated if they lose, and the possibility of losing a semi-final shot that has appeared theirs for most of the season would add pressure ahead of a final day assignment against a Kobe side with nothing to lose.

Wales international Cory Hill, who led the Eagles on Match Day 14 said “It’s rugby, so I think there are a lot of things that can change the tide. The tide turned for the opposing team [NEC], but it was good that we were able to stay calm, clarify what we need[ed] to do, and regain control.”

SAITAMA PANASONIC WILD KNIGHTS v SHIZUOKA BLUE REVS – Kumagaya Sports and Culture Park Rugby Field, Saitama, 4.30pm

The Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights are unbeaten in their last 47 – and could pass 50 this season. Only twice have they looked like losing, trailing as the game headed into injury time and both times were against the Shizuoka Blue Revs.

With the back-to-back defending champions just 160 minutes away from completing a third consecutive regular season undefeated, both Toyota Verblitz and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, have made life difficult, and the history of their recent association with Shizuoka suggests that the Blue Revs will be no different.

All four sides immediately below the Wild Knights on the ladder have scored more than Saitama’s current tally of 61 tries, but the leaders have the meanest defence in the league, having conceded 73 fewer points than the second most frugal (Suntory) while averaging a concession of just 14.5 points per game..

Sunday 16th April 2023

RICOH BLACK RAMS TOKYO v TOYOTA VERBLITZ – Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 2pm

For both Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo and Toyota Verblitz, the likely prize for Sunday’s winner is sixth place.

The Black Rams have lost their last three, and Toyota suffered six defeats in the first nine effectively putting and end to their title ambitions.

NEC GREEN ROCKETS v KUBOTA SPEARS FUNABASHI TOKYO BAY – Kashiwanoha Park Stadium, Chiba, 2.30pm

Having booked their semi-final ticket last weekend, Frans Ludeke’s Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay need to
make sure of locking in second place,  before their final round match with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.

The Spears’ South African boss would want to avoid a semi-final date with Saitama by finishing third, the champions have knocked them out at that stage in each of the last two seasons. The coach said “I think the first thing is consistency in performance. We were able to finish in the top four because we were able to do that [be consistent] well. We will first enjoy the parts [of qualifying] that we can enjoy, and then focus on the weekly matches without thinking too much about the future [the playoffs].

It’s important to make sure you get the little things done week after week. There are still two league games left. I hope to continue to improve what I [we] can improve.”

The NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu are in the relegation battle and a repeat of last year’s two-legged elimination series against Mie Honda Heat looking likely, the Green Rockets will be aiming to build up confidence. Although from placings stand-point the outcome over the next two weekends is almost irrelevant, the morale boost is invaluable.

JRLO Round 15 – Division 2

Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi is heading towards an elimination tie against the 10th-place finisher from JRLO Division 1 should they lose to Mie Honda Heat this weekend.

D-Rocks overpowered Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, but Honda can’t be complacent even though they have beaten this weekend’s opponents 46-24 and 50-22 during the regular season. Former Argentine skipper Pablo Matera scored in each, while Wallaby Tom Banks scored in the return fixture. The pair have contributed eight tries between them.

Saturday April 15 2023

• TOYOTA INDUSTRIES SHUTTLES AICHI v MIE HONDA HEAT at Tokyo, 12pm

JRLO Round 15 – Division 3

Although the Division Three title is decided, Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex will be looking to beat the champions NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes when they meet for the third and final time, with the leaders narrow winners of their previous two meetings, 22-18 and 23-14.

The home side’s title-coronation also booked their place in Division Two for next season, but Voltex could  join
them if they win the promotion playoffs which begin on May 5 2023.

Mazda Skyactivs Hiroshima have an outside chance of reaching the playoff series and will need to win Saturday’s clash with Chugoku Electric Power Red Regulions and earn city bragging rights for the season.

Saturday April 15 2023

• MAZDA SKYACTIVS HIROSHIMA v CHUGOKU ELECTRIC POWER RED REGULIONS at Hiroshima, 1pm
• NTT DOCOMO RED HURRICANES v KYUSHU ELECTRIC POWER KYUDEN VOLTEX at Osaka, 2.30pm

For brief highlights from all matches, see the JRLO highlights here.

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