Japan Rugby League One 2022-2023: JRLO Round 9 Preview

For brief highlights from all matches in the Japan Rugby League One, please visit here.

JRLO Division 1 – Round 9

Saturday 25 February 2023

All times shown are Japan Time (JT)

Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo vs Hanazono Kintetsu Liners – Komazawa Olympic Park Athletic Stadium, Tokyo, 12pm

The Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo have had a tough run of four losses which saw them take on Saitama Wild Knights, Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, Yokohama Canon Eagles and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath but they take on the Liners at home who have yet to record a win this season (and carry a points against of -298).

Black Rams’ Australian coach Peter Hewat and his side will want to improve upon their set-piece which faltered last weekend: “Our set pieces didn’t work, and we couldn’t create a flow,” Hewat explained. “I told the team that their effort, their continued fighting, and their defence defending their try line were excellent. I’m really proud of the attitude of fighting so hard for each other.”

Kintetsu lost to the Wild Knights last weekend and coach Yoshitake Mizuma said “The team is definitely moving forward, so we will continue to stick to the small things and do our best to help us win.

He added: “There were many players who tried to do something by themselves [in earlier matches] by making forced passes and playing without responsibility, but in this match [against Saitama], we were able to play our role and the next player connected [with] the ball. I think we can appreciate that we are making progress in that regard.”

Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – Edogawa Athletic Stadium, Tokyo, 12pm

The Kubota Spears beat the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars last time out and retained their undefeated record.

Frans Ludeke’s men have impressed, scoring the most points in the Division 1 JRLO league, but have been a bit loose in defense – conceding an average of 22 points per match.

Meanwhile, the free-scoring Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo come into this match off the back of two losses (even though they scored 82 points in the two lost matches. This weekend’s game is their second last against the current top four in the JRLO. The Brave Lupus have also lost their last three against the Spears  but need wins to be in contention for the Divisions One playoffs.

Toshiba coach Todd Blackadder will want a better functioning lineout from his squad and said “We couldn’t get seven lineouts. If that happens at this level, we won’t [don’t] have a chance to play our game.” The side also sees the return of All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu for this weekend’s game.

Shizuoka Blue Revs vs Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath – Yamaha Stadium, Iwata (Shizuoka), 2.30pm

Current co-captain and Springbok Kwagga Smith, will want his team to hold onto the advantage if they get ahead on the scoreboard.  They were ahead 29-15 to Kobe last Sunday before losing.

While Shizuoka has won just one of three  matches at home this season and have missed too many opportunities this season. “We’ve created chances, we are [not] taking them,” Smith told media. “I think it is a problem of personal skills and execution ability, which leads to the fact that we are missing tries. However, I don’t think we are the same team as last year. We are improving steadily. This is evident in the fact that we have conceded fewer goals [tries] than last year.”

Sungoliath are unbeaten in seven since the opening day loss to Kubota and are averaging 37 points per match and after a close win with no foreign players fielded last week, Director of coaching Kiyonori Tanaka said “Learning while winning these games will be a great asset for the team in the future. I think it was a good game for us.”

Toyota Verblitz vs Yokohama Canon Eagles – Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Aichi, 2.30pm

Verblitz is finding its stride and will want to follow up on last weekend’s win over NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu against the Eagles.

Yokohama Canon Eagles coach Keisuke Sawake has helped get his team to fourth position on the ladder, and are ten points ahead of their hosts, there are still seven qualifying games to go!

Springbok fullback Willie le Roux played at flyhalf last week which added to the attacking options for Toyota’s side, while backrowers Kazuki Himeno and Pieter Steph du Toit dominated the breakdowns.

Steph du Toit will have Springbok teammate Faf de Klerk in his sights, with the scrumhalf a key cog in the Eagles’ attack that has scored 43 tries, second only to Kubota.

Sunday February 26

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sangamirha Dyanaboars vs NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu – Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, 12pm

The Green Rockets, with one win in eight, travel to a faltering Dynaboars but neither side has a win over the last four weeks so everything is up for grabs.

The Dynaboars are holding onto the seventh position on the ladder and the 11th-placed Green Rockets will both want to avoid a slip into the relegation battle.

The concession of 160 points in the last three outings represents a dramatic drop in defensive standards after Mitsubishi conceded just 119 across the first five games.