VERBLITZ

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Beauden Barrett Showcases Brilliance in Nagasaki

On April 13, Toyota Verblitz played against Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars at Kakidomari Stadium in Nagasaki City. The team won 34-20, bringing their total score to 7 wins and 6 losses. Following their victory in the previous match against Liners, this season's first consecutive win raised their ranking to 6th place.In the first half, Verblitz led narrowly with a score of 8-3 but were overtaken in the early second half, putting them in a position to chase. It was fly-half Beauden Barrett who broke the deadlock amidst a period of continuous penalties and stalled momentum. A player who has twice been awarded World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year, demonstrated his talent.

"Small efforts lead to bigger things." - Beauden Barrett

Toyota Verblitz has announced their lineup for the Round 13 match against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars, which will take place at the Kakidomari Athletic Stadium in Nagasaki on April 13. In the previous round, Beauden Barrett who was absent returns as number 10, and Pieter-Steph du Toit, absent since the 9th round against Spears, starts at 8 after missing four games. The wing-duo consists of Shuhei Yamaguchi and Yuichiro Wada, seniors and juniors from Doshisha University. Beauden Barrett attended the press conference two days before the match. To reach the top four, winning all the remaining games is the minimum requirement. The New Zealand representative with 123 caps commented, “If we do the calculation, the possibility is still there. We just focus on what we can control. First, we need to focus on the game this weekend," looking ahead to the match two days later. This season, the team has yet to achieve consecutive victories and struggles to maintain momentum, but he added, "no one lacks intent or hard work. We train hard every day, while enjoying it and connecting as a team. We focus on strengths rather than negatives. We’re focused on finishing the season strong." There is no wavering in the team's commander.Barrett hopes to play for the All Blacks. Recently, Scott Robertson, the newly appointed head coach, arrived in Japan to visit each League One club, including Verblitz, where Barrett also had time to talk. To be selected for the All Blacks, playing in New Zealand is required, and he will play for the Blues next season, but he also stated in the press conference a potential return to Japan in the long run. “I would love to come back someday. There are no promises about the future, but I love Japan. It’s been a great time so far with Toyota, and Nagoya has been a great place for my family. There are many things to do besides rugby,” he said, showing his fondness. When he played for Sungoliath previously, it was in the middle of the pandemic. However, this time, he said, "I'm enjoying the cherry blossom season in Japan with my family," indicating his enjoyment. Even on this day after the team session, Barrett diligently worked on his kicks. "Skills drop if I don’t do enough in about two to three weeks. I strive to grow in every training and game. Small efforts lead to bigger things,” he said. With Barrett's leadership, the goal is to first stack two wins and ride the wave.

Continuing the rhythm of “Victory and Reflection”

On April 6th, Toyota Verblitz faced Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in the 12th round of League One. Despite conceding 2 early tries, they staged a comeback to win 47-30, bringing their overall record back to an even 6 wins and 6 losses, placing them 7th in the standings. The host game at the Gifu Memorial Centre Nagaragawa Stadium, held once a year, drew a record crowd of 7,390 spectators. Amidst the full bloom of cherry blossoms surrounding the stadium, the team secured their first victory since the match against Spears on March 9th. Having faced consecutive defeats against Sungliath and Blue Revs, this match was crucial.

All eyes are on the two scrum-halves and the scrum.

On March 14th, two days before the clash against Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at Toyota Stadium, known as the "Raijin Festival", prop Genki Sudo and scrum-half Aaron Smith attended the press conference. In place of the absent Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kazuki Himeno steps in at number 8, and Isaiah Mapusa starts at flanker. Additionally, Kaito Shigeno makes his season debut in the lineup for Kenta Fukuda, who suffered an injury in the previous match against the Spears.

"Giving The Extra 1% Effort" - Match Report Round 9

On March 9th, Toyota Verblitz clashed with Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka City in Round 9 of the league, clinching a 31-27 victory and securing their overall standing at 6th place with 5 wins and 4 losses. With the temperature at nine degrees, fists were raised by the green jerseys in triumph at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, where snow even fell during the second half of the match. Described as an "arm wrestling match” by both team's head coaches during the post-match press conference, it was a physical battle where the forwards engaged in fierce combat. Toyota had suffered a tough defeat of 22-57 against Kobe Steelers in the previous round. On the other hand, last season's champion Spears, also struggled with injuries this season and had lost against Sagamihara Dynaboars. Both teams stood at 4 wins and 4 losses prior to this crucial match, each aiming for a comeback.Toyota struggled in the first half. Despite getting into the opposition’s territory, they faced difficulties as their own mistakes held them back. The forward packs' desperate effort didn't convert into points. The first half ended with 7-8. In the locker room, Captain Kazuki Himeno rallied the team and said, "We made a lot of mistakes from here last week, leading to our downfall. We need to get ourselves right before we repeat the same mistakes.”After the Kobe Steelers match, Captain Himeno had tough words for his teammates, saying, "We can't allow this to happen." Which is why in the week leading up to the game against Spears, he led by his actions. “I showed up early to get extra reps in, before anyone got to the field. After our session, I stayed out on the field for extras. When I got home, I wrote down what needed to be done in my notebook. Breakdowns, jackals… I worked on turning the weaknesses into strengths." It was leadership driven by passion.

"This is unacceptable" captain expressed his heartfelt emotions.

It was a heart-wrenching loss. On March 3rd, Toyota Verblitz faced off against Kobe Steelers at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka. While trailing by a narrow margin of 12-15 at halftime, they ultimately succumbed to a 22-57 defeat after conceding consecutive tries 10 minutes into the second half. The clash featured a showdown between two of League One's finest forward packs. Despite an evenly contested battle of physicality, the final scoreline reflected a significant gap.

"The Akiyama Brothers' Showdown." Toyota secures 8 tries to earn the victory against Honda Heat.

On February 17th, Toyota Verblitz faced off against Mie Honda Heat, who secured promotion to Division 1 this season, at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium. Toyota managed to secure victory with an impressive 54-7 scoreline, notching up 8 tries and bringing their overall record to 4 wins and 3 losses.It was the inaugural “Tokai Region Automotive Derby" in League One. Similar to their 3rd round match against Sagamihara DB, Toyota struggled against their opponent's resilient defense in the first half. This season, Heat’s Head Coach, Kieran Crowley, a former All-Black and ex-head coach of the Italian national team, emphasized building the team around a solid defensive concept despite joining the team post-World Cup, leaving little time for preparation. From the outset, Toyota's heavy forwards combined speed and power, engaging in fierce contact without any hesitation in the physical collisions. However, despite dominating possession and territory, Toyota initially struggled to breach the opposition's line. Yet, the number 14 jersey puts his hand up to save the day.

"The opportunity has come" : Round 7 Honda Heat Preview

Toyota Verblitz will see the return of the two reliable members, prop Yusuke Kizu, and lock Daichi Akiyama in their match-up against the Honda Heat. It's been three weeks since their last game. Both players, who hold caps for the Japanese national team, suffered from conditioning issues during the preseason and were on the rehab list at the start of the season. Kizu made his comeback in the match against Saitama Wild Knights on January 6th, while Akiyama returned to the lineup in the Mirai match against Urayasu D-Rocks on February 9th, just in time for the second half of the season.Akiyama, who started in every match last season, experiences being sidelined for the first time this year. In his absence, young players like Ryusei Koike and Isaiah Mapusua stepped up and performed well in the starting lineup. Akiyama expressed his desire to return to the field, saying, "I've always had the desire and frustration of wanting to play, and I want to channel that into the game." Akiyama's older brother, Yoji, who was the inspiration for Akiyama to start his rugby career, also made it to the Heat's match-day squad. This sets the stage for a potential sibling rivalry, marking the first brotherly showdown in the league.Kizu, who played in 13 matches last season, faced tough competition within the prop ranks, leading to a delay in his return to official matches after his January comeback. Reflecting on his time off, Kizu realized the need to simplify his approach to the game. He said, "There was intense competition for the number three position, and it made me rethink how I approach the game.” He focused on the basics, like making simple tackles and driving forward in scrums, which helped him regain his form. With only one match against Honda in February due to cross-border match commitments, the return of the team's two key forwards in February comes as a relief as they brace themselves for a grueling schedule of nine matches in ten weeks, starting in March.