On January 6th, Toyota Verblitz faced off against Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium for the League One Round 4. Despite leading 27-8 at halftime, Toyota Verblitz faced a turnaround in the second half, eventually losing 27-43 and bringing their season record to 2 wins and 2 losses.
“It was two distinct first and second halves," mentioned Head Coach Ben Herring. Saitama Wild Knights are the inaugural League One champions and five-time Top League winners. The match highlighted the team's potential and revealed specific areas for improvement.
The first half played with the advantage of the wind and light, showcased flawless game management by Toyota Verblitz, with fly-half Beauden Barrett's precise territorial control. The forward pack attacked the line with pick-and-go moves around the source in the midfield, and the backline shifted the ball out wide.
The first try came just three minutes into the game when center Siosaia Fifita broke through from a kick counter, with lock Tom Robinson making a powerful breach, and winger Viliame Tuidraki receiving the ball from fullback Dick Wilson at the edge to score the try. It was a try that demonstrated the team's cohesion and speed.
Tuidraki added two more tries, and another one by scrum-half Aaron Smith, allowing Toyota Verblitz to lead 27-8 at halftime. In terms of gain lines, Toyota had 315m compared to Saitama Wild Knight’s 177m, and Toyota made fewer mistakes with 6 missed tackles compared to the opposition’s 14.
However, the second half took a different turn. Saitama Wild Knights countered Toyota's kicking strategies by subbing in fullback Ryuji Noguchi. With the addition of the player adept at his kicking game being at the back, Toyota's attacking momentum created from opportunities based on kicks was stifled, and Saitama Wild Knights regained control of the game from counterattacks. In the second half, the first try conceded by Toyota came right after Noguchi's kick catch, leading to a continuous attack that forced Toyota into corners.
While Toyota dominated the breakdown in the first half, Saitama Wild Knights made defensive adjustments in halftime. Captain Atushi Sakate noted, "The nomination of defenders was slow in the first half. We needed to improve that quickly. Doing so clarifies the support tackler, and that was crucial." Toyota found themselves on the receiving end for much of the second half. Conceding tries in the 12th and 25th minutes, the game turned the other way to 27-29. Two additional tries from the Saitama Wild Knights after securing the final score at 27-43.
Despite ending the second half scoreless, the last 10 minutes, when Toyota was pressed to a 5-point difference until allowing the lead change at the 25th minute, saw them defending with their backs against the goal line. Even when hooker Shota Horie dived into the in-goal area in the 18th minute, winger Tuidraki and fly-half Barrett swiftly dove in preventing the grounding. The collective defensive effort promised future success.
After the match, Saitama Wild Knight’s fullback Noguchi noted Barrett’s adaptability in the game. “After I clean-caught his first kick, he changed the trajectory of the ball in his next kick. Having such adaptability is quite impressive.” It was a game packed with skillful performance for the full 80 minutes.
The strength of Saitama Wild Knights in the second half was well-known to Toyota. Captain Himeno stated, “We knew the opposition would always come back. At halftime, the message was to 'forget the first 40 minutes, bring them into our game with passion and energy.' I think delivered the right message.”
Shota Horie, a veteran for Saitama Wild Knights who came in the 6th minute of the second half, shared insights, “We knew that they would throw something different (from what we previewed). When that happens, it's crucial that we figure out how to deal with it. It's not about handling it alone but doing it as a team." While the first-half scenario was executed perfectly, the second half saw Saitama Wild Knights having a clearer scenario. It was a lesson to be learned in terms of strategy.
Captain Himeno looks ahead to the next match, emphasizing the need for consistency. "We need to have consistency. Avoid creating waves in the game, and focus on what needs to be done and stay focused on the process. I think we can get better as a team through game experience.”
Aaron Smith, who conceded a try in the 32nd minute of the second half, acknowledged the challenges and emphasized personal improvement, stating, “My own performance dropped in the second half. I have to level myself up. If we can execute our game, we can pose a dangerous attack against any opposition. We need to become stronger as a team."
The next challenge involves crafting a clear 80-minute scenario, to prepare for the next match-up next time at the home ground.
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