On December 28, Toyota Verblitz suffered a 17-21 comeback loss to Mie Honda Heat in the second round of the NTT Japan Rugby League One at Nagaragawa Stadium in Gifu. This marked Toyota’s second consecutive defeat this season. Under frigid conditions with a temperature of 5°C and a chilling icy rain falling during the second half, Toyota’s hopes for a victory slipped away.
At the start, Toyota struggled to adapt to the officiating style of New Zealand referee Marcus Playle, committing several infringements. This allowed Heat to take an early 6-0 lead through two penalty goals. However, Toyota gradually regained control, leveraging their forward pack upfront. While Heat continued to build their score steadily through penalty kicks, Toyota emphasized tries.
In the 24th minute, a phase play led to winger Taichi Takahashi scoring his first try of the season. Hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka, celebrating his 100th cap, added another try from a lineout maul in the 33rd minute. Despite a missed conversion by fly-half Rikiya Matsuda, Toyota entered halftime with a 10-6 lead.
Toyota maintained their momentum through the first 20 minutes of the second half, dominating possession near Heat’s try line. However, Heat’s staunch defense kept Toyota away from their line. Under new head coach Kieran Crowley, who previously coached the Italy, Heat has focused on defense this season. With 20 new additions to their squad, their strength has significantly improved.
Heat avoided high-risk attacks, opting for a defense-first approach. They advanced through penalty kicks and capitalized on opportunities with lineout mauls. Game captain Pablo Matera, a standout for Argentina, noted, “Our defense made it difficult for them to score, creating an impression that we’re a tough team to break down.”
Toyota extended their lead to 17-9 with Takahashi’s second try in the 20th minute. But the tide shifted soon after. Toyota began conceding penalties, forcing them into defensive positions. Attempting to avoid further infringements, they hesitated in contests for possession, creating a vicious cycle.
In the 28th minute, Heat scored from a lineout maul, and in the 34th minute, Toyota’s penalties pinned them near their own goal line, leading to a decisive try for Heat and a 17-21 deficit. Despite a late lineout opportunity in the 38th minute, Toyota was stifled by Heat’s resolute defense, sealing Toyota’s first loss to Heat in 32 years.
Toyota head coach Steve Hansen admitted in the post-match press conference, “Our performance was better than last week, but the result is the same.” Captain Kazuki Himeno kept his comments brief stating, “The season continues, and we have to keep moving forward.” Hansen elaborated on the root cause of their struggles. “The players’ mindset and attitude are not the issue—they work hard every day from Monday to Saturday. But their strong desire to win leads to making decisions individually.”
Toyota executed their game plan well for much of the match, but once their opposition scored late in the game and the momentum shifted decisively. Hansen noted, “Overdoing things as a team is the same as doing nothing. I’ve been with teams like this before. We need to address the mental challenges, and once we overcome them, we’ll play good rugby.”
Hikosaka, unable to celebrate his 100th cap with a victory, echoed the sentiment. “We need to trust our game and showcase the skills we’ve honed. Being passive only gives them a chance. No matter the situation, the skills we’ve built in preseason are there.” In tough times, the mantra remains "for the team." Hansen’s proposed solutions will serve as the team’s “mission” as they proceed to the next round.
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