On January 9, two days before their Round 4 League One clash against Black Rams Tokyo, Toyota Verblitz held a press conference. The public has been significantly excited about the matchup between two former All Blacks scrum-halves, Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.
Aaron, reflecting on their shared history, remarked, “We played together for 10 years in the All Blacks. We've been battling away for 12 to 13 years at NPC and Super Rugby. I've got a lot of respect for TJ in the way he carries himself as a man, husband, and father.” While showing respect, he emphasized, “I also won't be trying to make it a me vs. TJ game. I will be trying to do my job for our team and do that to the best of my ability.”
Head Coach Steve Hansen shared a broader perspective, saying, “He [Perenara] is a key component of how they play. However, we can’t just focus on one person; we have to make sure that we focus on everybody.”
Toyota Verblitz remains winless after three rounds. However, they rank 5th among the 12 teams in ball carries and defensive breaks, and 4th in line breaks and gain meters. Coach Hansen expressed his belief in the team, stating, “Reflecting on the last three rounds, we could’ve won all of them. The pleasing thing is that the statistics are saying we’re playing well. We’re just not getting rewarded for that on the competition table.”Aaron Smith echoed this sentiment. “We’re scoring some good tries. From an attacking point of view, we are clear and on the same page.”
Shogo Miura, 29, who started in 13 of 16 games last season and continues to wear the No. 1 jersey this season, noted a shift in the team’s cohesion. “We’re all aligned toward the same goals," he said. However, he identified scrums as an area for improvement: “There have been moments where we’ve handed momentum to the opposition. With Yoshikatsu (Hikosaka) and myself, we need to use our experience to improve this.”
The development of younger players is also progressing. Third-year wing Yuichiro Wada made his first start of the season in the previous round and made an impact on several occasions. Coach Hansen commented, “We have to build a squad of 55 players that can play League One rugby to a high level. Everyone’s given the same attention, and the expectations of knowing the detail are the same. That’s why you can see someone like Wada come in and look like he’s been there for some time. We have to take our time with them and individualize their programs so they’re getting the support, education, and skill level required. Some of it’s mental, some of it’s physical, and some of it is skill execution.”
Reflecting on his growth, Wada shared, “I think my attacking skills were evaluated positively last season, but my tackle success rate was quite low. Since Fozzy (Ian Foster) came in, his expectations for wingers go beyond just the running game.”
“Our turn will come. We’ve got to keep believing,” said Coach Hansen.
This shared determination unites the players and staff. As they prepare for that moment, the team continues to take steps forward day by day.
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