The fourth round of the NTT Japan Rugby League One took place on January 11th at Nagaragawa Stadium in Gifu, where Toyota Verblitz secured their long-awaited first win of the season with a 32-18 victory over Black Rams Tokyo, scoring five tries in the second half.
The long-anticipated win was a hard-fought team effort. Verblitz faced early pressure from Black Rams forward pack and found themselves trailing 10-0 within 11 minutes. "Rugby is all about gaining momentum, and they seized it first," said Head Coach Steve Hansen.
Despite being forced to defend in their own half for the majority of the first half, Verblitz remained composed. "We knew it would be a close contest, so we prepared for the mindset required in such situations," explained hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka.
The teams went into halftime without adding any points. However, Verblitz began to shift the momentum in the second half by incorporating their kicking game to open up the game.
In the 4th minute, Taichi Takahashi scored in the right corner following a lineout maul. In the 12th minute, after nearly three minutes of intense defensive effort to halt Black Ram’s attack, Verblitz transitioned into offense. Nicholas McCurran dived over to score after a series of phases, including a brilliant step from Aaron Smith and an offload by Joseph Manu, showcasing world-class skills.
In the 16th minute, Yuichiro Wada capitalized on a pass from prop Genki Sudo to add another try. Although Black Rams responded with a try of their own, retaking the lead at 18-15, Takahashi scored his second try in the 31st minute to put Verblitz ahead 22-18.
In the closing minutes, flanker William Tupou sealed the win with an intercept try, earning Verblitz a bonus point and ending the game at 32-18. Taichi Takahashi, who marked his 50th appearance with two tries, was named Player of the Match. However, his contributions extended beyond scoring.
Before McCurran's try in the 12th minute, Takahashi could be seen repeatedly contesting breakdowns to halt Black Ram’s relentless attacks. In the 26th minute, with Verblitz trailing 18-15, their forwards managed to stop a driving maul near the center of the field, earning a penalty. Takahashi joined the celebration, patting his forwards on the back. "When the scrum is in action, we backs don’t have much to do, so I thought I’d cheer on the hardworking forwards," he joked.
Even after scoring the try, Takahashi continued his relentless effort, chasing a kick and pushing the opposition into touch. "My plan was to kick higher and contest it myself, but since it went lower, I had to adapt. It worked out in the end," he said with a smile. Despite his lighthearted comments, his true motivation was clear. "I just want to contribute, even in small ways, to the team’s energy."
This long-awaited victory was the result of collective dedication, with every player dedicating himself for the team. "We’ve been building good skills and structures this season, and now we’re finally executing," said Hikosaka."We’ve also seen mental improvement," added Hansen. Together, the team overcame the obstacles they faced early in the game. And together, they’ll continue to push forward.
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