"We have our own strengths too" - Facing the league-leading Saitama Wild Knights.

On January 19, Toyota Verblitz will face the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Round 5 of the NTT Japan Rugby League One. With the match taking place in Kitakyushu City (Mikuni World Stadium), the team arrived in Fukuoka three days prior to the game to prepare. Rookie Akito Okui will start as No. 8, replacing captain Kazuki Himeno, who was sent off in the second half of the previous match against the Black Rams. This marks Okui’s debut with Verblitz.

At the pre-match press conference, lock Daichi Akiyama, flanker Isaia Mapusua, scrum-half Kaito Shigeno, fullback Tiaan Falcon, and co-coach Ian Foster were in attendance. Akiyama participated in Japan’s national team’s European tour last autumn. He played against England, marking his first test match since the game against Uruguay in June 2022. During the tour, he focused on the philosophy of “cho-soku rugby” (super-fast rugby) that the Japanese national team emphasizes. 

“I worked on speeding up my game, but I also focused on improving my decision-making. I realized I hadn’t been anticipating plays as much before, so I feel like my movements have become faster,” Akiyama said. He has started every game this season, showcasing his physicality in intense battles while adding a new dimension to his game. Reflecting on the changes since Ian Foster became co-coach, he noted, “Our attacking plan is clear, and my role on the field is well-defined. Moving faster has given me more opportunities to receive the ball.” The speed he developed with the Brave Blossoms has created a synergistic effect in League One.

The Wild Knights currently lead the competition rankings after four rounds, demonstrating consistent strength on both offense and defense. Flanker Isaia Mapusua, who has also been in great form since the international season, praised the opposition, calling them “a respectable team with a strong win record.” He added, “It’s about meeting them in the areas where they are strong. We have our own strengths too.”

Fullback Tiaan Falcon highlighted the threat posed by the Wild Knights’ frequent use of kicks. “My main focus is making good decisions on when to counter and when to kick the ball back,” he said, acknowledging that the kicking battle is one of his strengths as well. In the previous game against the Black Rams, Falcon and Matt McGahan—who replaced Rikiya Matsuda in the second half—demonstrated excellent coordination as a fly-half and fullback duo. “Gundy (McGahan) is an energetic player. Playing alongside him is enjoyable, and his communication has a positive impact on the team,” Falcon said.

McGahan, who transferred from the Black Rams this season, has been playing in the top leagues since 2017 (then with Yamaha Jubilo) and is proficient in Japanese. Scrum-half Shigeno expressed his trust, saying, “He understands Japanese very well and communicates a lot, so whether it’s during training or games, Gundy helps the other players perform better.” The starting fly-half for this game will be Rikiya Matsuda, but the combination of Shigeno and McGahan, likely to feature in the second half, could significantly influence the outcome.

Co-coach Ian Foster identified breakdowns as a challenge over the first four rounds. “It’s improving, but we’ve yet to deliver an 80-minute performance,” he said. The Wild Knights, on the other hand, have opted for six forwards on the bench, signaling their focus on forward battles. With this being Verblitz’s first home-hosted game at Mikuni World Stadium, all eyes will be on the “breakdown collision.”