After a one-week break, the NTT Japan Rugby League One resumes on the 1st of February. Over the next eight rounds, until March 30th, the team will engage in inter-conference matchups against the Conference A teams. Unlike previous seasons, where teams faced these teams only once, this year features two clashes against Yokohama Canon Eagles and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars.
Verblitz’s first game back will be against the Eagles, marking their first home game of the season at Toyota Stadium. However, the team will be without captain Kazuki Himeno due to injury, while scrum-half Aaron Smith is sidelined with a concussion sustained in training. Scrum-half Kaito Shigeno will wear the starting No. 9 jersey, with Jongchu Ryang making his first appearance on the bench.
Number-eight Akito Okui, who made his debut last round, will start alongside fellow rookie flanker Kosei Miki in the starting lineup for the first time. Siosaia Fifita, who has played at mid-field this season, shifts to the wing. New signing and South African lock Adre Smith takes the No. 20 jersey, while flanker William Tupou is listed at 23. The bench will feature a “bomb squad” setup with six forwards and only two backs.
Head coach Steve Hansen, center Joseph Manu, prop Shunsuke Asaoka and flanker Akito Okui spoke at the pre-match press conference. Following the break, the team focused on precision in training. “We just want to be more accurate in our tackles, coming forward rather than absorbing tackles, and being more dominant. We also need to be more precise in our catch and pass, quicker in recognizing the pictures we need to see,” said Hansen.
The Eagles enter the match with a 3-2 record, sitting in fifth place. Hansen acknowledged the challenge, stating, “They are a good team. Well-coached, well-drilled, and playing well. Their No. 10 (Yu Tamura) drives the team around the park well. It will be a great challenge.”
Prop Shunsuke Asaoka, who has been a regular impact player off the bench since the season opener, mentioned tackling as the key to victory. “As for tackling, if we can shut down the opposition’s key players, I believe we can gain control of the flow of the game. Another important point is the stability of our set pieces,” he said. Asaoka takes pride in these areas and aims to make a strong impact when he comes on. “I’m confident I can maximize my strengths even in limited playing minutes, though I do wish I had more time on the field,” he admitted, eager to showcase his abilities in front of the Toyota Stadium crowd.
Joseph Manu, a former rugby league star from Australia, made his first media appearance since switching codes. Despite his popularity in league rugby, he revealed, “Moving to rugby union was something I wanted to do. I also really wanted to learn from some of the best and start my rugby union career.”
Although he played union in his younger years, he acknowledged the vast differences between the two codes. “There's a lot of differences and the rucks are really different. Going into the rucks was something I've had to learn. We don’t have lineouts in league, so I’m learning how to defend off-lineouts too. I'm lucky I'm not in the forwards!” he joked.
However, Manu’s offloading ability—considered a signature skill in league—remains a standout trait in union. Additionally, teaming up with Nicholas McCurran in the mid-field has been an unexpected but exciting duo. “I was a bit surprised. We used to play a lot when we were younger, coming through primary school and intermediate. It's been awesome.” Manu said.
Akito Okui, who made his debut last round, reflected on his performance. “I made three jackals but was penalized twice. I need to be clearer about my positioning and timing,” he admitted, acknowledging both progress and areas for improvement. Since joining Verblitz a year ago, Okui had set his sights on making the squad for the season opener. However, he was left out of the team, while fellow rookie Miki secured a starting spot. Having been a regular at powerhouse programs Osaka Toin High School and Teikyo University, this was the first time Okui faced such a setback.
“I was also happy that Miki, who joined the team in the same year, got the chance to play. However, at the same time, I felt a bit disappointed in myself for feeling happy about my situation,” he shared. Through self-reflection, he realized, “There was a reason I wasn’t selected. I was trying to do too much. When I re-evaluated myself, my form gradually improved.”
His debut last round was an opportunity to release all the pent-up energy from missing the first four games. Now, in the next match, he and Miki will start together for the first time “Whoever plays, the team’s approach won’t change. But Miki and I have been training tackles and jackals together since preseason, so we know each other’s strengths well. That makes it easier to play alongside him,” said Okui.
He adds, “I think my selection is based on my defense.” Standing in his way is No. 7 Masato Furukawa, a former Verblitz flanker. Though their time together at Toyota was brief, Furukawa was a mentor to both Okui and Miki. Facing their former teammate this early in their careers provides the perfect stage for the two rookies to prove themselves.
On January 20th, Verblitz announced the signing of former Wallabies flanker Michael Hooper. This move comes as South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit underwent surgeries on both shoulders last week, sidelining him for an estimated 4-6 months.
“As you know, at this time of year, finding replacements is tough because most players are already contracted. So we’re very lucky to have someone of Michael’s ability and caliber,” said Hansen. Hooper is expected to contribute both on the field and as a mentor for young players like Miki and Okui, further strengthening Toyota’s squad.
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