On February 10th, Toyota Verblitz faced Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars in NTT Japan Rugby League One Round 7 at Gion Stadium. Verblitz trailed 14-41 at halftime, and despite a strong second-half comeback, they suffered their fifth loss of the season with a final score of 40-44.
Both teams scored a try within the first 7 minutes, and it seemed like a try-scoring battle was on the cards. However, the game quickly shifted in the Dynaboar's favor. “We couldn’t get on the front foot with our defense, and we ended up on the back foot,” said game captain Yoshikatsu Hikosaka. Overwhelmed by the opposition’s aggressive momentum, Verblitz struggled to execute their usual team defense and tackles. They conceded five consecutive tries, falling behind 7-41.
Despite a strong recovery in the second half, including a no-whistle try from center Joseph Manu, Verblitz couldn’t fully erase the damage done in the first half. "When pressure mounts, if the team falls apart, things like this happen," said fly-half Rikiya Matsuda.
The match was a clear contrast between the first and second halves, and the Dynaboars Head Coach Glenn Delaney summarized it as "like watching two separate games." Delaney, who has been leading the team since 2022, smiled as he added, "Today was the best performance since I’ve been with the team."
On the other hand, Verblitz’s Head Coach Steve Hansen commented, "The second half was our true form. But the hurdle we had to overcome was simply too high." In the second half, the team was able to play their style of game. Verblitz even managed to stop the Dynaboars’ 42-phase attack without conceding a penalty. However, the challenge remains to sustain that level of performance from the start of the game.
"We haven’t had much success in the past, so during games, the mental switch tends to turn off," said Hansen. "I have great respect for the players’ efforts, but today, everyone involved with the team is feeling the pain," he revealed.
Captain Kota Iwamura, who transferred from Verblitz to Dynaboars in 2021, addressed his teammates before the match.” He said, Toyota is an elite team that attacks with clever moves and skills. Our DNA is to work hard with determination. Let’s continue to do that for 80 minutes." Facing an opponent who challenged them with 120% effort, Verblitz’s mission was to respond with even greater strength. Iwamura’s words should serve as a rallying cry for the team’s regeneration.
Hansen emphasized, "This is the reality. The process of staying consistent for 80 minutes won’t change easily with a snap of the fingers. It’s something we need to learn, and sometimes that learning comes with pain. Win, lose, or draw, what we do from Monday will stay the same." Leading from the front, Hansen is ready to face the tough winds of the season.
Rookie flanker Akito Okui, who has been improving with each match, reflected on the game. "As I always say, we can only take the result and move forward. I don’t think it was bad, but there might be a hidden factor underneath. There’s something missing for us as a team."
Each player continues to search for that “factor.” The next match is a short week against Shizuoka Blue Revs. While taking care of their bodies, the team aims to fully activate both their heads and hearts to give 120% effort.
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