The NTT Japan Rugby League One Round 9 match took place on February 22nd at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashi-Osaka, where Toyota Verblitz suffered a 21-63 defeat against Kobelco Kobe Steelers. With this loss, Verblitz’s overall record fell to 1 win, 1 draw, and 7 losses, dropping them to 11th place in the standings.
Playing against the wind in the first half, Verblitz initially controlled the game for the first 10 minutes. They avoided kicking, instead relying on their forwards to push forward through physical contact. However, the Steelers held the upper hand in these exchanges.
In the 12th minute, Verblitz conceded the opening try from a lineout maul. Although they later pushed into the Steeler's territory, they lost possession and were swiftly counterattacked. This pattern repeated in the 15th and 17th minute, leaving Verblitz trailing 0-21.
To make matters worse, Rikiya Matsuda suffered a groin injury in the 18th minute, leaving the field on a stretcher. Full-back Matt McGahan had to step in as fly-half. By halftime, Verblitz was down 7-42, and with three more tries conceded in the second half, the final score stood at 21-63, the team's worst-ever loss against the Steelers since the Top League era began in 2003.
Head Coach Steve Hansen reflected on the defeat, saying: "We didn’t control the ball well enough. The team is fighting hard, but it's been a tough season." Regarding Matsuda’s injury, Hansen admitted: "We still don't have the exact details, but there's a possibility of a hip dislocation, which could be serious." Verblitz may now have to play without their main game driver for a while.
Adding to their woes, just before the match, Isaiah Mapusua, who was set to start at No. 6, got injured during the warm-up. Reserve Fetuani Lautaimi moved into the starting lineup, and Ryusei Koike was suddenly added to the squad. Koike, who had been struggling with a concussion from a preseason match, made his first official appearance of the season, coming on in the 13th minute of the second half.
Interestingly, earlier that morning, he had played 60 minutes in a Mirai Match, where his team won 50-33. While helping warm up the main squad before the match, he was unexpectedly called into action. "Of course, I wanted to play, so I was really happy to be selected. I went in with the mindset of 'Let’s win twice today!' Since I have been feeling better recently, I’m glad I was prepared." With 90 minutes of playtime across two matches, Koike joked: "It felt like a soccer game (laughs)."
Still, the disappointment outweighed his personal satisfaction:"I’m more frustrated about losing like this than happy about playing." So far, the Mirai Matches have been undefeated, and the players are eager to earn their place in League One. Reflecting on the support from his teammates, Koike said: "The guys I’ve been playing with in the Mirai Matches really encouraged me. That meant a lot." Now that the season has reached its midway point, it's time to integrate the energy and experience of those who have proven themselves in Mirai Matches.
Hansen emphasized, "The most important thing is staying connected as a team. This may be a challenging situation, but that’s when true character is revealed. If we can overcome this together, it will make us stronger. We have to keep working hard."
Flanker Michael Hooper, the youngest captain in Wallabies history, made his long-awaited return after four seasons. Initially scheduled to play 50 minutes, he ended up playing the full match due to injuries in the squad.Afterward, he reflected: "My fitness isn’t quite there yet, but I gained confidence from this game." And he shared an important perspective on how to move forward: "Keep it simple. In tough times, people tend to try and fix everything. Instead, focus on simplifying things and doing what we’re already doing well at a higher level."
Maintaining excellence in what they do well is the challenge that Verblitz now faces.
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