On April 27th, Toyota Verblitz faced Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka for Round 16 of the NTT Japan Rugby League One. Despite trailing narrowly 14-19 at halftime, Verblitz conceded three consecutive tries just past the 10-minute mark of the second half, ultimately losing 28–45. Their cumulative record now stands at 3 wins, 1 draw, and 12 losses, placing them 10th and eliminating their chances of finishing in the top six. On the second day of Golden Week, under early-summer conditions with a high of 25°C, the first half saw both teams aggressively attacking, leading to a fast-paced game with the ball.
Sungoliath opened the scoring, but Verblitz kept chasing and tying it up. Making his debut, scrum-half Kaisei Tamura reliably distributed the ball under heavy pressure around the breakdowns, helping build the team's rhythm. In the 33rd minute, he also showed his physical strength by disrupting the opposition near their own goal line, cutting off their momentum. However, the continuous ball movement under the intense sun gradually wore down the team's stamina. “The momentum kept swinging back and forth in the first half. That led to the body blows in the second half," commented Sungoliath head coach Kosei Ono.
There were also turning points in the game. Three minutes into the second half, a try by winger Joseph Manu was canceled after the TMO confirmed a foul play earlier in the play. After that, Verblitz committed a series of penalties. They were pushed back into their own territory by kicks, pressured by the opposition forwards, and their response became sluggish. At the 10th, 14th, and 16th minute, they conceded three consecutive tries to the opposing forwards, falling behind 14–38.
Although they had been holding their own, conceding multiple scores in a short period has been a recurring issue this season. In the 26th minute of the second half, flanker William Tupou, who had returned after 10 weeks, injured his arm again and left the field. With all the substitutions already used, the team had to continue with one man down. "Himeno played a full game last time. We need to manage the condition of loose forwards like Miki as well," Hansen noted.
Despite the disadvantage in numbers, the 14 remaining players showed their spirit. With their backs against their own try line, they held firm. In the 37th minute, winger Viliame Tuidraki shifted into the flanker position during a deep defensive scrum. After earning a free kick, flanker Blair Ryall broke through, supported by Tuidraki. From a lineout near the opposition's goal, Ryall and Tuidraki combined to score a try. This was a testament to the pride of the 14 players who defended until the end. Although Verblitz later conceded another try, the final score was 28–45.
"In the first 15 minutes after halftime, our accuracy dropped on both attack and defense. We failed to execute our assigned roles, such as stopping the maul drives with the required precision," said Steve Hansen Head Coach. "We had too much energy and ended up conceding penalties. We needed to play with more composure," added captain and no.8 Kazuki Himeno. There were moments when victory seemed within reach, but repeated penalties cost them greatly, a recurring issue throughout the season.
The fresh performance by scrum-half Tamura was a positive takeaway. "Tamura not only seized his opportunity but also showed quality play," Hansen praised. Tamura himself reflected, "I still have a lot to improve when it comes to organizing the forwards during high-intensity, multi-phase situations at League One level."
The next round is a rematch against Mie Honda Heat on the 4th of May. In their previous match in Round 2, Verblitz lost 17–21. Currently, Verblitz sit at 10th with 20 points, and the Heats are 11th with 18 points. Although one final round remains after that, the losing team is highly likely to face a relegation game. "The most important thing is conviction. Whether we face relegation is up to us. We must play with conviction for the full 80 minutes and enjoy the pressure," emphasized Hansen.
The pride shown by the 14 players in the final 15 minutes was a manifestation of that conviction and something they can carry into the next match. This was the first ever Verblitz host game in Osaka, drawing a crowd of 10,569 spectators. A large number of VOLTs traveled from Aichi, gathering early around the stadium and cheering from the stands. The next match will be an away game against the Heats. We hope to support the team with the greatest passion of the season as they head into this crucial showdown.
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