Ex-All Black stars in Japan as Rennie's Steelers continue rise
The Kobelco Kobe Steelers have continued their rise up the Japan Rugby League One standings after a comfortable 27-17 win over Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo.
The team of ex-Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who dropped three games in a row earlier in the season, are now sixth, just two points outside of the top four on a congested table in which the gap between fourth and seventh is just two points.
Former All Blacks midfielder Ngani Laumape scored Kobe's opening try in the capital, while former England back-rower Nathan Hughes was a try scorer for the Black Rams.
Defeat left the Black Rams, who are coached by the Inverell-born Peter Hewat, hovering dangerously above the bottom of the table, having won just once to occupy one of the three spots for teams who would be condemned to the post-season relegation series.
Saturday action saw ex-Wallaby centre Curtis Rona score his fifth try of the season as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars beat Shizuoka Blue Revs 53-45, with former Northampton and Dynaboars five-eighth James Grayson posting 28 points for the victors, including two tries.
All Blacks No.10 Richie Mo'unga was also a tryscorer as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo beat Yokohama Canon Eagles 27-7 to remain unbeaten after seven rounds, one point behind competition leaders Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
The two meet on March 9.
Defending champions Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay ran in nine tries to beat Wallaby Quade Cooper's Hanazono Kintetsu Liners 54-19, with Wales fullback Liam Williams and All Blacks hooker Dane Coles among the tryscorers.
Kintetsu remain winless, one point above bottom side Mie Honda Heat.
Latest Comments
All of these media pundits always miss the obvious whenever they analyse what is ailing or assisting the game. Rugby always has contentious points for debate when picking apart individual games and finding fault with itself. All this focus and scrutiny on “speeding up the game”, “high ball in play” etc is all contextual to the fan. As a tv viewer, if you’re absorbed into a game, regardless if your team is playing or not, more ball in play time and action are all byproducts of the contest. A good contest subliminally affects your memory in selectively remembering all the good aspects. A poor contest and your brain has switched off because its a blowout and the result is never in doubt or it’s a real chore to watch and remain engaged throughout. The URC, Top 14 and English premiership are all competitions that feel like there’s real jeopardy each week. The dominance of Super rugby by NZ teams was unhealthy from a sustainable interest perspective. You can’t fault those teams or the players, but the lack of competitions won by SA and Australian teams long term was always going to test the faith and patience of die-hard and casual fans from those regions. SANZAR took their eye off the fans and fans voted with their feet and subscriptions. They were so concerned about expanding their product they forgot the golden rule about broadcasting live sport. Viewers tune in more when there’s an atmosphere and a true contest. You need to fill stadiums to create one, host unions need to do more to service ticket buyers, and this year proves the other, there’s more interest in Super rugby this year only because more games are competitive with less foregone conclusions. All these micro statistics bandied about, only interest the bean counters and trainspotters.
Go to commentsIt’s a good, timely wake up call for NZ Rugby (seem to be a few of them lately!) - sort out the bureaucratic nonsense at board level. We can’t expect to stay the number one option without keeping fans/players engaged. We’ve obviously been bleeding players to league for years but can’t let the floodgates open (although I think this headline is hyperbolic as it’s a result of a recent Warriors pathways system where they are tracking things more closely) Understand the need to focus boys on rugby if they’re at a proud rugby school too, don’t think it’s harsh at all re Barakat in Hamilton. Reward the committed players with squad positions. An elite 1st XV system in NZ has done more for league than they even realise, think it’s good to protect our game further.
Go to comments