Mo'unga and Perenara shine in high-scoring Japan League One weekend

With the Japan League One competition nearing its halfway point, teams are starting to solidify their spots in the league table.

The Robbie Deans-coached Saitama Wild Knights are top of the Japan League One table after eight matches, four points above Richie Mo’ounga and Shannon Frizell’s Toshiba Brave Lupus side.

The injection of Shaun Stevenson into the Kubota Spears has seen them win their last four games. Also, with experienced North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall in the Spears squad, the Spears’ Kiwi contingent is growing.

To round out the top four, former NRL player Valynce Te Whare has been impressive for the Shizuoka Blue Revs over the course of the season, keeping them within touching distance of the top three.

Mo’unga showed his world-class ability this weekend, beating the Suntory Sungoliath defender on the outside, off the back of a midfield scrum.

Mo’unga brushed off one defender, before powering through the last ditch tackles to cross the white line just before half-time, extending the Brave Lupus lead to 31-18 at half-time.

The second half wasn’t as exciting as the first for Kiwi fans, as former All Black loose forward Shannon Frizell was yellow carded in the 58th minute, but they were able to hold on to beat Sungoliath 43-33.

In a matchup filled with Kiwi talent, the Kubota Spears were able to score 22 unanswered points in the second half to topple the Brodie Retallick-led Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

Kiwis were involved throughout, as former Blues lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti was able to break through the Spears’ defense close to the line, after a bullet pass from Kobe Steelers halfback Atsushi Hiwasa put the Kiwi lock in a great position to score. New Zealand born flyhalf Bryn Gatland added the extras for the Kobe Steelers.

Spears’ Kiwi halfback Bryn Hall was in support when Halatoa Vailea busted through a tackle, scoring five meters in from touch. Hall’s try put the Spears within one try of the Kobe Steelers, before another Spears try sealed the victory, elevating the Spears to third on the Japan League One table.

Toyota Verblitz have fallen to 10th on the Japan League One table, losing their fourth straight game, this time at the hands of the high-flying Shizuoka Blue Revs.

Despite the loss, former NRL star Joseph Manu has continued his rich vein of try-scoring form, popping up at the right place at the right time, scoring after receiving an offload right next to the line from first-five Rikiya Matsuda.

The Steve Hansen and Ian Foster-coached Verblitz side will now face the tough task of travelling away to take on the Kobelco Kobe Steelers on Saturday.

Former All Black halfback TJ Perenara found himself at the back of a RICOH Black Rams rolling maul against the Urayasu D-Rocks, before launching himself over the line to give the Black Rams their first lead in the second half. 

The D-Rocks were unable to stop the Black Rams second-half momentum, even with former Blues first-five Otere Black steering the ship at fullback for the D-Rocks.

The Saitama Wild Knights are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 campaign, putting 50 points on the Canon Eagles, helped by former Hurricanes midfielder Vince Aso who was able to power over the line off a wild offload from winger Tomaki Osada.

In Japan League One Division three action, former New Zealand U20 and Blues lock James Tucker bundled over the line, helping his Yakult Levins Toda side beat the last-placed LeRIRO Fukuoka.