Joey Manu tried to score on his professional rugby debut but was denied a win by the former Wallabies No.10.

Two-time NRL premiership winner Joey Manu scored a try but was denied the start of his career in Japan Rugby League 1 after former Wallabies No.10 Bernard Foley scored in injury time. Spears had a dramatic win at Funabashi Tokyo-Bay. 30-27 win over Verblitz in Tokyo.

Earlier on Sunday, Foley missed four consecutive conversions as Brave Blossoms’ fifth-eighth Rikiya Matsuda (who replaced Boden Barrett at Verblitz) converted all three of the team’s attempts and added two penalty goals. couldn’t buy it. Future visitors.

Despite Manu being withdrawn from his first professional rugby match after an hour, Verblitz maintained their lead until Foley finally found his range, drawing a 35th-minute try from South African second-ranked player Merwe Olivier to level the 2022-23 champions. I switched my attempts to get in.

Joseph Manu. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The 35-year-old completed his comeback with a clever kick to hand Verblitz boss Steve Hansen and his new assistant Ian Foster their first defeat.

Newly promoted Urayasu D-Rocks lost on their way to Division One, losing 31-19 to Sagamihara Dynaboars despite the presence of multi-code star Israel Folau, who is showing promising signs after missing most of the last two seasons.

All Blacks Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell gave Brave Lupus Tokyo a 28-21 win at home to Yokohama Eagles after the break. Both scores helped the Eagles to a 16-7 halftime advantage after tries from Springbok halfback Faf de Klerk. .

Saturday brought contrasting fortunes for two of the league’s former Wallabies coaches. Saitama Wild Knights gave Robbie Deans a winning start after a comfortable 33-12 win over Tokyo Sungoliath, while Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers were beaten in the 85th minute. Lost 15-13 to Shizuoka Blue Revs.

Kobe lost former Blues second baseman Gerard Cowley-Tuioti to a red card in the 62nd minute, while midfielder Ngane Laumape was involved in a dangerous tackle in injury time before the Blue Revs crossed for the winner two minutes from time. Following the former All Blacks’ exit.

Liam Gill scored twice for his new club but it wasn’t enough as former Wallabies’ Black Rams Tokyo lost 23-21 to the Mie Heat and former Saracens No.10 Manu Vunipola netted the penalty shoot-out goal in the 81st minute.

Veteran Wallaby Quade Cooper’s Hanazono Liners were denied the Englishman’s boot at the start of Division Two. Former Great Britain five-eighth Freddie Burns scored 19 points for Shuttles Aichi in a 24-20 win in Osaka.