A try from former Queensland Reds second baseman Harry Hockings was too late to save Tokyo Sungoliath as they lost 28-20 to All Black Richie Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second semi-final of Japan Rugby League One in Tokyo.
The Brave Lupus overturned a 10-7 half-time deficit to win on Sunday, sending the side coached by former Crusaders and Bath boss Todd Blackadder into their first final in 10 years.
Blackadder will face Canterbury and former Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans in Sunday’s decider after the former Wallaby coach’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights beat the Yokohama Canon Eagles 20-17 in Saturday’s opening semi-final.
The Hockings had a try denied early in the second half and were bundled out in a corner by a tackle involving Mo’unga. Sungoliath looked to rally after Brave Lupus scored three tries after the break.
Mo’unga, who was bombarded aerially by Santory while defending at full-back in the first half, became an increasingly dominant figure after the break as the Blackadder forwards upped the ante and dominated the contact area.
The All Black flyhalf orchestrated his first try after the break with a short pass behind the front line of attack, opening a hole in the Sungolith defense, which winger John Naikabulla slotted through to set up excellent backrower Takeshi Sasaki. This is the perfect support line to cross for a game-changing attempt.
Point flow chart
Toshiba Brave Rufus Tokyo wins +8
lead time
50%
% of games lead
43%
68%
Last 10 minutes owned
32%
Brave Lupus were fortunate not to concede a few minutes later when Sungoliath scrumhalf Naoto Saito thought he had scored, but the try was canceled out due to a needless off-the-ball clean out deemed interference.
Their good fortune continued after Sungoliath flyhalf Mikiya Takamoto sealed the match with a penalty goal. Shannon Frizell appeared to miss the ball on his 10th attempt of his impressive debut season.
There was no doubt about the fourth Brave Lupus attempt. Naikabula scored after a slick interchange with fellow winger Atsuki Kuwayama allowed the Fijian-born speedster to sprint down the touchline ahead of a chasing defence.
player line break
One
John is gone
4
2
Seya Ozaki
three
three
Takeshi Sasaki
2
Mo’unga’s fourth conversion of the afternoon increased his team’s lead to 28-13.
During the loss, Hawkings, a product of Brisbane’s Anglican Grammar, continued to add to his fast-growing reputation and once again showed why he is regarded as one of Japan’s best forwards since his arrival in 2021.
The 25-year-old has two years left to play for Japan, but is already being looked at as a long-term project by Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones.
