Ex-All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell’s hat-trick and a try from Japan lock Warner Dearns in the final 10 minutes saw Toshiba Brave Lupus seal an emphatic 59-21 win over Honda Mie Heat after a rather closely fought game before then.
The result means that the defending champions are the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the Japan Rugby League One season as Todd Blackadder’s men look to defend their title.
Mo’unga and Frizell star
Honda Mie Heat, who were without the services of Springboks lock Franco Mostert through suspension, hit the lead in the fourth minute of the match when number eight Talifollofola Tanguipa rounded off an excellent score after scrum-half Taichi Takenaka’s break.
Toshiba’s reply came in the 20th minute with All Blacks pivot Richie Mo’unga creating the line break with a lovely long pass before Michael Collins rounded off the try with a brilliant angle.
Former North Harbour and Blues second-rower Jaco Pierce extended Brave Lupus’ lead with the first of his two tries in the 26th minute, with Mo’unga using his excellent footwork to score his side’s third try before half-time.
When Heat were awarded a penalty try five minutes into the second half, after Toshiba scrum-half Takahiro Ogawa was deemed to have prevented a probable try by obstruction, Honda had closed Brave Lupus’ lead to 17-14, setting up what appeared to be a fascinating conclusion to the contest.
But five minutes later, things started to unravel for the visitors as Brave Lupus winger Jone Naikabula crossed for his 13th try of the season to push his side clear by eight points.
It was largely one-way traffic after that, with Pierce claiming his second try before the final stages belonged to Frizell.
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The 31-year-old blindside flanker crossed in the 71st, 76th and 80th minutes, to take his personal try tally for the season to seven after having totalled nine in his maiden League One season last year.
Two of his tries came from rampaging runs off the back of a strong maul while he was sharp to grab his side in the 76th minute as he played to the whistle after the ball cannoned off the face of his team-mate. While so many of the players automatically thought it was a knock-on, Frizell played on and pounced on the ball for an easy run-in.
Japan international lock Dearns also scored during the final period, Brave Lupus took their tally of tries for the afternoon to nine, securing the bonus point they needed to claim the first invitation to the post-season championship series.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ex-all-blacks-stars-10-minute-hat-trick-inspires-richie-moungas-charges-to-emphatic-victory
