Springboks stars Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager both crossed for tries in a handsome victory over the Ian Foster and Sir Steve Hansen-led Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One action this weekend.
The 55-17 victory seals the Saitama Wild Knights’ place in the season’s knockout stages along with the Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Springboks lock De Jager has had his fair share of injury setbacks but was on top of his game against the Verblitz, scoring twice while De Allende grabbed one try and set up another two.
De Allende and De Jager dominate with Koroibete
Wallabies star Marika Koroibete also claimed a brace with Robbie Deans’ charges running in seven tries to Toyota’s three.
Japanese international Atsushi Sakate scored the opening try for the Wild Knights in what was his 100th appearance for the club and while Josh Dickson got one back for Verblitz, their two-point lead did not last long.
Brilliant hands from Esei Ha’angana, Vince Aso and Ryuji Noguchi freed up the space for Koroibete and the Wallabies star smartly finished off the try in the corner.
De Allende got his second try as he ran a smart line on Aso’s shoulder to finish off a superb long-range effort. Former Sydney Roosters star Joseph Manu continued his scoring form, grabbing his 10th of the season, but a yellow card to Michael Hooper swung momentum right back into the Wild Knights’ favour.
Prop Lisala Finau made Verblitz pay just before the half-time break to extend his side’s lead to 24-12.
Hikosaka Yoshikatsu’s try put Verblitz within seven points but when they were reduced to 14 men after head contact in a tackle by flanker Kosei Miki, things went pear-shaped from that moment onwards.
Hansen’s men went on to concede five unanswered tries in the final 20 minutes, the first of which was through De Jager, who ran a sharp line to finish off a well-worked team score. Koroibete followed soon after, showing off his footwork close to the line.
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Ruthless last 20
De Allende set up Jack Cornelsen for the next try in the 70th minute with a neat offload in contact and the Bok centre assisted De Jager soon after, providing a short pass to the lock who cantered away from 30 metres out after replacement hooker Kenji Sato had made a superb break to kickstart the attack.
Ex-All Blacks scrum-half Aaron Smith looked to have set up a consolation score for Siosaia Fifita with four minutes left on the clock but a forward pass by winger Villame Tuidraki ruled out the score.
That opened the door for one last Wild Knights try and Deans’ charges ruthlessly pounced with Sato rounding off the scoring at the back of a rolling maul.
While the victory secured Wild Knights’ place in the Japan Rugby League One play-offs, it reignited fears that Verblitz may have to feature in the promotion-relegation match as they sit in 10th place, with a two-point lead over Honda Heat.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-stars-dominate-to-worsen-ex-all-blacks-coaches-woes
