Match Report: "Toyota begins the season with a victory, holding onto their 2 first-half tries."
The backs scored a beautiful try, and the forward pack defended the victory with determination. The opening match of the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2023-24 season against Black Rams Tokyo showcased the two faces of this season's Toyota Verblitz.
The warm and sunny Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium was a full house of a record-breaking 9,059 fans. The center of attention was on the new signings of the three World Cup finalists. World-class members were part of the starting XV. All Blacks half-back duo, 126-cap Aaron Smith, and 125-cap Beauden Barrett, as well as World Cup finals POM Pieter-Steph du Toit, wore the number 8 jersey next to Kazuki Himeno at number 7.
Soon after the game was kicked off by Barrett, Toyota attacked in full gear. In the 3rd minute, mid-field Siosaia Fifita, who transferred from Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, showed a powerful counter-attack. The halfback unit stayed connected, and outside-back Viliame Tuidraki dived into the in-goal area after receiving a pass from center Charlie Lawrence, securing the first try of the season.
Toyota's FW pack dominated the contact zone, and the All-Black duo shifted the ball effectively to keep the rhythm in the attack. In the 11th minute, the left side line-out near the goal line brought the ball to full-back Maruyama’s hands for wing, Okada, to get over the try line. 12-0 on the scoreboard seemed to be a promising start. However, an injury occurred in the 18th minute. Although Maruyama, who is in his third year with the team, was expressing his talent and skills, he unfortunately injured his right knee and left the field on a stretcher. The missing piece had an influence on the attack, presenting an opportunity for the Black Rams.
The Black Rams showed their defensive resilience in contact, slowly pushing the Verblitz into a corner. Toyota, losing momentum in their attack, began to accumulate penalties in the breakdown, gradually shifting the flow to the opponent's pace.In the 28th minute, Toyota Verblitz conceded a penalty goal, and in the 34th minute, Black Rams’ former England national Nathan Hughes scored a try from a line out maul. The conversion was missed, and the first half ended with a score of 12-8.
The second half saw a defense-oriented game. Despite creating opportunities near the goal, solid defenses on both sides prevented them from getting over the line, and the clock continued to tick. Nevertheless, in the 32nd minute, Toyota, after a series of phases in the opponent's territory, earned a penalty. Replacement fly-half Tiaan Falcon, substituting for Barrett, successfully converted the penalty, making it 15-8.
Towards the end, Toyota spent a significant amount of time defending their own goal. In the 37th minute, the Black Rams launched an attack from a penalty. The green jerseys kept fighting, and flanker William Tupou's fierce tackle saved the day. "That was just a coincidence that I happened to be in that position. I think everyone contributed to stopping them," Tupou said. Although there were continued challenges, the forwards displayed determination in the scrum and successfully held on. The only points scored in the second half were Falcon's penalty kick. Toyota managed to preserve the 2 tries they scored in the first half.
Captain Kazuki Himeno reflected on the game, saying, "We had a good start, but the penalties disrupted the flow early on. Adapting to the referee's decisions is a challenge." Despite this, he expressed satisfaction with the tackle success rate and resilience, saying, "We'll take it positively and move forward."
Beauden Barrett, making his first start for Toyota, remarked, "Injuries did happen, but it allowed us to see the versatility of our players. This team has potential." Aaron Smith, who played the full 80 minutes, looked back, saying, "There are still awkward moments. I want to review the footage and improve to score tries. We will continue to grow."
Peter Hewat, the head coach of the defeated Black Rams, said, "This morning, a player’s family member passed away. In such circumstances, I am proud of the team who fought with determination."Black armbands adorned the players' left arms, and the taping on their arms featured the words "RIP, DADDY." For the Black Rams, the opening match held special significance.
The stands, initially jubilant at the thrilling tries, nervously watched the physical battle in the second half. In the tightly contested 80 minutes with low scores, the full-house audience savored the essence of rugby.
- Scrum-half Aaron Smith who played the full 80 minute.
- Fly-half Beauden Barrett “It take a bit of time to fully understand the system. I’m not going to be hard on myself early on.”
- Player Of the Match, William Tupou
- 7 new Verblitz debutants. From the left to right are: Ryuhei Arita, Aaron Smith, Siosaia Fifita, Genki Sudo, Ryusei Koike, Tom Robinson, Beauden Barrett.