Aaron Smith faces off against Faf de Klerk: RWC2023 finalists meet again

Aaron Smith gears up for a face-off with Yokohama Canon Eagles' Faf de Klerk in the 2nd game of the NTT Japan Rugby League One 2023-24. 

Toyota Verblitz, who celebrated the opening match with a victory against Black Rams Tokyo, is set to face Yokohama Canon Eagles, the third-place finishers from last season, at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on the 16th. Two days before the match, an online press conference was held on the 14th, attended by Captain Kazuki Himeno, scrum-half Aaron Smith, full-back Dick Wilson, and prop Gaku Shimizu.

The most attention is paid to the clash between the two international scrum-halves: Aaron Smith (NZ) and Faf de Klerk (South Africa). The face-off from the World Cup final on October 28 is set to happen in Japan shortly.

"We've been facing each other in Super Rugby and test matches for the past 8-9 years. He's a fantastic player," says Aaron.The All Blacks had a narrow defeat to South Africa in the World Cup final, concluding the tournament as a runners-up. When asked if it's about revenge, Aaron promptly responds, "No. It's a different team, a different game, a different mindset. I'm looking forward to a different kind of matchup".

Against the Yokohama Eagles, Toyota has been losing two matches in a row. Last season’s matchup resulted in a 7-39 loss for Toyota, which also saw an early red card. They pushed Toyota to a corner last year where Toyota dropped its rankings to the relegation zone at one point.

Captain Kazuki Himeno reflects, "Last year, we couldn't maintain discipline, and the game got chaotic. (This year) first and foremost, we need to play our own rugby. We've been mentally preparing for that this week."

The half-back duo continues with Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett, providing experienced game control to the team. Aaron Smith comments, “Faf is an aggressive player with a great running game. He's adept at capitalizing on the opponent's mistakes, and his kicking ability is a step ahead of mine." While praising his rival, he adds, "My strength lies in the passing game, putting people into space, and playing a fast-paced style."

In the Yokohama Eagles match, Dick Wilson, also known as Mose, will make his League One debut as the full-back."I want to showcase strong hits to push back the opponent in defense, and in attack, utilize the space for an effective attack,” says Wilson.

In the fiercely contested front row featuring national team members, Gaku Shimizu, in his third season, is listed as a reserve for the second consecutive match."Forwards need to respond well to the decision-making of the half-back duo and make gainline. I want to contribute through set piece and aggressive field play," says Shimizu, expressing his enthusiasm."