“Reunion with former teammates serves as a testament to the progress.”

After the bye-week break at the end of the year, the League One resumes with Toyota Verblitz facing last season's runners-up, Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, the powerhouse who currently lead the league as of the end of the third round.

Toyota Verblitz boasts a notable lineup with back-row Pieter-Steph du Toit making his way back in the starting XV after three games. Ryusei Koike, who was selected as Player of the Match in the third round against Sagamihara Dynaboars, makes his debut as a starting lock. Outside back Viliame Tuidraki also makes his season debut, wearing the number 11 jersey.

All eyes are on the League One debut of Ryunosuke Momoji, who joined the team last season after coming through the ranks at rugby powerhouse school Tokai University Gyosei High School and Ritsumeikan University. Despite showing promising performances in his first year with his rugby knowledge and versatility, injuries held him back from making an official debut. In his second year, he has finally seized the opportunity.

"I'm a bit nervous, but excited about playing a strong team like Saitama Wild Knights for my first game. Bringing out my one-hundred percent against them will tell me where I’m at,” Momoji expressed. In his role as a prop, Momoji’s primary focus is on the scrum. He analyzes the opposition team’s scrum as "a scrum that binds straight without any quirks." The opposing front row consists of Japan nationals Keita Inagaki, Asaeli Valu, and Craig Miller. Momoji is well aware of their characteristics from watching their test matches.

There's also an additional source of excitement for Momoji - facing off against outside-back Tomoki Osada, who was his peer at Tokai University Gyosei High School. "He's not the type of person to be concerned about the opposition, but I'm looking forward to the match up," says Momoji. Last year, Momoji had seen Osada's journey to becoming a main character for the Brave Blossoms. "He can compose the team with just a few words. I had trusted and followed him in high school," Momoji added, expressing excitement about facing a respected teammate.

Similarly, lock Ryusei Koike is eagerly anticipating the matchup. Starting as a flanker alongside U17 Japan representative and roommate Shota Fukui, Koike emphasizes the respect he has for Fukui's fluid yet strong playing style, stating, "I respect him, and I don't want to lose. He's a challenging player, but I want to match his intensity."

The last victory against Saitama Wild Knights was in the 2018-2019 season's rank-determining tournament first round. Since then, Toyota Verblitz have been distant from securing a win for four seasons. Back-row Masato Furukawa describes Saitama Wild Knights as a team that "doesn't let up for a single second."

Furukawa acknowledges their challenge in maintaining focus and completing their tasks in the final 20 minutes. With the additions of Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett this season, he believes the team has become more precise in fundamental areas of the game. The team is eager to showcase their excitement at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium and give their all.