While the All Blacks search for a new head coach, New Zealand Rugby might find it beneficial to entice a key second-row forward back home, as Brodie Retallick continues his dominant run in Japan Rugby League One.
The formidable 120kg lock spearheaded the Kobelco Kobe Steelers’ resounding 67-21 victory over TJ Perenara’s BlackRams Tokyo in today’s commemorative fixture in Hyogo, which observed the 31st anniversary of the devastating 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
Retallick delivered an exceptional performance on the pitch, crossing the try line four times, while former (Waikato) Chiefs flyhalf Bryn Gatland contributed a significant 27 points.
Embracing the expansive style of play in Japan, which allows him to display his athletic prowess and ball-handling skills, Retallick’s impressive tally propelled his season total to seven, placing him level with Saitama Wild Knights hooker Atsushi Sakate atop the try-scoring charts.
This quartet of tries further elevated his career total to 30 scores across 54 appearances since his move to Kobe.
Japan Rugby League One
Overall Standings
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
5
5
0
0
24
2
5
5
0
0
24
3
5
4
1
0
20
4
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
5
4
1
0
19
5
5
3
2
0
15
6
5
3
2
0
12
7
5
2
3
0
10
8
5
2
3
0
8
9
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
5
1
4
0
5
10
5
1
4
0
4
11
5
0
5
0
2
12
5
0
5
0
2
Conference A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
5
5
0
0
24
2
Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
5
4
1
0
19
3
5
3
2
0
12
4
5
2
3
0
10
5
Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars
5
1
4
0
5
6
5
0
5
0
2
Conference B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
5
5
0
0
24
2
5
4
1
0
20
3
5
3
2
0
15
4
5
2
3
0
8
5
5
1
4
0
4
6
5
0
5
0
2
Following five rounds, Dave Rennie’s squad sits in third place, with Kubota Spears and the Wild Knights sharing the top spot, the former holding a slender lead based on points differential.
Both leading teams secured 29-point victories, thus maintaining their current points differential standing.
The Spears decisively beat Steve Hansen’s struggling Toyota Verblitz 39-10, while the Wild Knights compounded the woes of Jesse Kriel-led Yokohama Canon Eagles, inflicting a 50-21 defeat, marking the home side’s fifth loss this season.
Shizuoka BlueRevs and Tokyo Sungoliath successfully broke their recent losing streaks; Kwagga Smith’s team concluded a three-match winless period with a 47-36 triumph over Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars, a game highlighted by two-try performances from former National Rugby League players, Semi Radradra and Valynce Te Whare for the winning side.
After consecutive losses against Kubota and Kobe, Sungoliath managed to pull ahead of a competitive Mie Honda Heat in the closing stages for a 30-15 win, with Heat’s prospects severely hampered when former (Wellington) Hurricanes second rower Mark Abbott received a red card.
Graham Rowntree’s Urayasu D-Rocks recorded their second defeat, losing 38-27 to Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Despite scoring more tries than their opponents, six to three, the reigning champions struggled to distance themselves from last season’s wooden spooners, who were just four points behind with 15 minutes remaining.
Even with the loss, the scoreline illustrated the significant progress D-Rocks have made under the guidance of the Englishman, especially considering Brave Lupus scored 61 points against Urayasu in their previous encounter last season.
Meiji University secured its 14th championship as the All-Japan University Rugby Championship culminated in a thrilling final, where they defeated long-standing rivals Waseda University 22-10 before a captivated audience of 43,000 spectators in Tokyo.
