Clinical champions Toshiba overpower Kobe to advance to the final

League One champions Toshiba Brave Lupus defeated Kobe Steelers 31-3 in the semi-final to advance to next Sunday’s final at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Todd Blackadder’s side, who finished the regular season in first place, produced a clinical display to see off Dave Rennie’s dogged Kobe in a nervy encounter in front of 16,253 fans at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

Toshiba had a field day the last time the two teams met, scoring 73 points and 11 tries in Kobe last month, and came into the tie having skipped the quarter-final stage because of their table-topping exploits.

Kobe impressively dispatched Shizuoka Blue Revs in the quarter-final last weekend and again showed their grit as they limited the Fuchu outfit to one try in the first half. 

After the ever-reliable Kobe fly-half Bryn Gatland, the son of former Wales head coach Warren Gatland, calmly kicked his team in front with a penalty, Toshiba struck with the first try of the game.

Prolific Palmerston North product Rob Thompson charged through between the posts for his 10th try of the campaign after 15 minutes and Richie Mo’unga added the extra two points.

Toshiba tightened their grip of the game after the break when wing Toshiki Kuwayama crossed after 43 minutes for his second try in only his third appearance of the season.

Mo’unga kept the scoreboard ticking over with a long-range penalty.

Toshiba’s replacement hooker Daigo Hashimoto effectively sealed the game after 75 minutes when he dotted down to extend the champions’ lead to 24-3.

Tenacious midfielder Thompson, who is Japan-qualified and could feature for the Brave Blossoms in the Autumn Series, had the final say with his second try to seal a commanding 31-3 victory.

The mercurial Mo’unga picked up the Player of the Match award for the third consecutive game.  

In the post-match press conference, Toshiba’s Blackadder said: “I thought it was a massive defensive effort. We was aggressive, our scramble defence was huge. Seeing Bobby (Rob Thompson) smashing people was lovely to see."

The former Crusaders and Bath coach also highlighted the performance of star man Mo'unga: "He just backs himself and he’s really experienced. He’s a class player. In pressure moments he’s really comfortable and he enjoys it.”

Kobe’s Dave Rennie said: “They were more clinical than us. It was tight at half-time. In the second half we gave away too many penalties. With seven minutes to go it was a two score ball game, we had chances & didn’t take them. We needed to be at our best & we weren’t.”

Kobe captain Brodie Retallick said: “They’re a real quality team. We just didn’t take our chances. We dropped the ball, we had missed passes, there was pressure.”

Toshiba (1-15):  Sena Kimura, Mamoru Harada, Taufa Latu, Jacob Pierce, Warner Dearns, Shannon Frizell, Takeshi Sasaki, Michael Leitch (c), Yuhei Sugiyama, Richie Mo'unga Shohei Toyoshima, Rob Thompson, Seta Tamanivalu, Toshiki Kuwayama, Takuro Matsunaga

Replacements:  Daigo Hashimoto, Teruo Makabe, Yuta Kokaji, Samuela Anise, Shohei Ito, Takahiro Ogawa, Taichi Mano, Michael Collins

Kobe (1-15): Shigure Takao, Takuya Kitade, Hiroshi Yamashita, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Brodie Retallick, Waisake Raratubua, Willie Potgieter, Amanaki Saumaki, Atsushi Hiwasa, Bryn Gatland, Kanta Matsunaga, Timothy Lafaele, Michael Little, Kazuma Ueda, Lee Seung-Sin

Replacements: Kenta Matsuoka, Kauvaka Kaivelata, Takayuki Watanabe, Naohiro Kotaki, Solomone Funaki, Daiki Nakajima, Talilotu Fakatulolo, Inoke Burua 

Picture courtesy of Toshiba Brave Lupus