Springboks star Jesse Kriel marked his return to action for Yokohama Canon Eagles by scoring his first try of the campaign as the hosts overpowered Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars 43-19 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.
Fifth-placed Canon and ninth-placed Dynaboars could not be separated in the first half as they traded scores in an even game.
Canon upped the tempo in the second half to blow away their opponents by scoring 24 unanswered points.
Scrum-half Kouki Arai opened the scoring after three minutes for the play-off contenders before Thailand-born wing Ben Paltridge, who has been playing in Japan since 2015, responded for the visitors.
Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who was brought in as injury cover for Kriel in February, grabbed his fourth try of the season to put the hosts back in command.
Dynaboars scrum-half Kota Iwamura led the charge for Glenn Delaney’s with a try half way through the first half.
Paltridge, who is eligible for Japan, handed his team the lead for the first time with a sensational solo effort where he showcased his pace and footwork as he cut inside and beat a glut of Canon players including Kriel with a step in front of the try line.
Former Northampton Saints fly-half James Grayson added the extra two points to put the Dynaboars ahead by five points.
Canon rallied and in-form hooker Shunta Nakamura scored for the fourth consecutive game to tie up the game at 19-19 at half-time.
Former Suntory Sungoliath player Nakamura, 30, who is yet to be capped by Japan, scored his second try five minutes into the second half to set the tone for a vastly different second period as Canon dominated proceedings.
After Kriel’s first half cameo, as a H.I.A replacement for Yuu Tamura, the South African was officially introduced just before the hour mark in place of left wing Masayoshi Takezawa as Keisuke Sawaki’s team reshuffled their backline.
Kriel, who was playing for the first time since 13 January after recovering from a thumb injury, received a thunderous ovation from the Yokohama faithful.
As the hosts tightened their grip of the game and starved their opponents of possession, Nakamura completed his hat-trick as he crossed for the ninth time in 12 games.
With Canon leading by 10 points, the visitors were dealt a major blow when the lively Paltridge was forced off with a shoulder injury and was replaced by veteran Henry Brackin who has played sevens for Australia and Japan.
Kriel put the game beyond the Dynaboars with a barrelling run and his first League One try since April 2023.
Junpei Ogura, who again starred at full-back, took over kicking duties from Tamura after some wayward kicks from the Japanese veteran who had picked up a knock on his left leg.
The assured Ogura, 31, slotted the conversion to cap a fine all-round display and looks poised to be involved for the Brave Blossoms and contend with the likes of Kotaro Matsushima and Semisi Masirewa for the number 15 Test jersey.
South African flanker Kobus van Dyk, who has been at Canon since 2020 and is nearing qualification for Japan, sealed the game with his fourth try of the season with a pick-up and dive in the corner in the 74th minute.
Classy Ogura converted the try with the final score of the game.
Canon remain on the brink of the play-offs with fifth-placed Kobe Steelers, who have three less wins than the former, needing to beat champions Kubota Spears on Sunday and win their two remaining league games just to remain in contention.
Post-match Kriel said: “It was a good game for us, we got the five points which is exactly what we wanted to get out of the game.
“It was a tough game, I think Mitsubishi are a really good side and they challenged us in the first 40 minutes but I think we finished strong and I’m very happy.
"I’m happy to be back, I was out of the game for a while and I’m so happy to be back on the field."
Faf de Klerk’s side have their play-off fate in their own hands and could book their spot when they travel to Toyota Verblitz next weekend.
The back-to-back World Cup-winning scrum-half is back in Japan after undergoing knee surgery in South Africa but has not yet been be re-registered by the club after his Category C spot was given to van Rensburg who he played with at Sale Sharks.
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