Mo'unga late show steers Toshiba past champions Kubota

All Blacks ace Richie Mo'unga sealed a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Toshiba Brave Lupus over champions Kubota Spears with the last kick of the game and with it ended the hosts’ faint play-off hopes at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Sunday. 

Once-beaten Toshiba trailed underperforming Kubota until the 81st minute as Frans Ludeke produced an improved display but still fell to their seventh defeat in 12 games to remain eighth. 

Second-placed Toshiba showed their grit while there was an air of inevitability as the brittle Spears, who received a visit from Japan head coach Eddie Jones this week, came undone in the closing stages of the round 12 game. 

Funabashi-based Kubota were boosted by the return of veteran Australian fly-half Bernard Foley who made his first appearance since December after recovering from an elbow injury. 

The hosts were still without injured Welshman Liam Williams, who is set to return to action next week, while ex-Japan international and utility back Gerhard van den Heever, formerly of Munster, took over the reigns at full-back. 

Former Black Rams fly-half Foley, 34, who earned the last of his 76 caps for the Wallabies in 2022, provided the leadership quality and game management skills that the champions have sorely missed this year. 

Versatile Tongan back Halatoa Vailea opened the scoring for Kubota after 16 minutes with a walk-in try on the right flank to end a sustained period of pressure. 

Mo'unga put Toshiba on the scoreboard with a penalty before his playmaking counterpart Foley turned scorer as he crossed for his third try of the campaign. 

Kubota led 13-8 going into the break before a crucial try by Toshiba winger Yuto Mori in the 38th minute which Mo'unga converted to cut the deficit to three points at the break. 

South Africa-born lock J.D. Schickering, whose been an ever-present for Kubota with 12 appearances, extended his side’s lead in the 44th minute with his third try this term. 

Foley converted the try to put his team up 20-10 after 55 minutes before in-form Mori grabbed his fifth try in three games as Toshiba began to threaten at will. 

Former All Black Seta Tamanivalu, who now plays for Fiji, was introduced by head coach Todd Blackadder to change the game and that proved to be an inspired decision. 

Tamanivalu caught the Kubota defence sleeping with a tap and go and crossed in the 80th minute to tie up the score at 20-20. 

Mo'unga stepped up with the opportunity to win the game and effortlessly slotted the conversion to spark wild celebrations from the away fans who marvelled at the club’s dramatic turnaround and 11th win from 12 league games. 

Kubota travel to Shizuoka Blue Revs next Saturday in a must-win game to keep alive their faint play-off hopes while Toshiba host the Kobe Steelers on Sunday. 

Line-ups:

Kubota Spears: Van den Heever, Vailea, Teaupa, Tatekawa (captain), Suryung, Foley, Fujiwara, Suenaga, Labuschagne, Tupa, Bulbring, Schickerling, Helu, Coles, Kaishi

Replacements: Futamura, Pretorius, Kishioka, Moala, Botha, Tamefusa, Kamimori, Era

Toshiba Brave Lupus: Matsunaga, Naikabula, Thompson, Mano, Mori, Mo'unga, Sugiyama, Frizell, Tokunaga, Ito, Pierce, Dearns, Kokaji, Harada, Makabe

Replacements: Hamada, Tamanivalu, Takahashi, Lausii, Yamamoto, Latu, Kinura, Hashimoto