Richie Mo'unga: I last lost like that in the under 8s

Toshiba Brave Lupus’ back-to-back MVP Richie Mo’unga said Sunday’s 46-0 whitewash by rivals Saitama Wild Knights was his worst defeat since he was playing under 8s rugby.

Mo’unga, 31, is aiming to sign off from Toshiba this season by winning a third consecutive League One title but their ‘three-peat’ ambitions got off to a humiliating start as they were routed by inaugural champions Saitama Wild Knights.

The manner of the defeat - Toshiba’s worst in the history of League One, which is now in its fifth season – will worry the reigning champions along with the fact that the visitors rested the vast majority of their Test players including Japan internationals Ben Gunter, Jack Cornelsen and Dylan Riley. 

Mo’unga in action v Saitama

South Africa’s Damian de Allende was also given the day off while his Springboks teammate Lood de Jager was serving the final suspension of his four-match ban.

An out-of-sorts Mo’unga, who struggled to impose himself on the game, rued his heaviest club defeat.

“The lost time I lost a game like that (0-46) was when I was playing under 8s rugby, I remember it,” said the seven-time Super Rugby winner who will return to New Zealand next summer.

“I think our discipline was an issue, we gave away too many penalties, you give a good team like Panasonic opportunities, and they’ll obviously take the three points every time.”

Mo’unga is one of three marquee Category C (capped by a country other than Japan) players in the Todd Blackadder’s squad along with Shannon Frizell and ex-All Black Seta Tamanivalu – all of whom played the full game on Sunday.

“We will have to get better; it’s too early in the season to start throwing in the towel and giving up.

“I’m still smiling. I’ll go home to my family now and we’ll start back work on Tuesday.”

Toshiba faces a tough trip to Kwagga Smith's title contenders Shizuoka Blue Revs in round two on Sunday.