Toshiba Brave Lupus maintained their 100 percent winning record this season by outclassing play-off hopefuls Yokohama Canon Eagles 27-7 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
Todd Blackadder’s side recorded their seventh consecutive League One victory to keep pace with division one leaders Saitama Wild Knights.
The loss further dented Canon’s play-off bid as they slipped to seventh in the table and have now suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
Tries from Takeshi Sasaki and Nicholas McCurran put the hosts in command before Richie Mo'unga and Atsuki Kuwayama crossed in the second half.
Canon avoided a whitewash thanks to recent signing Rohan Janse van Rensburg who got his new employers on the scoreboard with a debut try in the 82nd minute.
Toshiba outplayed and outfought last season’s play-off semi-finalists as they starved their opponents of possession and when the Kanagawa-based team did attack they were met with a tenacious red defensive line spearheaded by Japan’s Warner Dearns and All Blacks ace Shannon Frizell.
Canon trailed after just four minutes as Toshiba scrum-half Kazufumi Yamasuga took a quick line-out and fed right wing Atsuki Kuwayama who spotted a gap and burst through before finding Takeshi Sasaki on the left flank and the flanker scooped up a bouncing ball and crashed over the line.
Teikyo University graduate Nicholas McCurran, who was making his second League One start in as many games, scored his first try of the season after some sublime work from Mo'unga and Kuwayama.
From just outside his own 22 Mo'unga executed a pinpoint cross-kick to find the equally influential Kuwayama and, 10 metres from the try line, the Brave Blossoms hopeful played the ball in-field to New Zealand-born inside centre McCurran who dived over the line.
Toshiba’s blistering first half display ended on a worrying note after their ageless lynchpin and captain Michael Leitch sustained a right leg injury and had to be replaced by Shohei Ito but the Japan legend was at least able to exit the field by his own volition.
Canon’s hopes of engineering an unlikely second half comeback were hit when number eight Amanaki Leleimafi received a yellow card for a reckless hit on Toshiba’s left wing Masayoshi Takezawa.
The visitors introduced their latest South African recruit Rohan Janse van Rensburg for compatriot SP Marais after 48 minutes as they aimed for more industry.
On the hour mark Mo'unga sprinkled some brilliance on proceedings to leave the crowd purring in awe.
The long-time Super Rugby maestro charged down a kick from canon scrum-half Kazufumi Yamasuga and ran, from just outside his own 22, the length of the field, winning the footrace against Yamasuga and van Rensburg.
The game was marred by a serious looking injury to hooker Yusuke Niwai who had to be stretchered off 17 minutes after coming on for countryman Shunta Nakamura.
As the menacing Frizell marshalled a typically stout defensive effort from Toshiba, livewire Kuwayama (below) capitalised on a Canon mistake to score the try that his performance merited.
Out of form Yu Tamura threw an interception pass to a grateful McCurran who set off upfield and was supported by his midfield partner and compatriot Rob Thompson who selflessly passed to Kuwayama who crossed on right flank.
Veteran Japan fly-half Tamura’s distribution has been found wanting in recent weeks including a needless and wayward no-look pass against the Blues which also resulted in them conceding a try.
McCurran offered a considerable attacking threat and should be firmly in Eddie Jones’ summer plans for the Brave Blossoms as he qualifies for Japan on residency grounds.
Canon, who to their credit never gave up, were purely outmuscled by an in-form team in every facet of the game.
Newcomer van Rensburg (below) ensured Canon would at least avoid a blank scoreline when he powered over from five metres.
Tamura found the South African who twisted and turned and narrowly avoided losing his balance to get his rewards for an encouraging 30 minute cameo.
Toshiba wing Atsuki Kawayama won Player of The Match for his polished display.
Post-match Mo'unga commentated on his breakaway try: “I thought I was running on a treadmill, I wasn’t really going that fast but it was a huge effort from the boys today.
“Defensively I was really proud of what we was able to do and the pressure we was able to put them under.
“We want to give the fans an awesome brand of footy. We want to win but at the same time we want to keep improving each week and I think we’re doing that.”
Next time out Toshiba travel to Osaka on Saturday 2 March to face winless Hanazono Kintetsu Liners who could be boosted by the return of Japan full-back Semisi Masirewa.
Canon will play basement outfit Mie Honda Heat in Tokyo on 1 March.
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