The title defence of Wallaby Bernard Foley’s Kubota Spears Tokyo Bay in Japan’s club rugby has got off to the worst possible start in a 52-26 thrashing from Tokyo Sungoliath.
Despite beating Sungoliath three times last season en route to a maiden League One title, the Spears were blown off the park in the first half on Sunday, which ended with Sungoliath ahead 35-7.
Last year’s leading try-scorer, Sungoliath winger Seiya Ozaki, bagged a first half hat-trick, while his younger brother, centre Taiga, later scored twice, as the family contributed five of the eight tries.
South African Frans Ludeke, who coaches the Spears, is vying with former Australian coach Eddie Jones, who is a consultant at Sungoliath, for the vacant Japan position, with both reportedly interviewed for the role last week.
Kubota Spears coach Frans Ludeke suffered a heavy loss to Eddie Jones’ Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on December 10, 2023 in Tokyo. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
It was reported over the weekend that Jones had won out over Ludeke, who took the Bulls to consecutive Super Rugby titles in 2009 and 2010, for the role and will be appointed later this week. Jones oversaw the Brave Blossoms’ 2015 World Cup campaign, before spending seven years at England via a brief week’s stint at the Stormers.
Both men were in deck in Tokyo for the Japanese League One opener, with Jones seen on the field talking with All Blacks skipper Sam Cane.
Eddie Jones (R), Director of rugby of Suntory Sungoliath, speaks with Sam Cane prior to their win over Kubota Spears at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on December 10, 2023 in Tokyo. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
Saitama Wild Knights, who the Spears edged by two points in last year’s championship game, also scored eight tries as they outclassed last season’s third-placed getter, Yokohama Eagles, 53-12, at Kumagaya.
Former Waikato Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier scored twice for the Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights while the Australian-born Japanese representatives, centre Dylan Riley and flanker Ben Gunter, also scored tries.
Such was the Wild Knights’ dominance, the former Australia mentor did not require Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete, who watched on as an unused substitute.
Another former Wallaby coach made a spectacular start to his time in Japan yesterday as Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers swamped newly promoted Mie Honda Heat in an 80-15 victory.
Rennie’s men scored 12 tries, eight in the second period, with new Kobe skipper Brodie Retallick and former international Ardie Savea grabbing two each, while their All Black colleague Ardie Savea also scored in the rout.
Heat featured the former Wallaby Tom Banks.
Ardie Savea scored on debut for Kobe against Honda Heat on December 09, 2023 in Kobe. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)
Banks’ former Australian teammate Will Genia was a try-scorer at Kanagawa, but it wasn’t enough as Hanazono Liners were denied by a last-minute goal from Englishman James Grayson in a 30-29 loss to a Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars side that had ex-Wallaby centre Curtis Rona amongst its try-scorers.
Kintetsu were without Wallaby star Quade Cooper.
In Division One, Aussie Peter Hewat’s Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo fell 15-8 to a star-studded Toyota Verblitz line-up featuring All Blacks Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett.
Wallaby Samu Kerevi’s debut for new club Urayasu D-Rocks didn’t go to plan as last year’s runaway Division Two champions were trumped 31-28 by ex-Wales coach Wayne Pivac’s NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu. Aussies Nick Phipps (Dynaboars) and Liam Gill (Urayasu) scored tries.
Queenslander Matt Cockbain’s Red Hurricanes Osaka beat fellow promoted side Kyuden Voltex 26-22.
Tony Harper
Editor
To generate ad revenue by producing stories that are read by many people no matter how they arrive at the content. If we just rely on the 200 or so regular Roar commenters we don't exist. Thanks for allowing me to explain the process.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
I did say "I would think is your main target audience"!If it's not,what's the point of having the website?
Tony Harper
Editor
Not sure how you read what I wrote and concluded that regular Roar commenters are the ''main target audience"
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Tony,fully understand why headlines are used to grab attention,but I don't think it is just Roar readers who are sick of Eddie.You only have to look at other sites,such as Planet Rugby,to see the complaints when another Eddie story runs. You can also see from the lack of comments here,that the headline didn't attract too many regular Roar readers,which I would think is your main target audience.
Tony Harper
Editor
Thanks KP. Maybe look at it this way - the headline is for me and the story is for you, or maybe not but hopefully it is. This story has done 12000 reads - 80 percent of those have come from external sources - Android news app, google, and Facebook. And 20 percent from people like yourself who are regular readers of our site (thank you). To find the readers externally we need to catch their eye and Eddie remains box office despite the fatigue some of our regular readers have with the bloke. The headline is also a fair representation of the story, in my opinion. You and Grumpy might read a story that is headlined Japan Season Off To A Cracker - but believe me, not enough people will to make this all worthwhile and viable. Anyway, I hope this brings some clarity on why we act how we act at times.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Agree with Grumpy,though,Tony.There was a lot more interesting stuff in the article than what Eddie is doing. Incredible the number of Aussies,Kiwis and Saffas playing/coaching in Japan.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Such are the challenges of life, Tony.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
meanwhile plenty Australians playing in the Champions Cup along with WB hopefully McKellar which may have been a better read.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
only because we have to wait so long for SR to start.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Amazing Rennie and Jones in charge of teams with all the best stars win big as expected.
Tony Harper
Editor
Well, he's going to be named Japan coach in a few days and then do a press conference so the spotlight is going to be back on him real soon
Grumpy
Roar Rookie
It was the headline, Tony. ATW noted he’d like to hear more of these games and he’s not Robinson Crusoe on that score. So maybe something like “Japan Season Off to a Cracker” would steer that course (clearly I’m no journo). Eddie taking the Japan job was the cherry on top of a gluten free, vegan, decaf Tiramisu of a year for Aus rugby. It’d be nice if the spotlight went elsewhere for a while.
trent jenkins
Roar Rookie
Honestly, is Kieran Frawley the best fullback in the game?
Tony Harper
Editor
I wouldn't even know where to start editing this comment...
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Go celebrate Eddie, It could be the last thing you win ever.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Oh lawd!! :shocked: Cane has had a bad enough year! Now he has to train with EJ?? Feel for you, mate (Sam, that is, not EJ!) :stoked:
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the report. I hope they continue. Of these matches, which would be the match of the round for the interested rugby-deprived enthusiast to try to hunt down and watch?
Grumpy
Roar Rookie
C’mon editors you can do better than this. Finding Eddie Speaking To Erstwhile Rugby Internationals Never Greenlights a Complete Over Reaction to a Possible Sighting of Eddie (FESTERING CORPSE).