Eagles provide big update on Faf de Klerk

JAPAN LEAGUE ONE, ROUND EIGHT: Springbok star Faf de Klerk is back in business as Yokohama Eagles host Brave Lupus Tokyo in the most intriguing clash of Matchday Eight, when Division One of Japan Rugby League One resumes this weekend.

De Klerk was replaced after 27 minutes of the Eagles’ win over the Black Rams Tokyo on Matchday Seven, although the head knock he sustained wasn’t considered serious, with his withdrawal a precautionary measure.

The South African scrumhalf and his in-form Eagles are flying, but they will have to be at their best against a Brave Lupus outfit that fell on the wrong side of the referee during its loss to Tokyo Sungoliath last time but were only just edged out despite a decisive penalty count – and yellow card – against them.

While De Klerk was being withdrawn, Wallaby flyhalf Matt Toomua received his first taste of rugby Japanese ‘style’ during a madcap afternoon where the Dynaboars and the Kobe Steelers played out a tight first half, before going ballistic in the second, sharing nine tries in just 40 minutes.

Although the prospect of a win was long gone by the time the Dynaboars’ star recruit was injected into the game for the last 16 minutes, his long-awaited arrival could give Sagamihara the lift it needs to trouble the unbeaten Spears, when the two meet on Sunday.

With the competition-leading Wild Knights [who host the Hanazono Liners] and third-placed Sungoliath [who visit the Black Rams] both favoured to win, the other significant action from a standings perspective could come further down the table, with the improving Shizuoka Blue Revs representing a major threat to a Kobe side just one point above them on the point’s table.

Ninth-ranked Verblitz also look well placed to improve their position, hosting a Green Rockets outfit struggling to score points.

The home side welcomes back the Brave Blossoms’ star loose forward Kazuki Himeno, who has missed the last three matches due to injury, while there is also an intriguing positional switch, with Springbok fullback Willie le Roux moving to flyhalf, while regular pivot Tiaan Falcon drops to the back.

Division Two & Division Three

There are no games in Division Two this weekend, with the next matches to be played on February 26.

The section is led by the Urayasu D-Rocks who – despite the absence of Israel Folau – returned to the top of the standings by beating Seawaves 64-26 in Tokyo last weekend as Matchday Five was completed.

A full round of Division Three was also played, with a brave Kurita Water Gush Akishima falling to Voltex 33-26, having lost prop Rui Kuriyama to a red card in the 23rd minute while the game was still scoreless.

The Red Hurricanes are second, with a game in hand, after being too good for the Red Regulions, winning 59-14.

Wycliff Palu’s Water Gush are back in action on Saturday, visiting the winless Skyactivs in Hiroshima to begin Matchday Eight in the division, which will be completed with a top-of-the-table clash a week later when the Voltex welcome the Red Hurricanes to Kagoshima.

Fixtures:

DIVISION ONE

Saturday, February 18:

Black Rams v Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath

(Komazawa Olympic Park Athletic Stadium, Tokyo - Kick-off 13.00 (JT))

Yokohama Eagles V Brave Lupus Tokyo

(Resonac Dome, Oita - Kick-off: 14.00 (JT)

Wild Knights v Hanazono Liners

(Kumagaya Sports And Culture Park Rugby Field, Saitama - Kick-Off: 14.30 (Jt)

Verbitz v Green Rockets Tokatsu

(Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, Aichi - Kick-Off: 14.30 (Jt)

Sunday, February 19:

Spears V Sagamihara Dynaboars

(Edogawa Athletic Stadium, Tokyo - Kick-off: 14.30 (JT)

Kobe Steelers V Blue Revs

(Kobe Sports Park Universiade Memorial Stadium, Hyogo - Kick-off: 14.30 (JT)