Kosei Miki: “I will keep working hard until it works out” 

Toyota Verblitz faced the Shizuoka BlueRevs in Round 6 of League One on January 25 at Yamaha Stadium in Iwata City. They were defeated 19–43, bringing their overall record to 1 win and 5 losses.

More chilling than the cold wind blowing through the stadium was the performance itself, which froze the hearts of the VOLTs who came to support the team.

“It’s like a broken car. You fix one thing, and then another part breaks.”

Those were the opening words of head coach Steve Hansen as he reflected on the match in the post-game press conference.

With Yamaha Stadium dyed entirely blue and winds reaching 7 meters per second, Verblitz came under heavy pressure in collisions from the opening stages of the first half. They were unable to stop opponents in one-on-one situations, conceded penalties on defense, and lost territory. In the 6th minute, they allowed the opening try to opposing prop Heiichiro Ito, who was playing his 100th match that day. Unable to gain the upper hand at the breakdown, Verblitz were dominated. Even when they defended desperately, the BlueRevs continued to move the ball, exploiting thinning defensive lines to break through. By the 20th minute of the first half, Verblitz had conceded four tries and trailed 0–24.

“Our defensive positioning around the ruck became too narrow, allowing the opposition to exploit space on the outside and build momentum,” said Hansen.

In the second half, Verblitz adjusted their defense and prevented line breaks, but the difficult situation continued, including conceding a scrum try.

Late in the match, tries by hooker Schalk Erasmus and scrum-half Kaito Tamura helped close the gap, but another try was conceded just before full time, resulting in a 19–43 loss. This marked five consecutive defeats since winning the opening match, leaving the team in 11th place.

“For the second match in a row, the game was effectively decided in the first half. I don’t know exactly what the issue is, but I need to re-examine myself and prepare so I can focus properly on the first 10 to 20 minutes,” said captain Kazuki Himeno.

In the previous round against the Spears, Verblitz also conceded three tries within the first 20 minutes. Individual efforts were evident, but they have yet to be fully translated into collective team strength.

“The hard work we’re putting in isn’t leading to results. It’s a tough situation for everyone in the team. The only thing we can do is commit and keep working hard,” said Hansen.

Amid the difficult circumstances, one ray of hope was flanker Kosei Miki, who made the matchday squad for the first time since Round 3 against Kobe Steelers. Entering the field in the 11th minute of the second half following William Tupou’s temporary HIA substitution, Miki displayed his trademark low, driving tackles and continued to work tirelessly around the ball even after coming on permanently in the 23rd minute.

“Personally, I wanted a bit more time on the field. I work every day to extend that time,” he said, forcing out the words with tears in his eyes.

“When things aren’t going well, we can’t come together as a unit, and we let the opposition build momentum.”

What is needed now is team connection. Without unity, it will be difficult to fight through what lies ahead.

“It’s not just about our pride, but something beyond that. If we are to become a team that our supporters can be proud of, this is the moment for everyone to take ownership and change. All we can do is keep working so we can see a better view. Not waiting for someone to push us from behind, but continuing to work relentlessly. I will keep working until it works.”

The future of Verblitz depends on whether everyone can take on the challenge with the same determination as Miki.

League One now enters a bye week, with the next match scheduled for 7th of February, when Verblitz will host the Yokohama Canon Eagles at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium.

This will be their first home game in Aichi Prefecture in two months, since the opening round at Toyota Stadium. It will also be Verblitz’s first official match at the newly renovated Mizuho Stadium.

Verblitz are currently in 11th place, with the Eagles in 12th. It will be a crucial match that could shape the course of both teams’ seasons. Just as the Revista filled the stands with blue and supported their team to the very end in 7-degree temperatures on this day, Verblitz will hope that next time the VOLTs turn the stands green and give the players a boost.