Round 11 Preview vs Urayasu D-Rocks

Toyota Verblitz have announced the 23-man squad that will face Urayasu D-Rocks in Round 11 of League One on March 15th. The team had chosen the same lineup for the previous three rounds, but this week Viliame Tuidraki returns to the starting lineup on the left wing for the first time since Round 6, while Taichi Takahashi moves from wing to fullback.

There are also changes on the bench, with Zach Gallagher and William Tupou replacing lock Josh Dickson and flanker Isaiah Mapusua.

Verblitz are hoping to extend their run of two consecutive wins. Both teams have three victories this season, making the match an important one in the race to move up into the middle of the standings.

At the pre-match press conference, lock Lourens Erasmus, centre Nicholas McCurran, and assistant coach Takamichi Sasaki, who is in charge of defense, spoke to the media.

Last season Erasmus faced Verblitz while playing for Urayasu D-Rocks (a 36–31 victory for Verblitz), so this match will see him take on his former team. Up until Round 3 this season, Springboks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit had been playing in the second row, but a long-term injury forced him out. Erasmus stepped in from Round 4 and has started eight consecutive matches since. From Round 7, he has formed a lock pairing with an early-entry player Hingano Lolohea, bringing stability to the scrum.

“The most important thing for forwards is to deliver good set pieces. I want to play physically and deliver a good ball to the backs.”

Erasmus has previously played for Red Hurricanes Osaka and Urayasu D-Rocks. At those clubs he worked under renowned South African coach Johan Ackermann, and now at Verblitz he is playing under Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, two of the world’s top coaches.

“There are big differences between South African and New Zealand coaching styles, and it would take a long time to explain them. What I realized after coming to Verblitz is that Steve and Fozzie (Ian Foster) focus heavily on the small details and player development.”

Speaking about his former team Urayasu D-Rocks, whom he will face on Sunday, he described them as, “a very physical team with strong competitiveness. They play for each other and are a team to be respected”

They are certainly not an opposition that can be taken lightly.

Nicholas McCurran has started every match this season except Round 6, when he came off the bench. His partnership with Siosaia Fifita in the midfield has become well established, combining both power and finesse. He described the upcoming match as “a very important game,” adding that “a win is a must if we want to reach the Top 6.”

The team has come through a difficult period, and McCurran said they gained confidence from their match against Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and have been able to maintain that momentum. In particular, the victory over Brave Lupus Tokyo was a standout performance for him personally.

“It was a game we had to win as a team, and personally I felt the same.”

That victory against his former club became a turning point for the team as well.

This season McCurran’s younger brother Patrick joined Yakult Levins Toda in Division 3, following their older brother Brodie, who plays for Black Rams Tokyo.

“I check every game. He’s playing well,” McCurran said with a proud smile.

During the recent bye week, their parents visited Japan and the three brothers were able to reunite.

Assistant coach Sasaki, who oversees the defense, explained the team’s improved form.

“It’s not that we changed something drastically. Rather, continuing with consistency has had a positive effect on the team. The players are paying attention to the finer details and approaching things with greater awareness, which has moved us in a good direction.”

He added, “since the start of the season, we’ve been emphasizing raising the team’s values and standards. Now the players’ attitudes are showing on the field.”

They hope to continue that momentum going forward.

(Yuko Morimoto)