Yoshikatsu Hikosaka: “Right now, we have a foundation to fall back on.”

Toyota Verblitz faced Shizuoka BlueRevs on March 22 in Round 12 of League One. It was a fiercely contested match throughout, but they were pulled away late and lost 24–34.

Temperature at 13 degrees. Slightly chilly at Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium. The game started with the Blue Revs taking the lead, with Verblitz chasing. It became an intense physical battle, and although Verblitz repeatedly fought back from the brink, they ultimately fell just short.

The turning point came in the 30th minute of the second half. Verblitz closed the gap to 24–27 with a try by flanker Keito Aoki and a conversion by fly-half Rikiya Matsuda, and looked to raise the tempo further. From a scrum near the halfway line, they managed to get the ball out while being pushed back, but immediately afterward, in a ruck, they were held up by opposing captain flanker Kwagga Smith. A penalty was called against them, pushing them back territorially, and they conceded a try in the 33rd minute.

Earlier, in the 23rd minute of the second half, Smith had also denied a try by getting underneath lock Hingano Lolohea as he attempted to ground the ball. The South African international veteran with 63 caps halted Verblitz’s momentum at crucial moments.

Verblitz also struggled early in the match. At the 11th and 16th minutes, both locks were shown yellow cards in succession, forcing them to play with just six forwards for a period. They also had difficulty adjusting to the opponent’s unique scrum setup.

“We couldn’t adjust. We should have focused more on our own scrum,” said hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka.

Even so, the team did not collapse, and their late comeback showed growth. Although they failed to secure a fourth straight win and now sit in 8th place, there was no heavy atmosphere at the post-match press conference.

Two elementary school “kid reporters,” selected through an application process, also attended and asked Captain Kazuki Himeno,

“There was a period in the first half when penalties kept occurring—what happened there?”

“What’s done can’t be changed. We didn’t get pessimistic and focused on the next play,” he answered.

Speaking to the 12-year-old reporter, the captain added with a smile, “When I was 12, I never thought about things like that (laughs). It made me feel that Japan's future is bright.”

When another kid reporter asked about moments of nervousness, Head Coach Hansen also responded:

“There are two kinds of nerves: the kind that comes from being well-prepared, and the kind that comes from lack of preparation. Right now, the team is training well, has confidence, and is entering games with the right kind of tension.”

If the result comes after good preparation, there may be frustration, but there is no need to hang one’s head. Hikosaka also emphasized that their style remains steady: “Right now, we have something to return to—taking high punts and chasing them properly.”

Next round will be their first short week of the season, as they face Yokohama Canon Eagles away. In their previous meeting in Round 7, they lost 14–20 and dropped to last place. That match became the catalyst for the team’s recovery.

When asked about the key to the upcoming match, Coach Hansen joked, “Score more points than the opponent,” before adding simply, “Preparation is everything.”

“How we spend time until Tuesday is extremely important. In the previous match, we created many chances, but at that time, the team lacked confidence. Now, we are a different team. If we prepare properly until Tuesday, we can return to the team with a clear game plan and maintain our energy. It will be an exciting matchup.”

The path forward is clear. They will continue straight ahead on it, heading to Yokohama.