Shintaro Fukuzawa: “What makes me happiest is that we won as a team” 

On the 28th of March, Toyota Verblitz faced the Yokohama Canon Eagles at Nissan Stadium. In the second half, they endured a difficult stretch with only six forwards on the field, but held firm in defense to secure a 33–27 victory.

Nissan Stadium was surrounded by cherry blossoms just short of full bloom. It was a narrow win—by the width of a single petal—but it showed a resilience that would not be torn apart.

Territory over the full 80 minutes favored the opponents 66% to Verblitz’s 34%. Tries were 5 to 3. Despite being on the back foot territorially, Verblitz finished their scoring chances and spent much of the match defending.

They led 21–10 at halftime. They also managed to contain South African scrum-half Faf de Klerk, who had troubled many teams, and their forwards gained the upper hand at the breakdown. However, the real test came in the second half, after de Klerk left the field due to a substitution.

While leading 33–24, lock Lourens Erasmus (24th minute, repeated infringements) and Hingano Lolohea (25th minute, dangerous play) were sent to the sin bin in quick succession, putting the team at a disadvantage in set pieces.

“Until one player came back, it was about how to manage the time effectively. It was a high-pressure period,” said fly-half Rikiya Matsuda. The 31-year-old playmaker remained composed.

“In fact, playing in our own half meant we could reduce the number of players in the backfield, while keeping the front line intact.”

During the time they were two players down, they repeatedly stopped the opposition’s attacks in front of their own goal, conceding only a single penalty goal.

In these tough circumstances, it was second-year hooker Shintaro Fukuzawa—making his debut—who lifted the team with impactful plays.

First, in the 35th minute of the first half, flanker William Tupou came on to replace injured captain Kazuki Himeno, but was temporarily taken off for a suspected HIA. Fukuzawa was hurriedly brought on as a flanker, where he immediately made a strong leg drive in a ruck. This led to Keito Aoki’s try in the 38th minute.

“I got lucky. Once I got onto the field, everyone was bigger than me, so I was able to use my strength—my low body position,” he said.

He entered as a hooker in the 22nd minute of the second half, and made another big play in the 25th minute. With only six forwards on the field and under pressure near their own goal line, he stole the ball in a ruck.

“I’m small, so the opponents didn’t notice me at all (laughs). I just kept going in, and it worked out—I managed to get the ball.”

There was also a surprise the day before the match. During the team meeting, messages of support from his high school friends, coworkers, and parents—arranged by the staff—were played.

“I was really happy. Whether I cried or not… that’s a secret.”

At 168 cm tall, he turned his size into an advantage through quick and accurate decision-making, earning his League One debut.

After the match, head coach Steve Hansen praised him at the press conference:

“He earned two caps—one as a flanker and one as a hooker. He performed well in unique circumstances. It must have been an unforgettable day for him.”

“There were no lineouts on our ball, so my debut as a hooker is still to come. I’m happy that we won as a team. But I’m only at the starting line,” Fukuzawa said.

While the team showed resilience in victory, repeated penalties made the match difficult. In the second half, Verblitz conceded nine penalties compared to the opponent’s four.

“I’ve coached many teams, but I’ve never seen two locks sent to the sin bin in consecutive matches,” said Hansen.

“Penalties happen because players are desperately defending, not because of intentional dirty play. But right now, repeated infringements are leading to cards. We need to review our discipline—such as stepping back one meter at the ruck and not giving the referee the impression of infringement.”

Avoiding penalties while maintaining strong defense is now an urgent task. With eight inter-conference matches completed, they will return to facing Conference B teams from the next round. Three of the top six teams were decided in Round 13. With five matches remaining, the battle of total team strength begins.

Players who competed in the “Mirai Match” just a week earlier are now contributing to victories in League One. This applies not only to Fukuzawa but also to flanker Kosei Miki. The foundation built through persistent effort in the Mirai Match is now beginning to show its true value.