Aidan Morgan: “The team has finally built a solid foundation, and that is showing in our performances”

Toyota Verblitz announced their 23-man squad for the Round 17 clash against Tokyo Sungoliath on May 2. Shinya Komura will start at fly-half for the first time since Round 7 against Yokohama Canon Eagles, while Rikiya Matsuda has been named on the bench. Winger Viliame Tuidraki will also reach the milestone of 50 caps.

Komura will make his fourth start at No.10 this season. Head Coach Steve Hansen explained the selection decision:

“We considered the style of game we want to play. They were probably expecting Rikiya to start, so we wanted to challenge them with a different style. Having Rikiya come on in the second half is also a major advantage for us.”

Komura already gained experience at fly-half last season when Matsuda was sidelined through injury, and Hansen emphasized that his combination with Morgan has also been a key factor.

Following last week’s win over Black Rams Tokyo, winger Taichi Takahashi pointed to the presence of three strong game managers — Matsuda, Morgan, and Komura — as a major reason behind the team’s recent improvement in territorial control. Just like forward Hingano Lolohea, Morgan has become an “X-factor” in the backs.

“Having multiple game drivers is a positive for the team,” Morgan said. “Personally, I want to contribute through my skills and clear communication. Both Rikiya and Shinya are excellent passers and kickers, so I want to support them as much as possible.” 

Morgan attended the prestigious King's College in Auckland, where he played a central role in leading the school to its first regional title in 13 years. One year above him at the school — and now starting at No.8 for Verblitz was Isaiah Mapusua.

“I played at No.10 and he played lock. Even back then, he was an incredibly talented player.”

After high school, Mapusua moved to Japan and attended Keio University, while Morgan began his professional career with the Hurricanes. The two reunited at Verblitz and made their first start together last week. 

“It feels like the team has finally built a foundation, and that’s translating into our performances,” Morgan said as he looks to contribute alongside his former schoolmate.

According to Hansen, one of the major areas of growth for the team has been improving their ability to react instantly to situations unfolding in front of them.

Even in the previous match against the Black Rams, the decision to aggressively use counter-rucks was made by the players during the game itself.

“Rather than forcing players to stick rigidly to planned plays, we want to encourage flexible decision-making,” Hansen explained.

“Even if the decision turns out to be wrong, we will continue to support the players. If they learn from it, then it’s not a mistake. The real mistake is failing to apply what you’ve learned. I’m very pleased with the players’ mindset and attitude, and the increase in those in-the-moment decisions is directly connected to our recent performances.”

With victory essential at this stage of the season, the team is above all enjoying its own growth. Facing a strong opponent should bring even more opportunities for discovery and development.