Japan Rugby League One Rising Match Report

Ryuji Noguchi makes his Verblitz debut.

Japan Rugby League One Rising kicked off on the 26th of September. Toyota Verblitz faced Shizuoka BlueRevs at Yamaha Okubo Ground in Iwata City, losing 24–38.

Rain began falling just after kickoff and gradually grew heavier, becoming a torrential downpour by the end of the first half, when the floodlights were also turned on. Verblitz came under pressure at scrum time in the first half and conceded consecutive tries from lineout mauls near their own goal line, going into halftime trailing 0–24. In the second half, Verblitz regained momentum at set piece and scored tries of their own, but were unable to turn the game around.

Game captain and fly-half Masahiro Kitamura reflected, “We had issues with ball security at the contact area. We need to properly review the first half and use it going forward.”

Ryuji Noguchi, who joined the team this season from Saitama Wild Knights, came on at the start of the second half to make his Verblitz debut. Although it was his first appearance for the club, he has 73 League One caps, the second-most among the players in the matchday squad behind Fullback Matt McGahan’s 85. His strength under the high ball and long kicking were unaffected by the poor weather conditions. Having transferred from the team where he spent 10 seasons after graduating from Tokai University, he is currently learning the terminology Verblitz use during matches and getting to know the movements of each player.

“The words I need to say instinctively still don’t come out yet. Once they become second nature to me, it will be easier to communicate.”

Even so, the try scored by scrum-half Jeongchu Liang in the 28th minute of the second half came after Noguchi instinctively passed the ball to winger Kota Oyabu, who had been following him.

“We happened to communicate well, and Yabu supported me properly, so we were able to connect the play. I still haven’t fully gotten used to who moves where, but everyone has a strong awareness of supporting each other, so it is easy to play.”

The team will further strengthen their combinations through the preseason matches.

In Rising, the captain selects the Player of the Match from the opposing team. On this day, the award went to lock Ryusei Koike. Shortly after the start, he suffered a cut to his lip after making contact with a teammate, but returned to the field after stopping the bleeding.

Although he has mainly been used at flanker until now, lock looks likely to be his first-choice position this season.

“At the end of last season, I spoke with Fozzy, and he said, ‘Because of the situation with the positions, there are big opportunities at lock, and if you can cover that position, it will give the team more options.’ After that, I was called up to JAPAN XV and played at lock, and I felt that I could do it, so I said, ‘I’ll do it.’”

Foreign players have the advantage in terms of height. Koike’s strengths are his “grit and work rate.”

“Today as well, I was conscious of making plays around the ruck that would be difficult for the opposition to deal with.”

Being selected as the Player of the Match by the opposition was proof that those qualities had an impact. It was an award that gave him greater confidence in the direction he needs to pursue.