Fiji-born Wallabies center Samu Kerevi has faced a challenging start to the season in Japan with his club, Urayasu D-Rocks, following a significant defeat of 62-19 to the Shizuoka Blue Revs. This newly promoted team has struggled defensively, allowing a total of 93 points in just the first two weekends of the Japan Rugby League One competition.
Kerevi, along with former Wallabies star Israel Folau, finds themselves at 0-2 at this early stage in the league. Joseph Manu, a new addition from the NRL, also experienced a setback with Verblitz, as they fell short 21-17 to Mie Heat, despite Manu having scored on debut the previous week.
In a nail-biting match, Bernard Foley, the ex-Wallaby flyhalf, had a golden opportunity to secure a victory for Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay but missed a late penalty goal, which resulted in a 26-24 loss against the Wild Knights, marking the 16th time in their last 17 encounters that Spears have failed to defeat the Wild Knights.
On a brighter note, the Kobe Steelers achieved their first victory of the season against the Yokohama Eagles, winning 36-18 under the guidance of fellow former Wallaby coach Dave Rennie. Additionally, the Brave Lupus Tokyo showcased a remarkable performance, overwhelming Sagamihara Dynaboars with a score of 61-8, managing to score seven tries in just 20 minutes.
With resilience and teamwork, there is still potential for improvement as the season progresses, raising hopes for a turnaround for Kerevi and his teammates in the coming matches. The rugby season in Japan promises exciting moments ahead, showcasing the passion and competitiveness of the sport.
Leave a comment