Top League 2018 Season:
(Week Two)
The Top League heads into the second round of competition with new team, the Hino Red Dolphins finding themselves top of the table in the Red conference and Jubilo Yamaha leading the White conference. This weekend sees one game on Friday, six on Saturday and one on Sunday.
2018 Sept 7th (Friday) – Chichibunomiya, Tokyo (19.30)
(Red Conference)
These two teams have faced each other a total of eight times in the Top League and the Shining Arcs have lost all eight. Last week, the NTT Com. team lost a thriller against Kobelco Steelers 27-34 while Sungoliath left it late to pip Toyota Verblitz 27-25, eight minutes after the final hooter. With total dominance by Suntory over the Shining Arcs, there is only one result this match-up can produce.
Prediction:
The Shining Arcs are once more up against it, facing a foe that showed equal patience and ruthlessness to dispose of their opposition in round one. Suntory should win this comfortably by 14 points or more.
2018 Sept 8th (Saturday) – Chichibunomiya, Tokyo (16.30)
(White Conference)
In round one, Kubota lost a tight, tense battle to Panasonic 11-15 while Jubilo hammered the hapless Coca-Cola Red Sparks 43-3. You could say that Kubota is the more battle-hardened side as Yamaha have yet to be truly tested but the Spears will want to improve their fluidity in the backs as two drop passes last week cost them two tries. Still though it took tenacious defending from the Wild Knights to keep Kubota from crossing the white-wash a second time.
Prediction:
With a home crowd looking on and after having suffered a tough loss last week, Kubota Spears should be able to bounce back and defeat Yamaha Jubilo by seven points.
2018 Sept 8th (Saturday) – Chichibunomiya, Tokyo (19.00)
(Red Conference)
In the season's opening round, both the Green Rockets and Verblitz were edged by the opposition going down 8-9 and 25-27 respectively. Although NEC scored the only try of the match against Toyota Industries Shuttles, their discipline let them down with the Shuttles grabbing three penalties to seal the victory. Verblitz was forced to swallow a bitter pill in their loss to Suntory. After leading the defending champions for almost the entire match, Verblitz lost their cool, and with a man in the bin were unable to prevent the winning Sungoliath try on the 88th minute mark.
Prediction:
Both teams will be hurting from their inability to close out their first round matches. Despite the Green Rockets having home advantage, Toyota should win this by seven points.
2018 Sept 8th (Saturday) – Tsukiya, Hokkaido (13.00)
(Red Conference)
Last Friday, the Steelers enjoyed an opening round victory over the NTT Com. Shining Arcs by seven points. In stark contrast, the Munakata Sanix Blues was on the receiving end of a 33-3 hiding from the Hino Red Dolphins who came second in division two last year. The Blues have had a lot to work on during this week and it doesn’t get any easier against a quality side like Kobelco. The main talking point among fans will be if Dan Carter will start at fly-half for the Steelers. If not, then no. 10 Hayden Parker will look to continue his perfect kicking start to the season for the Kobe-based team.
Prediction:
The Steelers will be brimming with confidence after dispatching the Shining Arcs. Whether or not Carter makes his first appearance in the Top League will not change the inevitable score-line. Kobelco should win this comfortably by 20 points or more.
This game has been cancelled because of the M6.7 Earthquake in Hokkaido
2018 Sept 8th (Saturday) – Saga Stadium, Saga (17.00)
(White Conference)
Wild Knights are unbeaten in ten games against Coca-Cola. The closest the Fukuoka-based Red Sparks have come to beating Panasonic was in the 2012-13 season where the team from Tokyo held on to win 25-24. The biggest winning margin between these two sides happened 10 years ago when the Wild Knights racked up 75 points to Coca-Cola’s 17. Last week the Red Sparks team was thrashed 43-3 by Yamaha Jubilo while Panasonic ground out a hard-fought victory over the Kubota Spears. Can the Red Sparks turn it around in the space of seven days? Probably not, but let’s hope that playing at home can inject some spark into their players.
Prediction:
After just one round of games the Red Sparks are in deep trouble. On Saturday they will come up against a hungry Panasonic team who are looking to add a fourth Top League title to their already impressive cabinet. The Wild Knights should demolish the Red Sparks by 25 points or more.
2018 Sept 8th (Saturday) –Wave Stadium, Aichi (17.00)
(Red Conference)
This match will be the first ever meeting of these two teams. Last week the Toyota Industries Shuttles scraped past NEC 9-8 without scoring a try. Newly promoted Hino Red Dolphins impressively put the Manukata Sanix Blues to the sword, running out comprehensive 30-point winners. Interestingly, the Blues finished 13th in the 2017-18 Top League season - one place below the Shuttles. This weekend will be Hino’s first away-match of the season. The Red Dolphins possess a powerful forward pack that had the upper hand over their week one opponents and scored two rumbling tries. The Shuttles may have their hands full at set-piece time and will need to get across the whitewash if they are to have any chance of winning.
Prediction:
Hino look strong and should easily beat the Shuttles by seven points or more on the back of some dominant forward play despite being away from home.
2018 Sept 8th (Sat) –Suzuka, Mie (17.00)
(White Conference)
These two teams have only ever met once. Last weekend the Heat scored five tries but still managed to lose to Ricoh Black Rams in a thrilling 34-39 try-fest. The Eagles on the other hand produced a stunning upset over highly touted Toshiba, winning 26-20. This weekend’s match has the potential to produce another electrifying spectacle. Both teams enjoy playing attacking rugby with the ability to score from anywhere on the park.
Prediction:
With home advantage the Honda heat should beat the visiting Canon Eagles by seven points or less.
2018 Sept 9th (Sunday) –Komazawa, Tokyo (14.00)
(White Conference)
In round one, the Black Rams outscored Honda Heat six tries to five to win by five points. Toshiba was upset in their opening game, losing 26-20 to the Canon Eagles. Michael Leitch though scored a brilliant individual try from 40m out during the game. After receiving a pass in midfield, the big no. 8 powered through two defenders, got tackled, released the ball and then picked it back up. Leitch smashed his way through four more tacklers on the way to the try-line. Brave Lupus though have to be hurting after letting the game slip in the final stages and will be focused on getting their season back on track.
Prediction:
Based on the history between the two teams, Toshiba should be too strong for the Black Rams and ought to win by seven points or more.