Chiefs lose battle to Wild Knights
Ayoung Gallagher Chiefs side fell 38-14 to a strong Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights side packed with Kiwi ex-pats in the Cross Border Rugby pre-season match at Kumagaya Stadium in Japan on Sunday.
The Cross Border Rugby games have been played with teams of 28 players, giving an additional five reserves.
This extended format allows sides to trial combinations and ensure players get valuable game time ahead of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific kickoff in late February.
The Gallagher Chiefs were led by newly named vicecaptains Kaylum Boshier and Rameka Poihipi in the absence of Luke Jacobson, who is on All Blacks playing leave.
A few lights shone for the visitors, but the unbeaten Japan Rugby League One Division 1 Conference B tabletoppers controlled the match from start to finish, under general first five-eighth Rikiya Matsuda.
Many players were seen for the first time in the Chiefs kit, including Te Awamutu Sports and Waikato outside back Cody Nordstrom.
Counties Manukau winger Peniasi Malimali was a strong runner for the Chiefs, while former All Black halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi brought a much-needed change of pace when he took the field for Xavier Roe.
In his return from a serious knee injury, Quinn Tupaea was a sight to behold.
Tupaea showed strength in several tackle busts, proving himself again ahead of the 2024 season.
Naitoa Ah Kuoi led from the front with strong runs all match, while reserve lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit did the same. Reserve prop Reuben O’Neill had a rough return to the Chiefs side after last representing them in 2021.
The No. 18 spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin after an unnecessary ruck clean-out in the 58th minute.
Former Chiefs flanker Lachlan Boshier, brother of Kaylum, was an absolute stand-out for the Wild Knights side, constantly making a pest of himself at the breakdown while also making holes in the Chiefs’ defence.
Other Wild Knights players to stand out were Japanese internationals Dylan Riley and Matsuda, while Springboks midfielder Damian de Allende and Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete were constant threats.
Former Hurricanes lock Liam Mitchell brought impact off the bench.
The Robbie Deans-coached Wild Knights had control for much of the game, scoring first through hooker Atsushi Sakate.
This was followed by an opportunistic try through halfback Taiki Koyama following a lapse of judgement by the Chiefs in the in-goal area.
Further tries were scored by Koroibete, former Hurricanes lock Mark Abbott and replacement Takuya Yamasawa.
Matsuda was perfect off the tee, with Yamasawa also converting his own try.
The Chiefs’ first try was scored in the 51st minute by Josh Ioane, previously behind 17-0.
Their second try occurred in the 79th, with prop Aidan Ross crossing the chalk.
Ioane and Riley Hohepa added a conversion a piece to round out the scoring.
The Gallagher Chiefs’ next Cross Border Rugby match is against the Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday (6.30pm New Zealand time).
Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 38 (Tries: Atsushi Sakate, Taiki Koyama, Marika Koroibete, Mark Abbott, Takuya Yamasawa. Conversions: Rikiya Matsuda (4), Takuya Yamasawa. Penalties: Rikiya Matsuda)
Gallagher Chiefs 14 (Tries: Josh Ioane, Aidan Ross. Conversions: Josh Ioane, Riley Hohepa)