Deans’ Wild Knights stay top with clean sheet
The Robbie Deans-coached Panasonic Wild Knights maintained their advantage in the Top League after another dominant performance in Japan, outclassing the Canon Eagles 47-0.
The only side in the competition’s White conference to have gained maximum points after three rounds, Deans’ men also became the first to hold an opponent scoreless in the competition this year, with the Eagles unable to trouble the scorers despite fielding South African stars Jesse Kriel and SP Marais, and the Japanese World Cup firstfive-eighth Yu Tamura.
Panasonic are one point ahead of Wayne Smith’s Kobelco Steelers on the standings, after the latter scored eight tries during a 52-7 win over the Agustine Pulu-led Hino Red Dolphins.
All Black lock Brodie Retallick was a tryscorer for the second week running, while Hayden Parker and Aaron Cruden contributed three conversions each.
TJ Perenara scored a late try to rescue his side, as the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes won a game after the 80th minute for the second time in three weeks, seeing off the Ricoh Black Rams 22-17.
The All Black halfback’s side appeared on course for a comfortable victory when it led 17-5 with 10 minutes left before two tries in five minutes, the second of which was converted by the former North Harbour first-five-eighth Matt McGahan, tied the game and threatened to spoil the Red Hurricanes’ perfect record. They are sure to be threatened again this week, when they face Panasonic.
Fourth-placed Yamaha Jubilo beat the NEC Green Rockets 59-31.
In the Red section, Suntory Sungoliath also have maximum points after three rounds, savaging the Munakata Sanix Blues 75-10 at Kofu.
Beauden Barrett and Tevita Li were among the tryscorers, with Barrett converting all but one of Suntory’s 11 tries to take his record to 20 successes from 24 attempts on goal so far during his maiden Top League season.
Although the Corey Brown coached Sanix did manage one try, the Suntory defence is nearly as mean as Panasonic’s, having conceded just 31 points across three matches.
Ryan Crotty started for the first time as the Kubota Spears maintained their position a point behind Suntory on the standings with a 34-24 win over the NTT Shining Arcs in Tokyo.
The former All Black midfielder played the full game although Kubota, while maintaining their unbeaten start to the season, were denied a tryscoring bonus point.
Wallaby captain Michael Hooper also started for the first time, with Kieran Read coming from the bench for the last 30 minutes as Toyota Verblitz stayed on Suntory’s tail with a 45-3 win over the Danny Lee-coached Honda Heat.
Former Highlanders midfielder Rob Thompson scored one of Toyota’s seven tries, two of which went to South Africa’s World Cupwinning fullback Willie le Roux.
Todd Blackadder won the battle of the New Zealand coaches as his Toshiba Brave Lupus team opened their account for the season with an emphatic 58-7 triumph over Greg Cooper’s Mitsubishi Dynaboars.
The former Crusaders and Chiefs halfback Jack Stratton scored 18 of Toshiba’s points, including a try, while the former Crusaders and All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu was also a tryscorer.
The win moved Toshiba up to fourth, although they are eight points behind the third-placed Toyota.