Former NRL star Joseph Manu’s debut season in rugby union keeps on getting better, with the 28-year-old scoring his ninth try from 13 appearances to lead Verblitz to a vital 29-17 win over Yokohama Eagles in Japan Rugby League One.
Just four players in the league have scored more tries than the ex-Sydney Roosters star, with his five-pointer today allowing Verblitz to over-turn a two-point deficit at halftime to secure their third win of the season.
The Steve Hansen-coached outfit have been in the relegation zone for the past five weeks, but are now two points above Mie Heat, who lost 59-21 to Brave Lupus Tokyo.
In a remarkable match, Wallaby fullback Tom Banks scored for Heat, while All Blacks backrower Shannon Frizell scored a hat-trick in the final 10 minutes for the defending champions, who have become the first side to qualify for the finals.
While still fifth, former Wallaby coach Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers are on course to join them after holding off Black Rams Tokyo 27-24 to move 11 points clear of sixth-placed Yokohama with five matches of the regular season to play.
The Steelers overcame two yellow cards in the first half, with Scottish hooker George Turner scoring while they were reduced to 13 men, which allowed Kobe to fight back after trailing 14-0.
Former Queensland Reds second rower Harry Hockings returned after three games on the sidelines to help Tokyo Sungoliath to an invaluable 23-17 win over Sam Greene’s Shizuoka BlueRevs.
The win allowed the five-time champions of Japan, who also boast former Wallaby backrower Sean McMahon, to draw level with Yokohama in the race for the post-season, although they have a difficult finish with Saitama Wild Knights and Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay still to come.
Saturday’s other matches saw the Wild Knights stop the rot after back-to-back defeats with a strong second half to beat Urayasu D-Rocks 54-26, while the Spears were too good for Sagamihara Dynaboars, easing to a 33-5 victory.
