Saitama Wild Knights Maintain Perfect Record with Victory Over Toyota Verblitz
The Saitama Wild Knights continued their impressive run in Japan Rugby League One, securing a convincing 38-22 victory against Toyota Verblitz on January 19 at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. Star player Damian de Allende showcased his talent by scoring two tries, leading the unbeaten Knights to another dominant performance.
De Allende, a center who has twice lifted the Rugby World Cup with South Africa, opened the scoring for the Wild Knights in the seventh minute by capitalizing on an offload from teammate Dylan Riley. This early score set the tone for the match, as Saitama quickly gained momentum.
By halftime, the Wild Knights had established a significant lead of 21-5, thanks to tries from Esei Haangana and Atsushi Sakate. The second half saw de Allende further contribute to the team's success, notably with a powerful kick return that allowed Ben Gunter to score shortly after the break.
Demonstrating sharp instincts, de Allende intercepted a loose ball, securing his second try of the match in the 67th minute. Wild Knights flyhalf Kyohei Yamasawa was flawless in his kicking, successfully converting all five tries and adding a penalty to the scoreline.
In contrast, the Toyota Verblitz, coached by former All Blacks mentor Steve Hansen, faced challenges throughout the match and now find themselves struggling in the league with only one win and a draw from five games this season. Reports suggest that the team may look to sign former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, who might come out of retirement to replace injured star Pieter-Steph du Toit, who has yet to play this season.
In other matches from the first division, Tokyo Sungoliath triumphed over Mie Heat with a score of 27-19, featuring a standout performance from Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe. Additionally, Kobe Steelers' Kanta Matsunaga shone brightly in their match against Urayasu D-Rocks, scoring three tries in a commanding 50-22 victory.
