Japanese Top League - Now showing on Stan!

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ben Smith rejoining Kobe Steelers after "retiring" last year:

All Blacks legend comes out of retirement with immediate effect - Ruck

Kobe Steelers have announced that he is returning to the club, having announced in December 2021 that he had left/retired.

www.ruck.co.uk

 

[Dismal Pillock]

They can't let go.

- Kev Mealaumu played centuries for AB's then 8 YEARS after retiring decides he's a pro boxer.
- K. Read retires 2 seasons too late and immediately starts running like he's Forrest Gump
- Mcawe plays centuries in perpetual agony then finally retires and immediately trades in rugby agony for coast-to-coast endurance race agony.
- Dan Carter tried to come back, again, as recently as January this year. He's 40.

After being That Guy for so long it must be so weird for it to so abruptly be taken away. Wonder if AB environ has any "letting go" counselling? Their whole identity is wrapped up in being one thing.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Kobe vs Canon was a cracking watch. The intensity has gone way up these days. Faf, Kriel, Brodie etc.

Ngani Laumape though. WFT is the guy doing. Subs on with 20 to go looking in magnificent shape, destroyer of worlds shape..... damn this is gonna be good, bloke will bulldozer their ballz off....... then he proceeds to avoid all physical contact as well as the ball for the entire 20 mins. Did nothing, did not touch the ball. A terrifying ornament.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Oh look, there's Charles Piutau.

Charles motherf****** Piutau.

Cash dried up at the Bristol City Rec Centre XV? Off to cash in at the Shizuoka Water Gush Invitational Mercenary XV.

ZERO legacy.

ZERO stature.

Fuck NZ, fuck the Auckland Blues and fuck the All Blacks.

20kg heavier and about 10kg overweight. He's now built like John Afoa.

I am still as incensed today as the day he left.

They took a Lotus Elite and turned it into a Toyota Hilux with half a ton of fertiliser dumped on the back.

 

[MungoMan]

DP, that is a deeply impressive level of anger, resentment and spite.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Thanks, I've been working hard on it.

 

[PhilClinton]

Valynce Te Whare has gone from essentially being cast out of the NRL and 20kgs overweight to starting in the Japanese league as a winger, playing pretty well and only being 10kg overweight.

It’s part of the reason why player success in the Japanese comp is a such a weird barometer when we’re trying to assess if someone is ready for international duties.

 

[Dctarget]

And Cheslin Kolbe has been playing like ass in Japan.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

He doesn't look physically too bad at the moment but maybe it's amongst Rugby guys who generally aren't as lean as the RL.

I can imagine he would of stuck out at training when lagging in the constant up and back of League but in Rugby you can essentially float around the field and pick the moments to inject yourself as an outside back.

 

[RebelYell]

Sean McMahon player of the match for Suntory.

 

[Upthemaroon!]

To be fair, the food in Japan is better and less calorie dense. A cheeky zinger meal is easily 25 sushi rolls.

 

[Derpus]

KFC everywhere in Japan

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Fried Chicken and unreal Sandwiches in every Lawson's, Family Mart, 7Eleven & Ministop.

You could do yourself no end of damage in Japan.

 

[Derpus]

Not to mention the 11% highballs available 24/7...

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Toyota Verblitz

Michael Hooper
Richie Gray
Aaron Smith
Matt McGahan
Joseph Manu

Brave Lupus

Warner Dearns
Peabrain Frizell
Michael Leitch
Richie Mounga
Seta Tamanivalu
Rob Thompson

33-22 fo Lupus. First time I've watched a j-match and thought the intensity/entertainment value is up to the same level as Super Rugby

 

[Viewglazer990]

Toyota Verblitz

Michael Hooper
Richie Gray
Aaron Smith
Matt McGahan
Joseph Manu

Brave Lupus

Warner Dearns
Peabrain Frizell
Michael Leitch
Richie Mounga
Seta Tamanivalu
Rob Thompson

33-22 fo Lupus. First time I've watched a j-match and thought the intensity/entertainment value is up to the same level as Super Rugby

looks a lot more impressive and exciting on paper than it is on tv

 

[LevitatingSocks]

How has the Joey Manu experiment gone in Japan? Don't follow the Japanese leagues closely but have heard he's been underwhelming from people around me.

 

[Strewthcobber]

How has the Joey Manu experiment gone in Japan? Don't follow the Japanese leagues closely but have heard he's been underwhelming from people around me.

Hard to tell just off the number obviously, but he's played every game (12) and has as 8 tries from 9 starts.

His Verblitz team are rubbish though, coming second last with two wins (even with Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Gray)

 

[Braveheart81]

Good finish in the most recent game (hate that I am reposting a tweet from this account)

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1903902285723316225

 

[Derpus]

Good finish in the most recent game (hate that I am reposting a tweet from this account)

https://x.com/T2Rugby/status/1903902285723316225

it would be weird if they started deeming those finishes illegal