Two-time NRL premiership winner Joey Manu has scored a try but was denied a winning start to his career in Japan Rugby League One after an injury-time dropped goal by ex-Wallabies No.10 Bernard Foley secured Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay a dramatic 30-27 win over Verblitz in Tokyo.
Earlier on Sunday, Foley had been unable to buy a goal, missing four consecutive conversions as Brave Blossoms five-eighth Rikiya Matsuda – who replaced Beauden Barrett at Verblitz – converted all three of his side’s tries, and added two penalty goals, to keep the visitors ahead.
Despite Manu being withdrawn from his first game of professional rugby after an hour, Verblitz retained their lead until Foley finally found his range, converting South African second-rower Merwe Olivier’s 35th-minute try to draw the 2022-23 champions level.
The 35-year-old completed the comeback with a smartly taken kick to hand Verblitz boss Steve Hansen and his new assistant Ian Foster a first-up loss.
Newly promoted Urayasu D-Rocks were beaten on their introduction to Division One, going down 31-19 to Sagamihara Dynaboars despite the presence of multi-code star Israel Folau, whose appearance offers promising signs after he missed much of the last two seasons.
All Blacks Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell stepped up after the break to get Brave Lupus Tokyo home 28-21 against Yokohama Eagles, both scoring tries after a try from Springbok halfback Faf de Klerk had helped the Eagles to a 16-7 halftime advantage.
Saturday provided contrasting fortunes for the league’s two former Wallabies coaches, with Saitama Wild Knights providing Robbie Deans with a winning start following a comfortable 33-12 win over Tokyo Sungoliath, while Dave Rennie’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers were felled by an 85th-minute try as they lost 15-13 to Shizuoka Blue Revs.
Kobe paid the price for their ill discipline, losing ex-Blues second-rower Gerard Cowley-Tuioti to a red card in the 62nd minute, and midfielder Ngane Laumape for a dangerous tackle in injury time, with Blue Revs crossing for the winner two minutes after the former All Blacks’ exit.
Liam Gill scored twice for his new club, but it was not enough as the ex-Wallabies’ Black Rams Tokyo lost 23-21 to Mie Heat with former Saracens No.10 Manu Vunipola kicking the match-winning penalty goal in the 81st minute.
Veteran Wallaby Quade Cooper’s Hanazono Liners were also denied by the boot of an Englishman when Division Two kicked off, as ex-England five-eighth Freddie Burns scored 19 points for Shuttles Aichi in a 24-20 win at Osaka.
