Ex-All Black Richie Mo’unga leads Brave Lupus to dramatic Japan Rugby League One final win

In a thrilling Japan Rugby League One final, the Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, led by ex-All Black Richie Mo’unga, secured a dramatic 24-20 victory over the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in front of a massive crowd of 57,000 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.The Wild Knights, boasting the talents of Springboks stars Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager, fell just short in their bid for a seventh title.

Fijian-born winger Jone Naikabula was the star of the show for the Brave Lupus, scoring two tries and setting up the match-winning try for replacement centre Yuto Mori in the 74th minute. Naikabula’s individual brilliance earned him the man-of-the-match honours, as he consistently threatened the Wild Knights’ defence throughout the game.

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The Wild Knights, coached by Robbie Deans, dominated the match’s early stages but could only manage two penalty goals from flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda. Brave Lupus, under the guidance of former All Blacks captain Todd Blackadder, weathered the early storm and took the lead through Naikabula’s controversial first try in the 27th minute, which Mo’unga converted.

Naikabula’s second try came just before halftime, following a yellow card to Wallabies star Marika Koroibete for a high tackle on the Fijian winger. With a numerical advantage, the Brave Lupus extended their lead to 17-6 early in the second half.

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The Wild Knights fought back with tries from Ben Gunter and Taiki Koyama, taking a 20-17 lead with just ten minutes remaining. However, Naikabula’s incredible sideline dash set up Mori’s decisive try, putting the Brave Lupus ahead for good.

Despite the best efforts of de Allende and de Jager, who have been standout performers for the Wild Knights this season, the Brave Lupus’ resilience and determination proved too much in the end. De Jager, who narrowly missed out on the title last year, will be disappointed not to have secured the trophy this time around.

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In a dramatic conclusion, the Wild Knights thought they had won the match when Tomoki Osada crossed the line in the 89th minute. However, the try was disallowed due to a forward pass from retiring veteran Shota Horie in the build-up, ending his 16-year career in heartbreaking fashion.

The victory marked the Brave Lupus’ sixth title in Japan’s professional era, drawing them level with the Wild Knights. It also provided Todd Blackadder with his first championship as a coach, having previously come close during his time with the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

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Mo’unga’s leadership and experience proved vital for the Brave Lupus, as he guided the team to their first title since the 2009-10 season. The All Black flyhalf and teammates Shannon Frizell and Michael Leitch played a crucial role in the team’s success throughout the season.