Japan Rugby League One 2024-25 - Quarterfinal - Shizuoka Blue Revs vs Kobelco Kobe Steelers

It's Japan Rugby League One Playoffs time, and Shizuoka Blue Revs face Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the first Division 1 quarterfinal on Saturday, 17th May at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in what is a repeat match of last weekend’s final round of regular season games, which the Blue Revs won.

Only one place on the log separated the teams after Round 18, and the manner of the 29-23 win last week for the Shizuoka Blue Revs will largely be forgotten by both teams as they head into this knockout round.

This is the first time that the Blue Revs have reached the playoff tournament in Japan Rugby League One, and they come into the match with momentum on the back of eight wins in their last nine JLRO matches. They will be hoping they can carry that momentum into the fourth edition of Japan Rugby League One’s semifinals.

Coach Yuichiro Fujii has a mix of local and international talent to draw on. Charles Piutau does start at centre, while Sam Green is at flyhalf (who ended up with the division’s 7th highest point tally), and scrumhalf Shuntaro Kitamura is having a great year and has racked up the tries. Inspirational captain Kwagga Smith will start on the bench and look to make an impact when called upon.

Valynce Te Whare is also a threat on the right wing with more than 1,000 metres gained this season, while centre Viliami Tahitu'a has constantly been among the leading carries and defenders beaten stats.

Kitamura has the third most tries in the division with 14 and said via JRLO, "Of course, I think there will be a different tension than in league matches, but we all believe that if we can play the rugby we've been playing this season 100%, we won't lose."

There are some real veterans in blue. Both Yuya Odo and Takeshi Hino were in the starting line-up when Yamaha Motor Jubilo finished as runners-up in the Top League in the 2014-2015 season and won their first championship a decade ago, and both are in the starting line-up on Saturday.

Odo said, "There will be a lot of pressure when we enter the field, but the important thing is not who the opponent is, but how we play, so we want to focus on ourselves and play.” Although his regular position is at lock, he starts on the flank for the match.

Captain Smith said in the pre-game press conference that their intention is to dominate the Kobe side at the set piece. Hino added, "If we are passive from the start, it will be difficult for the game, so we need to land the first punch and show our strengths. I think it's important to show the way we want to play and our intentions through our play, including the first scrum.”

Kobelco Kobe Steelers Head Coach Dave Rennie has recalled some serious talent after being rested last week, with skipper Brodie Retallick back as well as at fullback and another international with 18 Japan appearances, co-captain Lee Seung-sin. He will offer the last line of defence, knowing he will be on top of his game to stop the dangerous running threats of the BlueRevs. The former Wallaby boss made seven changes in total from last weekend.

Left wing Kanta Matsunaga has scored the joint most tries for the Kobe side and sits on 11 tries for this season. He has only one more score than captain Retallick!

Rennie said that the team will need to be accurate and brutal in the physicality. However, the side won't have centre Ngane Laumape, Scotland’s George Turner, Japan’s Tiennan Costley or wing Ataata Moeakiola for the match.

In the centres, they do still have quality and experience with Japan Brave Blossoms, Timothy Lafaele at inside centre & Michel Little at outside centre pairing up. At flyhalf, Bryn Gatland will control things for the side hunting a semifinal playoff, but they play a side high in confidence and with threats across the park. Gatland had the third-most points in the division at the end of the regular season.

The winner on Saturday will head to a daunting semifinal to play defending champions Toshiba Brave Lupus on Saturday 24th May.