Brumbies beat Japan Sunwolves in Tokyo — but not before a scare

Change your opinion of the Sunwolves, Australia. The Japanese team added to the Australian conference almost got the champs.

Jason Emery of the Sunwolves is tackled by Chance Peni-Ataera of the Brumbies during the Super Rugby round 2 match in Tokyo.

Change your opinion of the Sunwolves, Australia. The easybeat Japanese team added to the Australian conference almost shocked the champions, the Brumbies, in Tokyo today before losing 32-25.

The Brumbies must have rubbed their hands together when they were awarded a first-up match in the Japanese capital against the side that finished second last in 2017, but at one point 34 minutes into the match they found themselves trailing three tries to one, 19-8, and looking decidedly rattled.

An impromptu try to centre Kyle Godwin after Sunwolves playmaker Robbie Robinson had his clearing kick charged down settled the Brumbies and narrowed the gap to 19-15 at halftime. They then were gifted another huge piece of luck shortly after the resumption when halfback Yutaka Nagare passed turnover ball straight into his left-hand upright, with the rebound bouncing kindly for Tevita Kuridrani to score.

It was a little concerning when the Brumbies were forced to resort to their driving maul strength to score their fourth try, to hooker Josh Mann-Rea, but they certainly lived up to coach Dan McKellar’s promise of more expansive play when winger Chance Peni and replacement backrower Lachie McCaffery exercised fingertip control to move the ball out to winger Tom Banks for a brilliant try in the left-hand corner.

McKellar’s expectation was that his side would show signs of rust first-up and so they did, with their formidable pack unable to make any impression on the Sunwolves scrum. And with the Japanese line speed clearly rattling the Brumbies attack in the first half, it took a settling word from the coaches and some second wave attack to buy some room for the Canberra team after the break.

Hosea Saumaki of the Sunwolves takes on the defence of Henry Speight of the Brumbies.

Still, at no stage did the Brumbies manage to get a three-try jump on their opponents for the bonus point and in the end it was the Sunwolves who earned a point for losing as they took two easy second half goals to finish up within seven points of the Australians.

It was widely tipped that the Sunwolves would suffer from not having had much time to come together as a team, but the flip side was that they had all just come from a Top League season with their company sides and they still were full of running deep into the second half.

Lock Richie Arnold performed well in his debut for the Brumbies until he was replaced by his twin, Rory, early in second half while the side was also well served by backrowers Isi Naisarani and Tom Cusack, although there was concern for 19-year-old debutant Rob Valetini who came off after only 20 minutes with an apparent leg injury. He too had looked positive in everything he did and it is to be hoped that he does not have to spend long on the sideline.

Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano looked solid in his first starting appearance since 2016, although he did have trouble with the swirling breeze, managing only three from six off the kicking tee.

The Brumbies next game is on Friday at Suncorp Stadium against a Reds side which not only conceded seven tries in losing 45-19 to the Rebels but also has had skipper Scott Higginbotham and lock Lukhan Tui cited for dangerous tackles. Ironically, Higginbotham might fare better at the judiciary than Tui even though he was red-carded after only nine minutes for a tackle on Matt Philip. But Tui has come in for widespread criticism for his lifting tackle on Will Genia, even though he “only” earned an on-field yellow card.