Boks bring the heat to Japanese winter
Eight Springboks ran out in the latest round of Japanese Rugby League One.
Bok No 8 Jasper Wiese started for the Urayasu D-Rocks in their 28-22 win against the Yokohama Canon Eagles. Springbok centre Jesse Kriel captained the Eagles, while former Sharks flanker Jeandre Labuschagne featured off the bench.
Centre Lukhanyo Am ran out for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in a 47-22 defeat to the Toshiba Brave Lupus at the Uvance Todoroki Stadium in Kanagawa. Lock Friedle Olivier made an appearance from the bench.
Springbok centre Damian de Allende and lock Juan Wilson ran out for the Saitama Wild Knights in a 37-22 win against the Shizuoka Blue Revs. Flank Kwagga Smith captained the Blue Revs, while former Lions backs Sanele Nohamba and Sylvian Mahuza were replacements.
Cheslin Kolbe started on the wing in the Suntory Sungoliath’s 22-20 loss to the Kobe Steelers at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.
Ex-Western Province and Bulls hooker Schalk Erasmus started alongside former Lions lock Lourens Erasmus for the Toyota Verblitz in a 37-29 defeat to Black Rams Tokyo in Fukuoka.
Ten South Africans featured in the Kubota Spears’ convincing 45-21 win against the Honda Heat at the Suzuka Sports Garden Ground in Mie. World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx, locks David Bulbring, Ruan Botha and Merwe Olivier and No 8 Tyler Paul were in the pack, while former Stormers centre Rikus Pretorius was in the backline. Prop Mattys Basson, lock Janko Swanepoel, flank Franco Mostert and centre Dawid Kellerman all started for the Heat.
Photo: Megumi Masuda/@Canon_Eagles