THE Sun wolves rounded off their second year in Super Rugby with a maiden win over New Zealand opposition, upsetting the Blues 48-21 in the final round of the season.
With two years to go until Japan hosts their first Rugby World Cup, the Tokyo-based franchise relied on Samoan centre Timothy Lafaele to kick start a second-half comeback after the Blues took a 21-14 lead into the break.
A sin bin for flanker Jerome Kaino proved the turning point as his high tackle on Willy Tupou saw him sent to the sidelines.
Using the extra man to their advantage the hosts scored 12 unanswered points through a penalty try and Kaito Shigeno.
The All Black back-row returned to the field to find the balance of the game firmly in the hands of the Sun wolves, coached by former Osprey Filo Tiatia, who scored five tries in the second half.
Lafaele steered his team to only a second win of the season and claimed a hat trick in the process with two late scores to add to his first-half try.
Yoshitaka Tokunaga concluded proceedings by scoring the Sun wolves eighth try of the match, a dent to the egos of New Zealand’s ‘almost’ team who have lost as many games as they have won.
Blues coach Tana Umaga kept his players out of the firing line and took the blame upon himself, saying: “I’ve got to look at myself and the way I help prepare this team and whether we did that right coming over early and trying to motivate them for a one-off game after the break. I'll look at myself first before I look at the players and that performance.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
