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The Japan Rugby Top League Play-off Tournament 2009-2010
The Japan Rugby Top League Play-off Tournament 2009-2010
The play-off finals series for Japan Rugby Top League 2009-10 involves the top four finishers on the final Top League points table. Under the tournament format, the team that finishes first plays the team that finishes fourth while second plays third. Consequently, in one semi-final of the 2010 Play-off Tournament, first placed Sanyo Wild Knights (59 points) played fourth placed Toyota Verblitz (48) while in the other semi, second placed Suntory Sungoliath (58) played third placed Toshiba Brave Lupus (52).
Sanyo beat Toyota 25-21, while Toshiba beat Suntory 35-24 to set up a Sanyo – Toshiba final for the second year in a row.
Final Preview
Sanyo Wild Knights (Top League 1) v Toshiba (Top League 3)
Date: Sunday, 31 January 2010.
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.
Kick-off: 14:00.
Recent Encounters
Sanyo 24 d Toshiba 18 (TL 2009-10)
Toshiba 17 d Sanyo 6 (Microsoft Cup final 2009)
Toshiba 62 d Sanyo 13 (TL 2008-9)
Sanyo 25 d Toshiba 21 (Microsoft Cup SF 2008)
Sanyo 41 d Toshiba 0 (TL 2007-8)
Toshiba 66 d Sanyo 30 (TL 2006-7)
Sanyo 51 d Toshiba 32 (TL 2005-6)
Toshiba 31 d Sanyo 14 (TL 2004-5)
Toshiba 36 d Sanyo 34 (Microsoft Cup 2004)
Toshiba 38 d Sanyo 9 (TL 2003-4)
Final Preview
Last weekend in the semi-finals, Toshiba beat Suntory 35-24 and Sanyo beat Toyota 25-21 to set up a Toshiba - Sanyo final for the second year in a row. Since the Play-off Tournament was introduced into Top League in the 2006-7 season, both of these sides have appeared in three of the four finals. For Sanyo, they will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky as they lost 17-6 to Toshiba in the final last year and 14-10 to Suntory in 2008. On the other hand, Toshiba took the title last year and also in 2007 with a dramatic come from behind 14-13 win over Suntory.
In the only meeting between these two teams since the corresponding final twelve months ago, Sanyo beat Toshiba 24-18 on this same ground back in early September in the 2009-10 Top League season opener. Sanyo went from strength to strength winning all their games right up to the final round when they drew 16-all with Suntory. Consequently, Sanyo are still to be beaten this year as they proved to be the most consistent week in week out performer in the League.
Sanyo and Suntory ran neck-and-neck throughout the season in the battle to claim top stop leaving Toshiba as something of a grey horse. As it turned out, Sanyo finished on top on 59 points, Suntory second on 58 points and Toshiba third on 52 points leaving it something of a three horse race for the title. After the initial loss to Sanyo, Toshiba suffered a further setback in Round Four when they lost 12-8 to Toyota who eventually finished in fourth place on 48 points. The Brave Lupus then chalked up a string of impressive wins before stumbling to a 59-22 loss to Suntory in the local west Tokyo derby in Round Twelve. Perhaps this worked in their favour as the spotlight was then well and truly off the defending champions leaving them the space to plot their revenge over Suntory. After being down 21-7 at halftime in the semi-final clash with the Sungoliath last weekend, Toshiba stamped their big match authority on the second half to run out 35-24 winners.
On paper at least, many Japanese rugby fans may consider that Sanyo deserve to win this final after paying their dues over the years and being the form team this season. However, the Wild Knights will have to put in one more mighty performance to overcome Toshiba if they are to take their first ever Top League title. Toshiba know how to perform at the business end of the season and now that they are in the final they will be able to sniff their third trophy in four years meaning they will be very difficult to beat. This should ensure a fantastic tussle to bring down the curtain on the seventh season of Japan Rugby Top League.
In other Japan Rugby Football Union News...
Japan Rugby Top League Promotion & Relegation: Top Challenge Series 2009-10 – Game 3 Preview
Top Challenge One (TC1)
At the completion of the thirteen rounds of Top League, the two bottom teams, that is, the teams that finish thirteenth and fourteenth, are automatically relegated. These two relegated sides are then replaced by the two teams that finish first and second in the Top Challenge series. The teams that top the three regional leagues below Top League, that is Top East, Top West and Top Kyushu, play each other once with the top two sides gaining automatic promotion to Top League for the 2010-11 season. The team that finishes third in TC1 has a second bite of the cherry in a one-off Promotion and Relegation play-off with the team that finished twelfth in Top League in 2009-10, that is, Ricoh Black Rams. This year, NTT Communications (Top East), Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West) and Mazda Zoomers (Top Kyushu) contested TC1 with the top two finishers gaining automatic promotion to Top League to replace relegated Honda Heat and Kyuden Voltex. NTT Communications and Toyota Jido Shokki were promoted to Top League for the first time.
NTT Communications Shining Arcs (Top East 1) v Toyota Jido Shokki (Top West 1)
Date: Saturday, 30 January 2010.
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.
Kick-off: 14:00.
When Mazda suffered their second loss of the series last Saturday at the hands of Toyota Jido Shokki in Osaka it automatically handed promotion to Top League for 2010-11 to both the Toyota side and NTT Communications. However, there is still plenty to play for as NTT and Toyota Jido Shokki will now battle it out for the final spot in the National Championship as the Top Challenger. The winner of this encounter will meet Tokai University in Tokyo in the first round of the National Championship on the first Sunday in February.
Top Challenge Two (TC2)
The three sides that finish in second position in their respective regional leagues take part in TC2. These three sides play each other once with the top side winning the right to take on Kintetsu Liners, the team that finished 11th in Top League in 2009-10, for a place in Top League for next season. The other two sides are then finished for the season. This year, Yokogawa Atlastars (Top East), NTT Docomo (Top West) and Chugoku Electric (Top Kyushu) will contest TC2. Yokogawa Atlastars defeated Mitsubishi Dyna Boars 35-30 on Monday, 11 January 2010 at Chichibu in Tokyo in the play-off for second place in Kanto.
Yokogawa Atlastars (Top East 2) v NTT Docomo (Top West 2)
Date: Saturday, 30 January 2010.
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.
Kick-off: 12:00.
Both Yokogawa and NTT Docomo had big wins over Chugoku Electric but it now all boils down to this game as to who will face Kintetsu Liners in the final Top League Promotion and Relegation Play-offs. Yokogawa may well rely on their previous experience from playing in Top League last season to get them across the line but NTT Docomo can also be expected to fight tooth and nail to the end.
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