KLA steals show as the new #hotstepper in Japan

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WRAP: Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse showed his immense talent as he scored a try on debut for his new Japan League One club Dynaboars.

Arendse's side recorded a 31-19 win over D Rocks in Round one of the Japan League One.

The Dynaboars trailed 9-11 at halftime but put their newly promoted opponents away in the second half with four tries,
including one by Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Aside from the try, the Bok, who is on a sabbatical in Japan, also set up his team's comeback try with a spectacular play.

Arendse was named the Man of the Match.

Elsewhere, Kubota Spears snatch a memorable 30-27 win at the expense of Toyota Verblitz, after having trailed for much of the contest.

Despite out-scoring their rivals five-tries-to-three, it took until the 75th minute for the ex-Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley to find the posts, finally nailing the conversion of second row Merwe Olivier's try, which drew the 2022-23 champions level, 27-27.

While their off-season signing from Wild Knights, Rikiya Matsuda, was faultless off the tee, and high-profile rugby league convert Joseph Manu marked his first game of professional rugby union with a try, it proved in vain as Foley nailed an 83rd minute dropped goal to seal the deal.

The 30-27 defeat represented a disappointing start for Steve Hansen and reunited assistant Ian Foster's side, after another off-season of star recruitment.

Defending champions, Brave Lupus, needed all those qualities, as they came from behind to edge Eagles, 28-21.

The home side led 16-7 at halftime, with returning Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk a try-scorer, but they couldn't sustain the momentum as Todd Blackadder's side fought back with three second half tries, including one each from All Blacks, flyhalf Richie Mo'unga and back row Shannon Frizell.

Japan Rugby League One – Round One Results

Division One

Saturday, December 21

Mie Heat 23, Black Rams 21
Blue Revs 15, Kobe Steelers 13
Wild Knights 33, Suntory Sungoliath 12

Sunday, December 22
Dynaboars 31, D-Rocks 19
Tokyo Bay 30, Verblitz 27
Brave Lupus 28, Eagles 21

Division Two

Shuttles Aichi 24, Liners 20
Voltex 27, Seawaves 23

Sunday, December 22
Blue Sharks 25, Red Dolphins 24
Red Hurricanes 34, Green Rockets 13

Division Three

Saturday, December 21

Hiroshima 61, Red Regulions 26

Sunday, December 22

Toda 25, Fukuoka 17
Rugguts 24, Akishima 15