Former Wallabies coach guides Kobe to Japan playoffs
The Steelers beat the Sagamihara Dynaboars 59-33 on Saturday to lock up fifth spot on the standings.
Rennie has presided over steady improvement at the Kansai-based club since he joined two years ago, with Saturday's success earning Kobe a shot at the post-season for the first time since their last title seven years ago.
One of the teams standing in Kobe's way is also coached by a former Wallaby boss in Robbie Deans, whose Saitama Wild Knights remain top of the table despite a valiant effort from Black Rams Tokyo, with All Black scrumhalf TJ Perenara scoring two tries in their 27-21 loss.
Spears Funabashi Bay, who play the Wild Knights in a box-office clash next weekend, remain second after coming from behind at halftime to beat Mie Heat 39-20.
Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx scored twice, after former Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley scored the Spear's opening try.
Kobe's likely opponents in the playoffs, Shizuoka BlueRevs, were led by another length-of-the-field try from former NRL winger Valynce Te Whare, as they came back from 0-21 down to beat Yokohama Eagles 38-28 on Sunday.
The 24-year-old's sixth try of the season, and second in three weeks, was part of a period where the BlueRevs scored 31 unanswered points to seal a win that could have ended the chances of Wallaby Mathew Philips' Eagles making the playoffs.
Yokohama trail Tokyo Sungoliath by six points with two games remaining after ex-All Black skipper Sam Cane scored twice in Sunday's 45-28 win over Verblitz.
Steve Hansen's side remain in relegation peril ahead of next week's clash with the Heat, who are one place below, with the losers likely to join Urayasu D-Rocks in the end-of-season promotion/relegation series.
Samu Kerevi's ninth try from his past eight appearances couldn't prevent D-Rocks slumping to their 13th defeat of a wretched season, after the league's bottom-placed side were outclassed 61-19 by champions Brave Lupus Tokyo on Friday night.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
18 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies fight back to stun South Africa at Ellis Park
Johannesburg: Australia rallied from 22-0 down as captain Harry Wilson scored two tries in a stunning 38-22 bonus-point victory over South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday, the Wallabies' first victory at Ellis Park since 1963. South Africa raced into a commanding lead inside the first quarter through tries by wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Andre Esterhuizen and number eight Siya Kolisi, but their Achilles heel this season has been the breakdown and it was there that Australia began to take control. The Springboks led 22-5 at halftime but Australia came alive in the second period and were excellent in soaking up pressure and hitting the world champions with fast breaks as they won on South African soil for the first time in 14 years. Winger Dylan Pietsch, centre Joseph Suaalii, winger Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright also crossed for the visitors in one of Australia's greatest Test wins.
The Age
18 minutes ago
- The Age
Wallabies fight back to stun South Africa at Ellis Park
Johannesburg: Australia rallied from 22-0 down as captain Harry Wilson scored two tries in a stunning 38-22 bonus-point victory over South Africa in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday, the Wallabies' first victory at Ellis Park since 1963. South Africa raced into a commanding lead inside the first quarter through tries by wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Andre Esterhuizen and number eight Siya Kolisi, but their Achilles heel this season has been the breakdown and it was there that Australia began to take control. The Springboks led 22-5 at halftime but Australia came alive in the second period and were excellent in soaking up pressure and hitting the world champions with fast breaks as they won on South African soil for the first time in 14 years. Winger Dylan Pietsch, centre Joseph Suaalii, winger Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright also crossed for the visitors in one of Australia's greatest Test wins.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Adelaide edge Collingwood in thriller to keep top spot
Adelaide have ended their Collingwood hoodoo with a nerve-jangling three-point triumph to keep their grip on top spot. The Crows trailed by 25 points at quarter-time but prevailed 9.5 (59) to 8.8 (56) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night - their first win against the Pies since 2016. Adelaide (68 premiership points) will finish first entering the finals if they defeat 17th-placed North Melbourne next Saturday. Collingwood (60 points), with five losses from their past six games, are fourth and in a logjam jostling for positions ahead of their Friday-night fixture against Melbourne. The Crows had lost their past 10 games against Collingwood, preceded by a 2017 draw. But with victory before a sold-out crowd of 54,283 - the second-largest attendance at an AFL game at the Oval - Adelaide equalled their club-best returns of 17 wins and five losses in 2005 and 2012 - a win over the Roos will create a new benchmark. "We didn't play our best footy and we found a way (to win)," Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said. "I know the belief is there, we know how to win." The Crows were jumped by a fast-starting Collingwood, who produced a first-term blitz to create a 25-point quarter-time lead, 5.3 to 1.2. But Adelaide flipped the script in the second term, with ex-captain Taylor Walker kicking two of five unanswered goals for the hosts. A late strike from Izak Rankine gave Adelaide a five-point edge at halftime, 6.3 to 5.4. The third quarter, amid rain, was tight - neither team managed a goal until Adelaide's Isaac Cumming scored in the 27th minute. But Pie forward Jamie Elliott replied, threading a set shot from an acute angle, to reduce Adelaide's advantage to two points at three-quarter time, 7.6 to 6.8. Another scoring stalemate ensued in a tense finale: a goalless 17-minute stretch was broken when Crow James Peatling snapped accurately. But Magpie Jack Crisp responded six minutes later to reduce the margin to three points, only for key Crow Riley Thilthorpe to then take a superb contested mark and convert. Again the Pies responded, with a long bomb from Nick Daicos leaving the visitors three points down with almost four minutes remaining, but Adelaide grimly held on for victory. "We didn't quite get the four points but we leave here not with our tail between our legs," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said. "It was a hard game, a finals-type game ... it was a real tactical battle." Ex-Crow skipper Walker and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each, while defenders Josh Worrell (27 disposals), Mark Keane (23) - who rebounded the ball from Adelaide's defensive 50m arc some 13 times - and captain Jordan Dawson (23) were influential. Collingwood's Nick Daicos was superb with a game-high 29 possessions and a goal. Veteran Scott Pendlebury (24 touches) was prominent, especially early, Darcy Cameron (23 disposals) ruled the rucks, and forwards Elliott and Tim Membrey booted two majors apiece. Adelaide have ended their Collingwood hoodoo with a nerve-jangling three-point triumph to keep their grip on top spot. The Crows trailed by 25 points at quarter-time but prevailed 9.5 (59) to 8.8 (56) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night - their first win against the Pies since 2016. Adelaide (68 premiership points) will finish first entering the finals if they defeat 17th-placed North Melbourne next Saturday. Collingwood (60 points), with five losses from their past six games, are fourth and in a logjam jostling for positions ahead of their Friday-night fixture against Melbourne. The Crows had lost their past 10 games against Collingwood, preceded by a 2017 draw. But with victory before a sold-out crowd of 54,283 - the second-largest attendance at an AFL game at the Oval - Adelaide equalled their club-best returns of 17 wins and five losses in 2005 and 2012 - a win over the Roos will create a new benchmark. "We didn't play our best footy and we found a way (to win)," Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said. "I know the belief is there, we know how to win." The Crows were jumped by a fast-starting Collingwood, who produced a first-term blitz to create a 25-point quarter-time lead, 5.3 to 1.2. But Adelaide flipped the script in the second term, with ex-captain Taylor Walker kicking two of five unanswered goals for the hosts. A late strike from Izak Rankine gave Adelaide a five-point edge at halftime, 6.3 to 5.4. The third quarter, amid rain, was tight - neither team managed a goal until Adelaide's Isaac Cumming scored in the 27th minute. But Pie forward Jamie Elliott replied, threading a set shot from an acute angle, to reduce Adelaide's advantage to two points at three-quarter time, 7.6 to 6.8. Another scoring stalemate ensued in a tense finale: a goalless 17-minute stretch was broken when Crow James Peatling snapped accurately. But Magpie Jack Crisp responded six minutes later to reduce the margin to three points, only for key Crow Riley Thilthorpe to then take a superb contested mark and convert. Again the Pies responded, with a long bomb from Nick Daicos leaving the visitors three points down with almost four minutes remaining, but Adelaide grimly held on for victory. "We didn't quite get the four points but we leave here not with our tail between our legs," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said. "It was a hard game, a finals-type game ... it was a real tactical battle." Ex-Crow skipper Walker and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each, while defenders Josh Worrell (27 disposals), Mark Keane (23) - who rebounded the ball from Adelaide's defensive 50m arc some 13 times - and captain Jordan Dawson (23) were influential. Collingwood's Nick Daicos was superb with a game-high 29 possessions and a goal. Veteran Scott Pendlebury (24 touches) was prominent, especially early, Darcy Cameron (23 disposals) ruled the rucks, and forwards Elliott and Tim Membrey booted two majors apiece. Adelaide have ended their Collingwood hoodoo with a nerve-jangling three-point triumph to keep their grip on top spot. The Crows trailed by 25 points at quarter-time but prevailed 9.5 (59) to 8.8 (56) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night - their first win against the Pies since 2016. Adelaide (68 premiership points) will finish first entering the finals if they defeat 17th-placed North Melbourne next Saturday. Collingwood (60 points), with five losses from their past six games, are fourth and in a logjam jostling for positions ahead of their Friday-night fixture against Melbourne. The Crows had lost their past 10 games against Collingwood, preceded by a 2017 draw. But with victory before a sold-out crowd of 54,283 - the second-largest attendance at an AFL game at the Oval - Adelaide equalled their club-best returns of 17 wins and five losses in 2005 and 2012 - a win over the Roos will create a new benchmark. "We didn't play our best footy and we found a way (to win)," Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said. "I know the belief is there, we know how to win." The Crows were jumped by a fast-starting Collingwood, who produced a first-term blitz to create a 25-point quarter-time lead, 5.3 to 1.2. But Adelaide flipped the script in the second term, with ex-captain Taylor Walker kicking two of five unanswered goals for the hosts. A late strike from Izak Rankine gave Adelaide a five-point edge at halftime, 6.3 to 5.4. The third quarter, amid rain, was tight - neither team managed a goal until Adelaide's Isaac Cumming scored in the 27th minute. But Pie forward Jamie Elliott replied, threading a set shot from an acute angle, to reduce Adelaide's advantage to two points at three-quarter time, 7.6 to 6.8. Another scoring stalemate ensued in a tense finale: a goalless 17-minute stretch was broken when Crow James Peatling snapped accurately. But Magpie Jack Crisp responded six minutes later to reduce the margin to three points, only for key Crow Riley Thilthorpe to then take a superb contested mark and convert. Again the Pies responded, with a long bomb from Nick Daicos leaving the visitors three points down with almost four minutes remaining, but Adelaide grimly held on for victory. "We didn't quite get the four points but we leave here not with our tail between our legs," Collingwood coach Craig McRae said. "It was a hard game, a finals-type game ... it was a real tactical battle." Ex-Crow skipper Walker and Darcy Fogarty kicked two goals each, while defenders Josh Worrell (27 disposals), Mark Keane (23) - who rebounded the ball from Adelaide's defensive 50m arc some 13 times - and captain Jordan Dawson (23) were influential. Collingwood's Nick Daicos was superb with a game-high 29 possessions and a goal. Veteran Scott Pendlebury (24 touches) was prominent, especially early, Darcy Cameron (23 disposals) ruled the rucks, and forwards Elliott and Tim Membrey booted two majors apiece.
