Super Rugby: Tokyo side's Super debut ends in defeat to Lions
Last Updated: 01/03/16 5:05pm
Tokyo-based Sunwolves were beaten 26-13 by the Lions on their Super Rugby debut.
The Johannesburg-based Lions dominated the first half with tries by Robbie Coetzee and Courtnall Skosan to take 12-6 lead at half-time, and that became 19-6 early in the second half after a try by Jaco Kriel and conversion by Elton Jantjies.
Shota Horie gave the capacity crowd a thrill when he scored the Sunwolves' historic first try in the 59th minute, but hopes of a comeback were soon ended when Lionel Mapoe went over for another try for the Lions in the 65th minute.
New Zealander Mark Hammett, the former All Blacks hooker, was introduced as coach of the Sunwolves in December and his team have only had only one formal trial match before Saturday's contest.
"You can always handle losing if you know the players gave everything," Hammett said. "We are very proud of our players given the short time that was involved in getting ready."
With a 34-man squad that includes just 15 players with Test experience, there were concerns the Sunwolves may be overwhelmed in their first season but Saturday's performance indicated they will be competitive at least in their first year.
"We played well defensively," Hammett said. "On attack, we showed that we can keep up with the Super Rugby pace. The speed is there. It's just the physicality that we need to work on."
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann was pleased not just with the victory, but the spread of Super Rugby to a new frontier.
"Congratulations to Japan and the Sunwolves for hosting the match," Ackermann said. "It's going to be great for Japan and you could see that from all the excitement in the stands. It was a tough game. The Sunwolves played well and I give them a lot of credit."
