Ackermann triumphs in Japan

It may have gone totally unnoticed given the two massive finals this past weekend in EPCR competitions, but across in Japan former Lions and South African A coach Johan Ackermann had massive success in winning promotion to the Japanese Division one as his Urayasu D-Rocks beat Hanazone Kintetsu Liners in their promotion battle.

Ackermann’s coaching has gone unnoticed while he has been in Japan but the feat of getting the club promoted was his main aim since taking the job.

The D-Rocks was formed last year after combining two NTT Communications-owned sides - the Shining Arcs and Red Hurricanes and was sweet revenge after the Liners dispatched them last season to Division two.

After they won the away leg by nine points, Ackermann’s team scored first through former Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia but were trailing at the break and had to fight back from 23-11 down as Quade Cooper kept Kintetsu in the lead.

Ackermann’s side made it through Divison two unbeaten and what made their success even sweeter was that it was achieved despite the minimal role of star player Israel Folau, with the injury plagued duel international playing just 64 minutes across two appearances.

Although also hampered by injury, fellow Wallaby star Samu Kerevi featured in 10 of his new side’s 14 matches after an off-season transfer from Sungoliath.

The Toshiba Brave Lupus won the Japanese Top Division title on Saturday, as they beat the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 25-20 in front of a crowd of 57000 in Tokyo.

The win gave Todd Blackadder his first major title as coach, while Richie Mo’unga played a pivotal role in his side’s victory.

Double World Cup winner Damian de Allende was in the Wild Knights side, which included Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete. The Wild Knights could have snatched victory at the end but the TMO denied their try in the 79th minute after a 15-phase build-up because of a forward pass.