George Kruis' Wild Knights on top in Japan rugby

Former Australian Under-20 centre Dylan Riley scored three tries as the Panasonic Wild Knights crushed Yamaha Jubilo 55-19 to win the white conference of Japan’s Top League.

Riley’s hat-trick helped Panasonic to complete the preliminary program unbeaten at the weekend, earning top seeding from the section, and home advantage for their first game of the league’s elimination series in two weeks.

That engagement could see Panasonic coach Robbie Deans matched against two of his former Wallabies charges, with the Wild Knights drawn to host the winner of next weekend’s game between the Munakata Sanix Blues and the Kintetsu Liners.

Quade Cooper compare Japan to Super Rugby:

Quade Cooper compare Japan to Super Rugby:

Kintetsu, who earned their place by finishing second in the Top League challenger tournament, feature former Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia, who were both given their Test debuts during Deans’ five-and-a-half-year tenure coaching Australia.

The five-time Super Rugby-winning former Crusaders coach, who has been associated with three Top League titles at Panasonic, has so far presided over a campaign that has seen the Wild Knights surpass 45 points in five of their seven outings.

Although held to a draw by a Kobelco Steelers side that featured three All Blacks, four Japanese internationals and eight players with Super Rugby experience, Panasonic finished two points above the defending champions on the conference standings.

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That allows them to avoid red conference champions Suntory Sungoliath until the May 23 final should both conference champions successfully negotiate their first three elimination matches.

Suntory wrapped up the red section unbeaten by despatching the NTT Comm Shining Arcs 94-31 in a remarkable game that featured 18 tries, three of which were scored by All Blacks star Beauden Barrett in just 18 minutes on the field.

The most significant result on that side of the draw saw Wallaby captain Michael Hooper get the better of former teammate Bernard Foley, as Toyota Verblitz beat the Kubota Spears in a thriller 25-24, scoring the winning try in the 82nd minute.

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Former Wallaby prop Paddy Ryan’s Sanix lost 14-49 to the Toshiba Brave Lupus, while the Mitsubishi Dynaboars must also brave the first weekend of sudden death after they crashed to a 55-7 loss against the Honda Heat.

An 83rd minute try saw Kobe edge the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes 31-29 to remain unbeaten, while Damien Hill’s Ricoh Black Rams trounced the Hino Red Dolphins 41-19 to finish fourth in the white section.

The loss condemned Hino to an early entrance to sudden death play next weekend, where they will be joined by the NEC Green Rockets, who finished the white conference winless after a 71-24 loss to the Canon Eagles.