The Maori All Blacks opened their short international season with a 53-20 hiding of a Japan XV at Prince Chichibu Stadium in Tokyo.
It was close for 50 minutes, with Japan XV only trailing 20-22 after leading 17-15 at halftime. However, the Maori charged home with a wet sail and scored six unanswered tries to prevail handsomely.
Here are five players who stood up and made an impact on the game that was.
Sam Nock
The turning point came in the 52nd minute when Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific champion Rivez Reihana pierced through the Japanese defense and connected with Sam Nock. While hitting the ground, the halfback popped a delightful offload to fullback Zarn Sullivan, who scored a try.
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Seven minutes later, the 82-game Blues veteran scored a try with a rapid dummy and dash following a break from Sullivan, who was later rewarded with a try. There were eight Blues selected in the squad, with a 43rd-minute try by lock Laghlan McWhannell from a rampaging 20-metre run, another highlight. Cole Forbes and Kurt Eklund also dotted down.
The Nock-Reviz Reihana combination clicked quickly. The pair often feature for Northland in NPC, where Nock has played 86 games and Reihana 38 games. Nock has won five of his six appearances for the Maori All Blacks and scored three tries.
Jonah Lowe
Despite losing all six games for the Highlanders in 2025, the 29-year-old winger might be in career-best form. He scored six tries in those appearances, with doubles against the Hurricanes and Moana Pasikfia, reinforcing a growing maturity. Lowe is proficient in defense and seeks work rather than waiting for the action to come to him.
He had ten carries for 62 meters gained, beating five defenders, making two line breaks, and assisting in the scoring of two tries. Lowe has won all six games played for the Maori All Blacks, scoring six tries.
Jahrome Brown
The openside flanker topped the tackle count with 18 and made seven assertive carries in a solid 80-minute debut. Brown won all seven matches he played for the Chiefs this season but struggled to get a look in towards the business end of the calendar. His last appearance was in a 46-10 hiding of the Highlanders on April 19.
Charlie Lawrence
The diminutive second-five eighth has been a consistent performer for Toyota Verblitz (37 games) and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars (17 games) for the past five seasons.
Direct and skillful, Lawrence made 11 robust carries and 11 tackles in a busy performance. Lawrence was born in Hong Kong, the son of a Malaysian father and English mother. He started playing rugby in Malaysia and spent some time in Australia before eventually settling in New Zealand. In 2013, Hamilton Boys’ High School won the National Under-15 rugby title for the first time, having been runners-up on nine previous occasions. Lawrence captained the team that won all 17 games and went on to win Super 8 titles at second and First XV level.
Lawrence isn’t the first Hamilton Boys’ student to achieve international honours in Japan. Brothers Nicholas and Patrick McCurran have also accomplished the feat.
Kazuma Udea
Hadn’t scored a try in any game since April 26. He collected two beauties in this clash with his ninth-minute finish after Japan XV pounced on an error from Maori All Blacks hooker Kurt Ekuland, a spectacular highlight. The 22-year-old has come from the Japanese Sevens team and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While his future looks promising, it’s remarkable that Japan’s top side hasn’t beaten an opponent ranked in the top ten in the world since hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
