Wallaby Marika Koroibete scored his first two tries of the season and Springbok Lood de Jager also crossed for unbeaten Saitama Wild Knights in the defending champions' 34-19 win over Toyota Verblitz in Japanese rugby's League One on Sunday.

With the game tied 7-7 in the 23rd minute, de Jager rumbled over, Takuya Yamasawa added his second conversion and the hosts never looked back at Saitama Prefecture's Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.

Koroibete, who was named man of the match, showed his pace to score in the 26th minute.

Wallaby Marika Koroibete (top) scores a try for the Saitama Wild Knights against Toyota Verblitz in their Japanese rugby League One game at Saitama Prefecture's Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Jan. 15, 2023. (Kyodo)

Yamasawa added the extras and kicked two penalties that sent the hosts into the changing rooms with a 27-14 lead.

Koroibete delivered a series of clutch and ferocious tackles as the Wild Knights repeatedly turned the visitors away, and in the 71st minute, the wing powered over to score his second try.

Saitama's four points lifted them to the top of the first-division table with 17 points from four games.

Elsewhere, Black Rams Tokyo won 34-22 at Shizuoka Blue Revs with Matt McGahan scoring 24 points on a try, two conversions and five penalties.


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