Saitama Wild Knights came storming back with 35 unanswered second-half points to claim a 43-27 win over Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One on Saturday.
Tomoki Osada scored a brace of tries for the Wild Knights, while opposing winger Viliame Tuidraki ran in a hat-trick to help the visitors take a 27-8 lead into halftime at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.
The match pitted Saitama head coach Robbie Deans against New Zealand compatriot and former coaching rival Steve Hansen, in his role as Toyota's director of rugby.
While Hansen had the upper hand while coaching the All Blacks against Deans' Wallabies in the early 2010s, the former Australia mentor earned bragging rights in their latest encounter thanks to a characteristically strong second half from the Wild Knights.
The 2022-23 League One runners-up woke up after a lackluster opening period and led for the first time in the 65th minute at 29-27 when Rikiya Matsuda converted Taiki Koyama's try.
Saitama went further ahead when Dylan Riley crossed after intercepting New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith's pass. They added another try through Itsuki Onishi, with Matsuda slotting the extras to tally 13 points for the game.
In the day's other top-flight action, star Tokyo Sungoliath import Cheslin Kolbe notched his first League One try in a 44-36 comeback victory over Kobe Steelers, while Black Rams Tokyo were 41-14 winners against Hanazono Liners.
Former Japan winger Akihito Yamada, meanwhile, scored his 100th try in Japanese professional rugby for second-division Kyuden Voltex in their 20-11 win against Kamaishi Seawaves. The 38-year-old dotted down in the 18th minute at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu.
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