Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has branded Japan’s Super Rugby team as “embarrassing” after they were beaten 92-17 by the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs scored 14 tries against the Sunwolves who are at the end of a four match tour of Singapore and South Africa.
The winning margin is Super Rugby’s biggest this season and surpasses the Chiefs 53-10 victory over the Force.
The all time Super Rugby record high score is 96 which the Crusaders scored against the Waratahs in 2002.
Super Rugby’s biggest winning margin was a 92-3 Bulls victory over the Reds in Pretoria in 2007.
SuperSport TV analyst Mallett said the match was not good for Super Rugby or the Tokyo-based newcomers.
“It was embarrassing,” Mallett said on SuperSport after the match.
“Imagine what the score line could have been if the Sunwolves were playing one of the top New Zealand teams.”
“The Sunwolves lost heart and belief and gave up long before the final whistle. This match was not a proper reflection of Super Rugby.
“They had no defensive structures and when they did get the ball, repeatedly committed handling errors.”
Mallett’s co-host Naas Botha was also critical of the Sunwolves who have now lost seven consecutive matches.
“There was no commitment, no sharpness, and they have a lot of tough fixtures ahead. Any team could have shone against them tonight.”
Sunwolves captain Shota Horie said that the loss was particularly disappointing as they wanted to lift the spirits of their countrymen after a series of earthquakes hit Japan.
Japan was hit by powerful ‘quake hit the south of the country early on Saturday – a day after a strong tremor in the same area killed nine people, injured hundreds and toppled buildings.
“We wanted to play good rugby, to be courageous, to raise the morale of our people in the aftermath of the earthquakes, but it was not to be,” said Horie.
“It is a difficult result to accept. We host Argentina’s Jaguares in Tokyo next weekend and we must work much harder and rebuild our confidence.”
