Māori All Blacks Claim Victory Over Japan XV in High-Scoring Tokyo Thriller

TOKYO — The Māori All Blacks have opened their year with a hard-fought victory on the international stage, defeating the Japan XV 38-31 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium. Reporting by Stuff sports staff details a game of two halves on Saturday, 28 June 2025, where the visitors overcame a slow start to dominate the final stages of the match. The Japanese side established a strong early lead, with the Māori All Blacks conceding 24 points in the opening half. However, the New Zealand side responded with a clinical second-half performance, scoring 31 points after the break. The comeback was sparked by Bailyn Sullivan, who crossed the line for the first Māori All Blacks try of the second period. The momentum shifted decisively in the final 20 minutes as the Māori All Blacks piled on four additional tries. Crusaders pivot Taha Kemara proved instrumental in the late-game surge, scoring the go-ahead try in the 75th minute to put his team in front for the first time. The victory was eventually sealed in the 80th minute when Rakete-Stones crashed over the line to complete a run of 24 unanswered points. Photographs from the Tokyo venue captured key players Rivez Reihana and Zarn Sullivan in action during the high-pressure fixture. The result marks a successful start to the 2025 campaign for the Māori All Blacks, showcasing the team's resilience and attacking flair in front of the Japanese crowd. The team will look to build on this performance as they continue their international programme.