Kubota’s Shaun Stevenson relishing Chiefs reunion in League One final

Kubota Spears full-back Shaun Stevenson is relishing the prospect of going up against his former Chiefs teammates Brodie Retallick and Anton Lienert-Brown in Sunday’s League One final against Dave Rennie’s Kobe Steelers. 

Once-capped All Black Stevenson, 29, who will become eligible for Samoa in August, has been in sublime form for Frans Ludeke’s finalists and will take centre stage at Tokyo’s National Stadium (MUFG Stadium). 

The Auckland native, who missed last season’s play-offs due to a clause in his Chiefs contract which saw him finish the campaign playing Super Rugby, has scored six tries and 72 points. 

His kicking ability has been a major asset for Frans Ludeke’s side, with his three successful penalties proving to be the difference in last week’s 26-24 semi-final win against Saitama Wild Knights.  

The stats back up Stevenson’s enormous contributions, with his 1433 metres gained only second to Suntory’s Cheslin Kolbe (1489), while he’s made 48 offloads which only Shizuoka’s Semi Radaradra (52) has bested.  

His consistency and Kubota’s progression into the final, after stern play-off tests against Richie Mo’unga’s defending champions Toshiba and Damien de Allende’s Saitama, has elevated his name into the conversation for the Most Valuable Player award alongside Kobe Steelers’ talismanic captain and his ex-Chiefs skipper Retallick. 

“I’ve been thinking about it, coming up against some former teammates,” Stevenson told Talking Rugby Union. 

Evergreen Retallick, 35, is the competition’s leading try scorer with 17 in 19 games and new All Blacks head coach Rennie has routinely called him the ‘best lock in the world’ this season. 

“A few of us Chiefs boys have been unlucky not to win something so one of us will be happy on Sunday and one of us is not going to be happy,” he joked. 

Stevenson believes that Rennie’s table-topping side, who are chasing their first title since 2018, have been the competition’s standard bearers this season.  

"Kobe have been the standout side all season so they’re going to be very strong. 

“You just have to look at the clinic they put on against Suntory (Sungoliath) in the semi-final (69-23).” 

Kobe’s heavy artillery includes Retallick, 2023 World Player of the Year Ardie Savea, ex-Maori All Blacks captain Ash Dixon, the competition’s leading tackler Tiennan Costley and fellow Japan international Waisake Raratubua who has made the club’s coveted number eight jersey his own this season. 

Their well-equipped backline includes Japan’s leading fly-half Lee Seung-sin, All Blacks midfielder Lienert-Brown and rookie sensation Shunsuke Uenobo who looks poised to make his Brave Blossoms bow this summer. 

“We know what's coming,” said Stevenson. 

“The final is all about small moments so if we can get that right then we’ll be there or thereabouts. 

“There’s one game to go and then the boys can put their feet up. We’re excited for a big game on Sunday.” 

Stevenson sees the 2023 champion’s pedigree and experience of showpiece finals as a key factor in helping them to prepare mentally as well as physically.  

“It’s not just about what we do on the field, it’s also about the work we put in off the field when it comes to recovery and preparing so well. 

“We’re fresh and we’re ready to go,” he added.  

“A final is all about the mental side of the game and that’s what we’ve talked about. Now we have to execute our game plan.” 

Kobe (1-15): Shigure Takao, Ash Dixon, Hiroshi Yamashita, Brodie Retallick (c), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tiennan Costley, Ardie Savea, Waisake Raratubua, Itsuki Kamimura, Lee Seung-sin, Inoke Burua, Tali Ioasa, Anton Lienert-brown, Kazuma Ueda, Shunsuke Uenobo 

Replacements: Kenta Matsuoka, Sho Maeda, Jiwon Gu, Naohiro Kotaki, Solomone Funaki, Daiki Nakajima, Bryn Gatland, Michael Little 

Kubota (1-15): Yota Kamimori, Hayate Era, Keijiro Tamefusa, Merwe Olivier, David Bulbring, Akira Ieremia, Takeo Suenaga, Faulua Makisi (c), Ippei Okada, Bernard Foley, Haruto Kida, Yuya Hirose, Rikus Pretorius, Koga Nezuka, Shaun Stevenson 

Replacements: Rikuto Fukuda, Kazuki Kato, Opeti Helu, David Van Zeeland, Lappies Labuschagné, Bryn Hall, Atsushi Oshikawa, Halatoa Vailea