Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has scored a quick-fire hat-trick of tries in the second round of Japanese club rugby.
In his second season in Japan, 73-Test veteran Folau bagged his three tries in the space of 11 minutes before being substituted midway through the second half.
His Urasayu D-Rocks team continued their unbeaten season start in second division with a 68-17 thrashing of Shimizu Kotu Blue Sharks.
A successor to Folau as Wallabies fullback, Tom Banks scored his first try in Japanese club rugby as his MIE Honda demolished Kamaishi Seawaves 75-15 in another second division match.
In the top division, ex-Wallabies coach Robbie Deans’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights were hard pressed but extended one of the most remarkable streaks in professional rugby.
A 79th minute converted try enabled them to beat Shizuoka Blue Revs 15-14, notching their 34th straight win in a streak dating back to the 2019 playoffs.
Two missed conversions in the last five minutes by Wallabies five eighth Bernard Foley proved costly as his Kubota Spears Tokyo drew 27-27 with Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Although he succeeded with four penalty goal attempts, Foley was unable to convert any of Kubota’s three tries.