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AAP
AAP

Savea scores four tries in big Japanese club rugby win

World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea has scored four tries as Dave Rennie's Kobelco Kobe Steelers blitzed Steve Hansen's Toyota Verblitz 57-22 to move into the top four in Japan Rugby League One.

While the former Wallaby coach never faced off against ex-All Blacks mentor Hansen in the Test arena, Sunday's crushing victory ensured the bragging rights for his team, which included the All Blacks trio of Savea, Ngane Laumape and Brodie Retallick.

Loose forward Savea, who is enjoying a season-long sabbatical at Kobe and will be available to New Zealand later in the year, scored two tries in each half, while flyhalf Bryn Gatland also scored two tries in an all-round performance that netted 27 points.

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