Rugby fans in Tokyo found out on Saturday what Tongans and New Zealanders have known for years -- just how inspirational a player Inoke Afeaki is.

News photoKobelco Steelers fullback Takafumi Hirao scores a try in the 11th minutes of Saturday's Top League game against the Sanyo Wild Knights at Kobe Wing Stadium.

The Tongan captain led from the front, scoring two tries, as the Secom Rugguts just edged out the Fukuoka Sanix Bombs 34-28 at Chichibunomiya in a game that virtually assured Sanix would be one of the two teams automatically relegated from the Top League at the end of the season.