TOYOTA, Aichi (Kyodo) -- Richie Mo'unga led Japan Rugby League One champions Brave Lupus Tokyo to a 33-22 win over Toyota Verblitz with a brace of tries on Saturday.

The clash at a rain-soaked Toyota Stadium in central Japan's Aichi Prefecture pitted Mo'unga against his former New Zealand halfback partner Aaron Smith, starting at No. 9 for Steve Hansen's struggling Verblitz.

Mo'unga scored the opening try in the third minute after Brave Lupus winger Jone Naikabula broke the line out wide and found the streaking flyhalf in space.

Todd Blackadder's side led 21-10 at the break, having finished the half with 14 men after Shannon Frizzel was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow for a dangerous hit on former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper, who scored Toyota's first try in the 31st minute.

Siosaia Fifita's converted effort brought the hosts to within a single score at 26-22 with six minutes left, but a stolen lineout near the Toyota tryline led to Mo'unga sealing the match at the death, with Smith's tackle not enough to stop him dotting down.

"(Toyota) really put pressure on us today and the weather played a big part in that, but we're happy to get the win," Mo'unga said. "Nuggy (Smith) is a world-class player. It's always good to play old friends and awesome to see him still playing really well."

In other results, the Shizuoka BlueRevs sprang an upset by holding on for a 22-17 victory against the previously unbeaten Saitama Wild Knights, who will meet Brave Lupus next Saturday in a top-of-the-table battle between last season's finalists.

"They (Saitama) are the benchmark, they're always the top of the competition," Mo'unga said. "It will be an awesome challenge for us as a team to see where we're at, and it will be good game."