Andries Bekker's Kobe Kobelco Steelers crashed out of the Japanese Top League with a 43-12 semi-final defeat to Yamaha Júbilo on Saturday.

Bekker made little impact in the game and failed to take control of the lineouts, while Jaque Fourie did not play because of injury. Kobe coach Gary Gold cut a dejected figure in the stands as his team, who had topped the log, were taken apart by a side they had beaten by a similar margin during the group stage.

Yamaha scored two tries to race into a 14-0 lead and while the Steelers hit back with one of their own, the men in blue grabbed their third to make it 22-5 at half-time.

They would score another three in the second half to qualify for the final, where they will play JP Pietersen's Panasonic Wild Knights or Frans Steyn's Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Sunday's semi-final will be broadcast live on SuperSport 6 from 7am.

Photo: Yamaha