Former Wallaby five-eighth Matt Giteau has guided his Japanese club Suntory Sungoliaths into a third successive Top League final by coolly slotting a sudden-death extra time penalty to eliminate Yamaha Jubilo.
Giteau nailed a 42-metre kick five minutes into the extra time to give the two-time defending champions a 28-25 victory at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Stadium on Saturday.
Suntory will play Kobe Steelers, who feature resurgent Wallaby Adam Ashley-Cooper, in next Saturday's final.
Yamaha were penalised for a ruck infringement to give Giteau, who earlier set up two of Seiya Osaki's three tries, the opportunity to land the decisive blow.
In the other semifinal Kobe advanced to their first Top League final by beating Toyota Verblitz 31-19,
Giteau's long-time All Black adversary Dan Carter scored a try, kicked four penalties, a conversion and set up Kobe's match-sealing score for Fraser Anderson.
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