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Damian McKenzie and Israel Folau absent from League One lineups
Two of Japan Rugby League One’s biggest stars, Damian McKenzie and Israel Folau, haven’t been named to play for their respective teams this weekend.
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Neither player will take to the field in round four of the competition, with McKenzie absent from the Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath match day squad for their clash against the Tokyo Black Rams.
It’s the first time this season the 26-year-old fullback, who has been instrumental in guiding Suntory to an unbeaten start to the season, has been absent from the club’s match day squad this season.
After McKenzie piled on a collective total of 45 points in his side’s first two victories of the year against the Toshiba Brave Lupus and Toyota Verblitz, Suntory will be without the 40-test All Black’s playmaking guile at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on Sunday.
However, Suntory are still equipped with plenty of star power, with Wallabies duo Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon both named to start at centre and openside flanker, respectively.
Past and present Brave Blossoms internationals, such as Hendrik Tui, Tevita Tatafu and captain Naoto Saito, have also been included in Suntory’s starting lineup.
The Black Rams, meanwhile, have ex-Wallabies wing Joe Tomane on the bench and former Queensland Reds prospect Isaac Lucas at first-five.
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Similarly to McKenzie, Folau hasn’t been named to play for the Shining Arcs Tokyo-Bay Urayasu for their away clash with the Yokoahama Canon Eagles at The NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium on Sunday.
The 32-year-old fullback has been a key figure for the Shining Arcs this season, scoring two tries to propel his side to a tight season-opening victory against the Kobelco Kobe Steelers three weeks ago.
The divisive ex-Wallabies star also cut a prominent figure during his side’s loss to the Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay a fortnight ago, but has not been named in his side’s match day squad for the first time this year.
The match will, however, act as former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw’s first Shining Arcs appearance of the year after the veteran halfback missed his side’s opening two fixtures of the year.
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Laidlaw will partner ex-Blues, Hurricanes and Maori All Blacks playmaker Otere Black in the halves, while former Wallabies loose forward Liam Gill has been selected at No 8.
That trio will come up against a Canon Eagles side headlined by Springboks wing Jesse Kriel, Wales lock Cory Hill, Brave Blossoms No 8 Amanaki Mafi and captain Yu Tamura.
In Sunday’s other Division 1 fixture, Springboks loose forward Kwagga Smith will make his first League One appearance of the year as the Shizuoka Blue Revs, formerly Yamaha Jubilo, host the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes Osaka in Iwata.
Smith has been denied the chance to feature at all this season as the Blue Revs had their first three fixtures of the year cancelled due to a Covid outbreak within their squad.
As such, they are yet to register a competition point and lie in second-last place, ahead of the last-placed Red Hurricanes only by points difference.
In Division 2, the Mie Honda Heat, featuring ex-All Blacks wing Matt Duffie, will field Springboks lock Franco Mostert for the first time this year when they host TJ Faiane’s, Jack Debreczeni’s and Nasi Manu’s Hino Red Dolphins in Suzuka.
Sunday’s only other match comes in Division 3, where the Kyuden Voltex take on the Munakata Sanix Blues in Fukuoka.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments