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All Blacks great Dane Coles robbed of swansong
With the semi-finalists and Replacement Battle (promotion/relegation series) candidates all but sorted, the final round of the regular season in Japan Rugby League One, which kicks off on Saturday, will be as much about individual goals as it will be team ones, for many of the players involved.
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Those preparing for their final hit-out split into two distinct groups: for the foreign players, it is the chance to leave Japan on a high, signing off on a positive note before they head home.
For those locals whose league trail ends – which includes eight members of last year’s Rugby World Cup squad – it is the one remaining opportunity to impress returning Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones, as he closes in on his selections for the mid-year tests, including against his former team England, which will be followed by the Pacific Nations Cup.
There is also the not inconsiderable matter of gaining the highest possible finishing places for their clubs, especially in the congested mid-table, where three candidates are still in the running to finish fifth.
Kobelco Kobe Steelers hold the best cards as the current occupants of the position, even though they will be without World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea.
With a final day assignment at eleventh-placed Mie Honda Heat, against who they have won the last eleven, theirs is a strong hand.
Toyota Verblitz (sixth) and Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay (seventh) can still trump them but only if Dave Rennie’s men fold.
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Following last week’s dramatic finish to beat Yokohama, Steve Hansen’s Verblitz will be hoping to make their final bow just as successful against Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo.
Unfortunately, Dane Coles won’t get the chance for an on-field sign off for Kubota against Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath following the hamstring injury that rubbed him out of last weekend’s win over the Heat.
After 90 tests, and 140 games for the Hurricanes, the All Black hooker’s career was over until the call came from Kubota, although the 37-year-old is unlikely to be around the club next season, when their Springbok talisman Malcolm Marx returns.
Mind you, Coles had retired once already – and came back to enjoy the lifestyle and rugby in Japan – so who knows?
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Major League Rugby perhaps?
In a sign of what was to come for the Spears’ title defence, Sungoliath won this match-up on the opening weekend, gaining revenge after the eventual champions took them down three-times during last year’s historic season.
The Spears have found form of late, disposing of Kobe and Honda over the last two weekends, and will be eager to put an exclamation mark on their revival by knocking over one of their would-be successors.
At the top end of the standings, leaders Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights will go back to the start when they visit Yokohama Canon Eagles; their semi-final opponents, who they thumped 53-12 on the opening day.
With 15 wins already, the Robbie Deans-coached side are 80 minutes away from the completion of their third unbeaten regular season in four since the game resumed after Covid.
As Panasonic has not lost to Canon since 2013, only the brave would bet against them.
Further down the ladder, the bottom three; Ricoh, Honda, and Hanazono Kintetsu Liners have mustered just five wins between them.
The final round is a last chance to tune up before their two-legged survivor series against the top three Division Two clubs.
Comments on RugbyPass
Well said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to commentsForget what was said or how many players said it. TONY BROWN IS THE NEW ATTACK COACH. That’s the only story worth freaking out over. The springboks are going to grow their game an awful lot over the next cycle and it’s not just the 19 disgustingly arrogant Irish players who refused to shake Ebens hand and said “see you in the final if you can cheat your way past France” who will find that out first hand.
121 Go to commentsOn one hand I think it's a bit ridiculous that this gar into the season and with only 2 wins the Crusaders may make the finals. On the other hand if it was only top 4 or 5, then that last several weeks may be mainly dead rubbers. Nope, 8th place after round robin shouldn't be able to lift the trophy.
4 Go to commentsI do think the media in NZ treated him badly. Sam is a legend. He is humble, a great rugby mind and leader. What happened in the final could happen to anyone. The margins is so fine these days. I lay blame at the feet of the coaching staff and NZ rugby. The stats tell’s all. The AB’s was the worst disciplined side in the WC with more red and yellow cards than anyone else. Problem is NZ rugby is not training their players to play safer. And thats the danger a fast game brings. More yellow and red cards. But Sam Cane in my eye was and still is a great ambassador for the game, that just had a stroke of bad luck.
5 Go to commentsI hope Jim and co. Add this to their list of icebreaker questions they can ask all their guests going forward. So we can eventually hear what everyone thinks about this subject. “What do you think Ireland meant…”
121 Go to commentsHe’s a dominant personality. That might be both a good and bad thing in team dynamics. Certainly it ruined Smith’s first crack at 10 with Owen at 12. BTW, Bristol flatter to deceive. When things really matter, they tend to deliver less rather than more. Farrell would have been good for them
36 Go to commentsGot a lot of over the top abuse from Crusader fans, in particular, who thought every 7 they had was miles better. Now we will see if anyone is better? Laid his body on the line every game so finishing early makes sense. A lot of life left after rugby.
5 Go to commentsA poor decision to appoint Carley as not only is Pearce a better referee but also importantly speaks French.
2 Go to commentsHe is 100 % on the mark. Malicious arrogance with a lack of respect for the other teams mostly the south. they must learn from True rugby nations like the Boks and Kiwis
121 Go to commentsThis Outiniqua boy has played sublime rugby and deserves a spot in BI LIONS team. Well played son
4 Go to commentsI don’t like to see players miss big matches but this ban looks to be tailored to allow him to compete in the final. In principle a suspension for a very dangerous tackle in a semi should warrant missing the relevant final. Done now. One the flip side having both teams with very strong squads/teams available for the final will add to the occassion hopefully.
1 Go to commentsTalent to burn and a huge engine..hope he gets a shot at higher honours
2 Go to commentsIf anything like his dad he has a bright future, Soane was the best ball carrying props ive ever seen using a combination of pace power and footwork.
1 Go to commentsThose who saw Sharks vs Clermont and Ox N'Che vs Rabah Slimani should have a good idea of the best scrumagers… May be not the best props…
2 Go to commentsIt's been an unusual era of unpopular, highly competitive, domineering, fairly big fly halves in the home nations with Farrell, Sexton and Biggar. Russell is different in personality and player I think. I'd rank Sexton first of the three because he is just as good a game controller but also has a great passing game. And his competitiveness never seems to cause problems with refs.
36 Go to commentsThank goodness he wasn't born in Scotland, he'd have been a great candidate for the Scottish Barbarians. I wouldn't put it past them to push for a “where the player was conceived” rule 😂
2 Go to commentsOwen Farrell is one of the most polarising figures in the game. His entire attitude on the field (and sometimes off of it) smacks of arrogance and he is about as brash as Donald Trump in a political debate. Yet behind that facade is a calculating, determined and powerful leader who drives any team forward with an Iron will. You are right in that he gets better in the heat of battle and in the face of overwhelming odds. He develops a narrow focus and he delivers his best in a way that few others can. He is one of Englands great performers who sacrificed alot for the team and who often bears the weight of responsibility of leadership alone on the field and in front of the media. Despite what many think of him he is a fantastic game manager with a good rugby brain. He will be sorely missed from the international stage
36 Go to commentsAlways proud of the effort, Sam. The All blacks never stop fighting, never just roll over. He didn’t get anywhere near the respect he earned, but that’s due to results, not commitment to the cause. Have fun dominating in Japan!
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