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Ex-Scotland forward one of two stars left out by Dave Rennie in Japan
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That is the question fans of Shizuoka BlueRevs and Kobelco Kobe Steelers might be asking as their sides come together for the first of back-to-back meetings in Japan Rugby League One.
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While the result of Saturday’s examination won’t change a finishing order that requires an encore from the league’s fourth and fifth-placed participants on the opening day of the playoffs, the approach of the respective coaches, Shizuoka’s Yuichiro Fujii and Kobe’s Dave Rennie, will be fascinating.
Will they prioritize a clean bill of health to ensure their cast are all fit and available for the reprise, which Rennie appears to be after leaving Brodie Retallick and George Turner out, or do they place stock in upstaging their opponents now by singing a winning tune.
Fujii seems to be going down this route, having included Charles Piutau and Kwagga Smith.
It is unlikely either of the pair, experienced as they are, would show their hand early, but with the protagonists rated third and fourth for points scored, and each averaging 28 points per game conceded, you might think that at least plenty of points are guaranteed.
Not so, if their opening day thriller is a guide, when Shizuoka won 15-13 with an injury time try after Retallick had scored the first of what has become a remarkable season for the All Black second rower with 10 tries.
Although last weekend saw to most of the division’s outstanding issues, one order of business that does remain is the identities of the two sides who will gain an advantage from skipping the opening round of the elimination series.
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Defending champions, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, and inaugural title-winners Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, hold those places but require wins over Yokohama Canon Eagles and Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath to retain them.
Last week’s draw with Saitama might have done more harm than good, but Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay remain poised, ready to take advantage if either slip up while they beat Toyota Verblitz.
Below the contest at the top, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars and Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo still have plenty to play for.
The Dynaboars can beat their previous best return in Division One of six wins if they can inflict a 16th loss of the season on Urayasu D-Rocks and potentially claim a best finish in seventh as well, although the latter would require Black Rams falling short of a seasonal best of their own.
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While TJ Perenara’s side gifted Sungoliath the final playoff spot last week by collecting three yellow cards, the Black Rams can still finish seventh should the current occupants Yokohama have lost, and they beat Mie Honda Heat in the 108th and final game of the regular season on Sunday.
It’s not quite knife-edge stuff, as final rounds often aren’t, but the chase for the mini ‘prizes’ should still provide interest before the main show begins.
