Former All Blacks teammates to face off in Top League quarter-finals
Sean McMahon and Harry Hockings might be getting an additional breather, but there will be plenty of other Australians in action when three Top league quarter-finals are played in Japan this weekend.
The Australian pair, along with their injured countryman Samu Kerevi, received a free pass into next week’s semi-finals when Damien Hill’s Ricoh Black Rams were forced to withdraw from Sunday’s quarter-final against Suntory Sungoliath due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Testing last week revealed 22 cases among players at the former Melbourne Rebels mentors’ club.
This left Ricoh unable to field a team and forced to concede the match based on rules catering for COVID-related interruption to the schedule.
Despite Tokyo and Osaka both slipping back into a state of emergency last month, the success of the strict health and safety protocols enforced by the league has been such that Sunday’s game is just the second from 80 so far, to have been scrubbed because of the pandemic.
The abandonment means Suntory, the tournament favourites, will not have played for three weeks when they tackle the winners between the Kobelco Steelers and Kubota Spears in the last four.
Sunday’s quarter-final reprises the 2019 title decider, when Dan Carter-led Kobe to a convincing 43-7 victory over Kubota, who were in their first final.
While Carter is no longer in residence at Kobe, the All Blacks influence remains predominant with Brodie Retallick, Ben Smith and Aaron Cruden among eight New Zealanders on the roster.
Former Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley does not lack for star power around him at Kubota either, with the Spears also fielding Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx, ex-All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty and Japan’s flanker from the Rugby World Cup, Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne.
On the other side of the draw, Wallabies captain Michael Hooper and his former All Blacks counterpart Kieran Read could set up a reunion with their ex-coach Robbie Deans should Toyota Verblitz successfully negotiate its way past the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Saturday’s first quarter-final.
Japan star Kazuki Himeno has been named Super Rugby Aoteaora Rookie of the Year following an impressive debut campaign with the Highlanders this season. #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/81sRAp6bmb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 5, 2021
The Panasonic coach introduced Hooper to the Wallabies and Read to the Crusaders during his time overseeing those respective sides, but could have to outwit the pair to stay on target for a fourth title in Japan.
The Wild Knights feature in the second game on Saturday, pitted against the Canon Eagles whom they beat 47-0 on their way to winning the league’s white conference.
Panasonic have been captained in their most recent matches by Australian No 8 Jack Cornelsen.
Should Toyota end the Red Hurricanes’ season, focus would turn to the future of TJ Perenara.
The All Blacks halfback revealed to international media last week that he will decide whether to join the Roosters in the NRL once his commitments in Japan were finished.
– Matt McIlwraith
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments