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Japan could tip over All Blacks in ambush warns former Top League player
Former Highlanders lock Joey Wheeler has warned the All Blacks over what awaits the side on the first match of the Northern Tour when they head to Japan to take on the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo.
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Wheeler played under current Japan national coach Jamie Joseph at the Highlanders and has ties to Japanese rugby through his five seasons in the formerly named Japan Top League with Suntory Sungoliath.
The former Maori All Black believes that Japan are planning an ambush for Foster’s side after planning extensively the entire year for this contest.
“The Japanese test is the obvious one, the first test on the end-of-year tour,” the former Highlanders lock told Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown.
“That’s nervewracking for me as well. This Japanese team, I know for a fact they’ve been preparing themselves all year for this one test match.
“They’ve had two test matches against France in the lead-up, they’ve had two test matches against Australia ‘A’ in the last two weeks.”
Japan have been giant killers on the international stage at the last two World Cups, shocking South Africa in 2015 with a 34-32 win whilst at their home World Cup in 2019 they sent Scotland reeling out of the tournament in the pool stages and upset Ireland.
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Should they become the latest side to beat the All Blacks they will earn a significant piece of history with a first ever win over New Zealand.
Their hopes lie on the All Blacks running out an experimental side according to Wheeler, which Japan are expecting.
“They are priming themselves to have a real crack at the All Blacks, with the expectation they’re going to play their supposed ‘B’ team,” Wheeler said.
“They’re thinking, ‘This is our one chance to knock over the All Blacks and create a bit of history for the Japanese’.
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“We know, after what they did in the 2019 World Cup, they’re not a walkover like they used to be.”
Japan and New Zealand have only played four times at the international level, with the All Blacks winning all four comfortably.
They first met at the 1995 World Cup where New Zealand put up a record 145-17 win, while their last clash in 2018 saw a 69-31 win over what was called a ‘B’ side as the top squad was sent to Europe early.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments