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Japan's haven of Wallaby talent keeping Eddie Jones busy
New Wallabies boss Eddie Jones is an adviser for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath but his attention could be elsewhere during Japan Rugby League One this weekend.
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New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones might be an adviser for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath but his attention is likely to wander elsewhere during the Japan Rugby League One campaign.
Jones could be forgiven for having half an eye on his club’s arch-rival Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights and their star winger Marika Koroibete when round five of Japan’s top-flight season kicks off on Saturday.
After being held scoreless in Saitama’s opening three matches, Koroibete sprang into life last weekend with two tries as the defending champions took down Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz to retain top spot on the table.
Jones knows Koroibete’s capability well, having been on the receiving end as England coach last year when the muscular Fiji-born winger was man of the series in the Wallabies’ 2-1 mid-year defeat.
The new Wallabies boss will be hoping Koroibete – now one of his prime assets – can come through the remainder of the Japan Rugby League One season unscathed.
This starts with Saturday’s match against the improving Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, who are coached by Aussie Peter Hewat and include one of Jones’ former England players, the Fiji-born backrower Nathan Hughes.
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While it is not known if Jones will continue his long-term association with Suntory, it seems likely given he retained advisory duties while coaching England.
Jones has visited Japan since his departure from his role at Twickenham, and Sungoliath are third as they chase a fourth-straight win on Sunday against the hapless Hanazono Kintetsu Liners led by former Wallabies halfback Will Genia.
Splitting the Wild Knights and Sungoliath – last year’s finalists – on the table is Bernard Foley’s Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, who on Saturday play the mid-table Kobelco Kobe Steelers, rumoured to be the next destination for ex-Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
The NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu, who have Michael Cheika as director of rugby and ex-Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps on the roster, visit the much-improved Yokohama Canon Eagles and their star South African halfback, Springbok Faf de Klerk.
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Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo host the stuttering Verblitz, while the fourth-placed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars meet the winless Shizuoka Blue Revs in the other games.
In the second division, Israel Folau’s unbeaten Urayasu D-Rocks will go for win number four against the Hino Red Dolphins, while Tom Banks will fancy his chances to add to his one try for the season to date when Mie Honda Heat visit the winless Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments