Lions Watch: Who to watch out for in Jamie Joseph's re-geared Japan squad
In naming a 36-man squad to prepare for upcoming games against the Sunwolves, British and Irish Lions and Ireland, Japan coach Jamie Joseph has picked just 19 survivors from the group that reached the quarterfinals of Rugby World Cup 2019.
However, the Brave Blossoms’ concept of being “One Team” is still very much in existence, despite the changes and the addition of 13 uncapped players and four with very limited international experience.
The slogan was instigated prior to Rugby World Cup 2019 and reflected the varied background of the players chosen to wear the Cherry Blossom on their chest.
“A big part of our success was how tight and connected we were as a team,” Joseph said in announcing his squad. Six of the newcomers in particular represent this changing face of Japanese rugby (and society) and are set to be an integral of the Brave Blossoms as they build toward the World Cup in France in 2023.
Two followed the traditional pathway of elite high school and university, two travelled here from Tonga to get an education and two young Australians headed to Japan to play for Panasonic Wild Knights.
Scrum-half Naoto Saito captained traditional powerhouse Waseda University to the collegiate championship in 2020.
His leadership, quick delivery and more than useful goal-kicking made him an instant target for Suntory Sungoliath, who know a thing or two about halfbacks. George Gregan and Fourie du Preez both played for the team under Eddie Jones and Gregan worked with Saito during some coaching clinics run by sponsors of the 2019 World Cup. A few months later the two were reunited when Gregan was again in Japan commentating on the Sunwolves as Saito – “a player with a great work ethic” – made his Super Rugby debut months before he made the transition from student to Top League player.
The presence of Yutaka Nagare – Japan’s starting scrum-half at the World Cup – has limited Saito’s playing time this year with Suntory, but with Nagare deemed not in the best condition for international duty, Saito will look to push Kaito Shigeno hard for the No. 9 jersey.
Shota Emi’s pathway to the national team is also traditional but not quite in the rugby sense.
Born in Indonesia, while his father was stationed out there, Emi went to Gakushuin High School and University, better known for producing the political elite of Japan than rugby players.
Some outstanding games for the Sunwolves in 2017 saw him close to national honours before the Suntory flyer suffered an injury that saw him miss more than a year of rugby.
An elusive runner in the mould of Jonny May, his time with the Super Rugby side and recent good form has finally earned him a call-up.
Back-row forward Tevita Tatafu (Suntory) and wing Siosaia Fifita (Kintetsu Liners) are the latest in a long line of Tongan-born players who owe their presence in Japan to the former monarch of the pacific island, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.
Back in 1976 the king was introduced to the “soroban,” or Japanese abacus, by Toshio Nakano, a former manager of the Daito Bunka University rugby team, and his fascination with the counting machine allowed long-standing links to be established between his nation and the university, creating a pathway into Japan for Tongan rugby players.
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named a raft of 2019 World Cup heroes in his 36-man squad to face the British and Irish Lions in Edinburgh next month. #LionsRugby #Lions2021 https://t.co/gY8CiOrHAy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 24, 2021
Fifita, who at 22 is the youngest member of the squad, graduated from Tenri University earlier this year having led them to their first ever collegiate championship win in January, and while he is uncapped at senior level, he has represented Japan at under-20 level and played for the Sunwolves in their final season.
Tevita, meanwhile, went to Meguro Gakuin High School before graduating from Tokai University, the same school Japan captain Michael Leitch went to. Highly rated by his Sungoliath teammate (and former Gloucester lock) Tom Savage, Tevita has 3 full caps to his name – back in 2016 when Japan fielded a young side in the Asia Rugby Championship – as well a number of games for Japan Under-20s. Ben Gunter moved to Japan from Brisbane while still a teenager and holds the record as the youngest player to play in the Top League, making his debut at 19 years and six days.
As the holder of a Thai passport courtesy of his mother and the land of his birth, Gunter is deemed an Asian player and not part of the overall foreign quota and as such has been able to get plenty of playing time at Panasonic under Robbie Deans. He has also benefited greatly from playing alongside the likes of David Pocock and more recently George Kruis.
Panasonic’s recent triumph in the Top League was based on their defensive prowess and their ability to attack from quick turnover ball (a la Justin Tipuric and Tom Curry) and Gunter (now 23 years old) was at the forefront of that along with another newcomer to the Japan set-up, Jack Cornelsen.
The son of Wallabies great Greg Cornelsen, the 26-year-old No. 8 has been in Japan since 2017 and, like Gunter and a number of the other foreign-born players, stayed here during the COVID pandemic to ensure he met the residency criteria to make him eligible for his adopted country.
While he may not have Super Rugby experience, like four of the five previously mentioned, he has proved a quick learner, something that Joseph highlighted was of upmost importance.
“We need to bring the young guys through, start working with them and see if we can improve them in a short time,” Joseph said. “They also need to understand how the team works off the field and contribute to the team values.” Very differing backgrounds but “One Team.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
16 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
16 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
10 Go to comments