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Quade Cooper set for reunion with Robbie Deans following dramatic weekend of Top League play-offs

By AAP
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Japan’s Top League has gained a major global promotional boost after a brave Kintetsu Liners overcame the Munakata Sanix Blues 31-21 in the first round of the elimination series on Sunday.

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The result put the Liners on a collision course with the Panasonic Wild Knights next Sunday, bringing former Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia into direct confrontation with the coach who first selected them for Australia, Robbie Deans.

Cooper was one of two Australian try-scorers, with Kintetsu’s Queensland-raised skipper Michael Stolberg the other, as the qualifiers from the second-tier challenger tournament overcame the second-half sending off of No.8 Lolo Fakaosilea to dump the Top League side out of the competition.

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NZ players on why Springboks team to face Lions could be very different from 2019 RWC side

Kintetsu, who are coached by former Queensland Reds coach Nick Stiles, led 17-14 when Fakaosilea was given his marching orders, but extended their advantage in the final 30 minutes to book a date with the unbeaten Wild Knights.

The Hino Red Dolphins also made it into the second knockout round, beating the Shimizu Blue Sharks 48-20 to secure a game against Michael Hooper’s Toyota Verblitz.

Saturday’s games saw NEC live to fight after day after an 80th-minute penalty goal by former English international Alex Goode allowed the Green Rockets to sneak home 25-24 against the Toyota Shuttles.

The Green Rockets, who have been heavily linked to former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika in recent days, looked dead and buried when they trailed 15-24 with 10 minutes left, and were down to 14 men after ex-NSW Waratahs lock Patrick Tafa was sent to the sin bin.

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Their dramatic escape against the Top League challenger tournament victors was even more surprising given they hadn’t won a game for two years.

Alongside Tafa, the Green Rockets fielded the Queensland-raised lock Sam Jefferies, while former Western Force and Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham is on the coaching staff.

NEC play the star-studded Suntory Sungoliath next weekend.

The Mitsubishi Dynaboars also remain afloat but were nearly sunk by another qualifier from the second tier, after trailing the Coca-Cola Red Sparks 17-14 with just four minutes left.

Two tries from Michael Little, the son of the 1990s All Black midfielder Walter Little, enabled Mitsubishi to escape, albeit by a flattering 24-17 score-line.

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The Dynaboars face the All Blacks-laden Kobelco Steelers in the next round.

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Trevor 11 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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