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Sunwolves looking for stability – Super Rugby 2018 Preview

By Ben Smith
Sunwolves Preview

Three seasons into the Sunwolves experiment and there are already concerns about the long-term future of a Japan-based side in Super Rugby.

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National coach Jamie Joseph has stepped in, their third coach in as many years, amid concerns about the competitiveness of the side. There will be many questioning keeping the team in Super Rugby after the Sunwolves survived last year’s culling.

The reality is the team has not had consistency within the squad since inception, and the biggest challenge has been the timing between the end of the Top League and the start of the Super season leaving many players underdone or top players needing a break. The Sunwolves currently have the highest turnover of players in Super Rugby.

“This team’s biggest challenge has always been the inability to have a break between seasons and the fact we don’t have enough time to prepare properly for a Super Rugby competition that lasts six months,” Joseph told Kyodo News.

Despite only notching three wins and one draw in the 30 games it has played, the Sunwolves managed to do what no Australian team could last year – beat a New Zealand franchise. Now the team is set to play in the Australian conference full time.

Moving conferences will help – the team will spend less travel time in the air and play in what is currently the weakest conference improving the chances of establishing themselves as a genuine Super Rugby team.

The result against the Blues showed there is potential for a competitive Japanese Super Rugby side but the team needs to find stability – in coaching, player personnel and equilibrium with company interests. The Japan Top League provides the Sunwolves with a large playing pool to pick from, but at the end of day, it’s the companies that bankroll the game.

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“The money’s not in the international game in Japan. It’s not in the JRFU, it’s within the companies,” Berrick Barnes told Fox Sports in a recent interview.

“Companies pay their players and they’re effectively paying their Sunwolves deal. It’s that push and pull.

“Most of them are really generous and give their players and I know we do at (Panasonic), we want our players to go forward and experience that stuff. But it’s kind of hard.

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With Jamie Joseph taking control, it’s clear the JRFU want to use the Sunwolves as a vehicle to the national side. If he can find a way to get the country’s best players on the field this will be a start – many players from the national side have not played for the Sunwolves.

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Japanese International and ex-Chiefs loose forward Michael Leitch has returned as part of the Joseph-movement as well as a wave of Japan-based foreigners in Asaeli Ai Valu (Tonga), former Brumby Ruan Smith (South Africa), Hencas Van Wyk (South Africa), Jaba Bregvadze (Georgia), Grant Hattingh (South Africa), James Moore (Australia), Lappies Labuschagné (South Africa), Wimpie van der Walt (South Africa), Michael Little (Australia), Hosea Saumaki (Tonga).

Few will recognise this list due to the fact many have been playing in the Japan system for years.

The squad also has a number of players tied to Joseph from his Highlanders days – fullback Robbie Robinson (who has been in Japan for a few years now), first five-eighth Hayden Parkes and prop Craig Millar.

Super Rugby’s top try scorer from the inaugural Sunwolves season Akihito Yamada is back after missing last year, and Japan international Lomani Lemeki will provide physicality on the edge.

Perhaps their best player, inside centre and Japanese international Harumichi Tatekawa will be looking for a strong season in partnership with first five-eighth Yu Tamura.

With limited time to prepare, Joseph seems intent on embedding culture before strategy.

“Our game plan is coming together quickly because the attitude is great and the players are learning quickly. And the players seem to be getting better every day. But we have to build a team before we build a game plan. If we don’t have a team then we have nothing.

Expect some turbulence in the early rounds but the team should improve as the season goes on. It will be a difficult year but with time the Sunwolves will improve and hopefully have a better foundation to build from in 2019.

2018 Predictions

 Australian Conference Placing: 5th

Player of the Year: Willie Britz

Rookie of the Year: Hosea Saumaki

Breakout Player: Harumichi Tatekawa

Best Signing: Michael Leitch

Franchise History

Best finish: Seventeenth in 2017

Worst finish: Eighteenth in 2016

Squad Movements

In: Asaeli Ai Valu (Wild Knights), Shintaro Ishihara (Sungoliath), Jaba Bregvadze (Worcester Warriors), Grant Hattingh (Kubota Spears), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz), James Morre (Brave Lupus), Michael Leitch (Chiefs), Lomano Lemeki (Honda Heat), Craig Millar (Highlanders), Ruan Smith (Toyota Verblitz), Hayden Parker (Highlanders), Robbie Robinson (Ricoh Black Rams), Gerhard van den Heever (Jubilo), Wimpie van der Walt (Red Hurricanes), Akhito Yamada (Wild Knights) Hencus van Wyk (Lions), Lappies Labuschagne (Spears), Michael Little (Mitsubishi), Daishi Murata (Suntory Sungoliath), Ryoto Nakamura (Suntory Sungoliath), Sione Teaupa (Kubota Spears), Hosea Saumaki (Canon Eagles)

Out: Kohei Asahori (Verblitz), Heiichiro Ito (Jubilo), Masataka Mikami (Brave Lupus), Yasuo Yamaji (Brave Lupus), Koki Yamamoto (Jubilo), Takeshi Kizu (Steelers), Atsushi Sakate (Wild Knights), Kyosuke Kajikawa (Brave Lupus), Naohiro Kotaji (Brave Lupus), Liaki Moli (Red Dolphins), Yuya Odo (Jubilo), Hitoshi Ono (Brave Lupus), Kazuhiko Usami (Wild Knights), Kotaro Yatabe (Wild Knights), Shokei Kin (Shining Arcs), Malgene Iiaua (released), Shuhei Matsuhashi (Rams), Yuhimaru Mimura (Jubilo), Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco (Shining Arcs), Takahiro Ogawa (Brave Lupus), Kaito Shigeno (Verblitz), Yuki Yatomi (Jubilo), Hayden Cripps (Red Dolphins), Jumpei Ogura (Shining Arcs), Hikaru Tamura (Sungoliath), Michael Bond (Canon Eagles), Derek Carpenter (Suntory Sungoliath), Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobe Steelers), Shota Emi (Suntory Sungoliath), Teruya Goto (NEC Green Rockets), Ataata Moeakiola (Tokai University), Takaaki Nakazuru (Suntory Sungoliath), JJ Taulagi (Newton Abbot RFC), Riaan Viljoen (Red Hurricanes), Kazushi Hano (Shining Arcs), Rikiya Matsuda (Wild Knights), Yasutaka Sasakura (Wild Knights).

Squad: Keita Inagaki, Asaeli Ai Valu, Jiwon Koo, Ruan Smith, Craig Millar, Hencus Van Wyk, Jaba Bregvadze, Shota Horie, Grant Hattingh, Sam Wykes, Kazuki Himeno, Uwe Helu, Edward Quirk, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Wimpie van der Walt, Willem Britz, Michael Leitch, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Hayden Parker, Harumichi Tatekawa, Timothy Lafaele, Sione Teaupa, Michael Little, William Tupou, Gerhard Van Den Heever, Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada, Lomano Lava Lemeki, Hosea Saumaki, Robbie Robinson.

 

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A
Adrian 45 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours 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.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 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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