Sunwolves looking for stability – Super Rugby 2018 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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Steve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
4 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
19 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
27 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to comments