The Top League teams with Super Rugby-level firepower - and why they must feature in the 'South Pacific Championship'
While we’re yet to have any official confirmation of the make-up of Super Rugby in 2021, we’ll likely see a 12 team competition involving the 10 Australasian Super Rugby sides plus two new additions in the form of Moana Pasifika and a Fiji XV.
There are still a few organisational and operational matters that will need attending to before anything can be guaranteed, but bringing some more Pacific Island flavour to the competition (potentially titled the South Pacific Championship, if a survey sent out last year is anything to go by) will ideally improve the national island sides’ development plus bring some extra intrigue to the competition.
Perhaps it’s sacrilege to even consider future expansion, especially given that the 2022 competition is yet to be given the green light, but it’s hard to ignore that Japan will still remain an untapped market with incredible potential, thanks to the abolishment of the Sunwolves.
While there won’t be any cross over between Asia and the Pacific next year, Japan will relaunch their own domestic competition to add an extra dollop of professionalism to their leagues and replace the current corporate-led structure. What the means in practical terms is uncertain, however. Currently, the vast majority of Top League athletes are company employees (with ‘rugby player’ being their secondary occupation) and it’s unclear what the changes for next season will mean.
Regardless, there’s a very real chance that in the distant future, a Champions Cup-style tournament could be hosted at the end of the Super Rugby season incorporating teams from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Pacific Islands.
That idea may not hold too much merit for the wider public, at least at this stage. Already, questions have been raised concerning the rationale behind 2021’s trans-Tasman play-off, which will see the top team from NZ face off with the highest-ranked Australian side, given the perceived variation in strength between the two ‘conferences’ – and given the Sunwolves’ performances throughout their tenure in Super Rugby, the Japanese sides won’t be expected to fire a shot.
That may have been the case half a decade ago, but the landscape of Japan has changed dramatically. While there have always been foreigners in the Top League competition, the number and quality of those players has increased hugely in the last few years, with players of all ages and experience levels scattered throughout the competition.
The likes of Beauden Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Samu Kerevi and Jesse Kriel are arguably in their prime while men like Ben Smith and Greg Laidlaw are hardly on their last legs either.
An increased influx of foreigners has helped boost the league standards, which has also hugely benefitted the local players.
While there are plenty of teams in the competition who don’t quite have the investment or pedigree to foot it with the top dogs, there are certainly some clubs that could challenge Super Rugby’s best.
Former Crusaders and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans recently acknowledged as such, suggesting that the gap between the Top League and Super Rugby is getting narrower and narrower every year.
In anticipation of the Top League kicking off this weekend, here is a XV made up of the best foreign talent set to grace the Japanese competition this season. #TopLeague https://t.co/2YCzj08neu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 11, 2021
“The standard’s good. It’s very good and it’s getting better and better,” Deans said. “From when I arrived up here (in 2014), it’s unrecognisable.
“If it’s not there already, it’s absolutely (reaching) Super Rugby level. But not across the whole comp. That’s not fair to say but if you take the top six teams, they’d all be competitive in Super Rugby.”
In the Top League’s 16-year history, there have been just four different champions crowned.
Toshiba Brave Lupus and Suntory Sungoliath have both managed five titles while Deans’ Panasonic Wild Knights have four to their name. Kobelco Steelers, meanwhile, won the first iteration of the competition in 2004 and were crowned the most recent champions in 2019.
While Toshiba haven’t quite recaptured their form from the first decade of the 2000’s, when they won all five of their titles, the other three sides have all regularly featured as finalists in the past five years and all boast plenty of talent amongst their ranks.
Suntory have both Barrett and Kerevi on their books for 2021, as well as Sean McMahon, Tevita Li and Harry Hockings. They’ve also got a number of Japanese representatives on deck, including Hendrik Tui and the Brave Blossom’s top halfback, Yutaka Nagare.
Former All Blacks and Chiefs coach Wayne Smith is director of rugby with Kobe and until last year had the former All Blacks pairing of Andy Ellis and Dan Carter to call upon in the halves. Their current squad includes Retallick, Aaron Cruden and Ben Smith, as well as 11 past or present Japanese internationals.
While Panasonic don’t have quite as many recognisable foreign names on board, Deans has moulded together an excellent team of current and upcoming Japanese superstars. Still, many should know of former Highlander, Melbourne Rebel and Sunwolf Shota Horie and electric wing Kenki Fukuoka (though his involvement in future seasons is uncertain, due to pursuing a medical degree). Former Wales midfielder Hadleigh Parkes and England international George Kruis are also on the ledger.
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Suntory, Kobelco and Panasonic are the obvious candidates that could foot it with the best teams from New Zealand and Australia while the likes of Toshiba (Michael Leitch, Matt Todd, Tom Taylor and Seta Tamanivalu), Steve Hansen’s Toyota Verblitz (Michael Hooper, Kieran Read and Willie le Roux), NTT Docomo Shining Arcs (Amanaki Mafi, Liam Gill, Greg Laidlaw and Christian Lealiiafano) and Yamaha Jubilo (Kwagga Smith and Ayumu Goromaru) all have squads and management that are more than capable of at least challenging some of the Super Rugby sides.
It’s still too early to say what to expect from the future Japanese rugby landscape, but cross-over matches with the 12 teams set to compete in Super Rugby’s 2021 replacement are certainly worth considering in the next few years, once the two new tournaments have had time to bed in.
While it would be unrealistic to expect full integration between Asia and the Pacific – at least in the next decade – key stakeholders in Australia and New Zealand will no doubt be looking for ways of generating a little bit more cash, now than South Africa are no longer involved. The Japanese public showed during the 2019 World Cup and last year’s Top League competition that there’s certainly an appetite for rugby, especially when the best players in the world are regularly going head to head, and a few one-off clashes every year between the likes of the Crusaders and the Wild Knights, the Brumbies and Toyota Verblitz, and the Blues and the Sungoliath would no doubt draw in plenty of interest.
It might not be on the cards for next year, but it should certainly be under consideration for the coming seasons.
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments