Deans bring back Boks as he gears up to face Ludeke

PREVIEW, ROUND 17: It might be the penultimate round, but expect a few of the remaining details for the post-season in Japan Rugby League One to be inked in this weekend.

League leaders Wild Knights and second-placed Spears, who meet on Saturday, share an interesting recent history.

Robbie Deans’ two Springbok stars, Damian de Allende and Lood de Jager, return for this encounter. His side is fresh off last week’s 27-21 victory over the Black Rams.

While history sides with the Wild Knights, with last year’s 55-22 win their 15th from 16 matches against the Spears dating back to 2006, Kubota’s sole win was the most important of the lot, with their nail biting 17-15 success in the final of League One’s second edition winning for the club its first nationwide Japanese title.

The return of outstanding backrower Lachlan Boshier for the Knights after five weeks on the sideline in the match was timely. Brave Blossoms outside centre Dylan Riley is among several other names who are fit again with the playoffs on the horizon.

Japanese star, utility back Takuya Yamasawa, also returns, with the man-of-the-match from the inaugural League One final not having featured since the second round due to injury.

Although Saitama is re-arming, Frans Ludeke and his team have enjoyed a serene run after injuries wrecked last year’s title defence.

They arrive at Prince Chichibu Stadium on a six-game winning streak – the longest in the competition – with their only defeats having come by two and four points respectively against the Wild Knights and Brave Lupus.

Even in defeat, December’s clash showed just how good the Spears’ season might turn out, after they recovered from a 3-20 halftime deficit at Kumagaya, and could have beaten the Wild Knights had Wallaby flyhalf Bernard Foley not missed a difficult penalty attempt in the 78th minute of a 26-24 loss.

While both sides have long been confirmed for the playoffs, major psychological capital can still be won, while the loser will find their playoff plans at the mercy of Brave Lupus.

The defending champions can jump into the top two with wins on the final two weekends, starting with Saturday’s outing against the now all but mathematically eliminated Sagamihara Dynaboars.

Glen Delaney’s side have enjoyed another promising season, which has included notable wins over Kobe, Sungoliath and Yokohama, but they still need another W to exceed last year’s tally of six wins.

With Brave Lupus having won the corresponding clash in December 61-8, running in nine tries after Sagamihara second- rower Epineri Uluiviti was sent off, the Dynaboars hopes of bettering last year’s return may have to wait until their final game of the season against Urayasu D-Rocks.

Further down the rankings, Sungoliath will be aiming to make their last round date with the Wild Knights academic, by locking in the sixth and final playoffs slot when they take on one of their remaining rivals for that position, Black Rams.

Although the Black Rams enter the weekend eight points astern of Sungoliath, a win would place them in the prime position to qualify, given they host 11th-placed Heat on the final weekend.

Importantly, if the two do end the season level, Ricoh will win the tie breaker by having won both matches, after edging Suntory 33-32 when they last met.

Heat have a massive 80 minutes ahead as well, with Sunday’s tie against Verblitz likely to decide which of the pair participate in the promotion/relegation series.

With Verblitz holding a two-point advantage, and Honda winless in their last seven, defeat would be a disaster for Steve Hansen’s men, given their final week of the regular season entails a visit from Kubota.

BlueRevs’ comeback win over Eagles, where they overturned a 0-21 deficit, to win by 10 points, was their sixth win from the last seven, and they will be expected to continue their intoxicating run into the playoffs against a D-Rocks outfit now focused on defending their Division One status in The Replacement Battle.

The BlueRevs’ likely opponents on the opening weekend of the playoffs, Steelers, will also be seeking to continue their recent momentum, having won five of their last six, when they meet the Eagles, whose own playoff ambitions are on life support.

While a win would allow Keisuke Sawake’s side to stay alive for another week, a date against Brave Lupus on the final day looks like it would be a bridge too far for a side that has only won twice since the start of February.

Divisions Two & Three

It’s now or never for Quade Cooper’s Liners.

Despite an underwhelming start to the campaign, when it took four outings to register a win, last season’s Division One outfit have put themselves in the picture for a promotion shot via The Replacement Battle, but only if they can win their final two matches, starting with Saturday’s engagement against Green Rockets.

Should Kintetsu lose, any chance of marking the Wallaby veteran’s departure by achieving an instant return to Division One, will be gone.

Win and it will be all to play for on the final weekend against current section leaders Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi, where both promotion series entry and the division title could be the prize.

As well as putting Kintetsu’s hopes to bed, the Green Rockets could also make a play for the section title if they can prevail on Saturday, although that would require a slip up by the Shuttles in one of their final two matches.