World Cup stars headline Japan League One's kick-off
PREVIEW: Several Springboks and All Blacks stars who started in the World Cup Final will be in action when Japan’s club rugby season kicks off this weekend.
Seven All Blacks and six Springboks, including star-wing Cheslin Kolbe who lined up for South Africa’s narrow 12-11 win over New Zealand in Paris in October are now in Japan Rugby League One as it looks to take its profile to a new level.
South Africa won the World Cup with a sizeable Japan-based contingent that included Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk and Damian de Allende.
And now Jet-heeled wing Kolbe has joined their ranks after also signing for Sungoliath.
The Tokyo side will be out to make a big statement when they attempt to dethrone champions Kubota Spears on Sunday.
Sunday’s clash between the first and fourth-placed getters from last year is one half of a schedule that sees both semifinals reprised in the opening round, with Wild Knights and Eagles also meeting that afternoon.
Kubota, led by Australian flyhalf Bernard Foley, beat Wild Knights in last season’s Final to win their first title.
Kubota lost influential South African hooker Malcolm Marx for the season when he got injured at the World Cup, but they have signed a more than capable replacement in veteran All Black Dane Coles.
“I can help out the next generation coming through, add a bit of skill set to this league,” said the 36-year-old, who won 90 caps for the All Blacks.
“I’ve been watching it from afar for a long time and it’s an exciting league to play in.”
Big names take centre stage
The season gets underway on Saturday when Kobe Steelers host the newly promoted Mie Honda Heat.
Both are under new management, with Kobe’s Dave Rennie joining former Wallaby coaches Robbie Deans (Saitama) and two-time Australian boss Eddie Jones in Japan, Jones remaining associated with Suntory.
Alongside Rennie, Kobe have also welcomed the return of All Black second-row Brodie Retallick, who will captain the side after playing two seasons at the club earlier in his career.
Marquee signing Ardie Savea makes his debut, but away from his regular backrow starting position for the All Blacks, reverting to the openside flank.
The recently named World Rugby Player of the Year has arrived on a one-year sabbatical where he will reunite with his former Hurricanes teammate, the wrecking ball All Black inside centre, Ngane Laumape.
Heat have entrusted former Italian boss Kieran Crowley with the reins for their return to Division One, but he will be without injured former Argentine skipper Pablo Matera for his maiden game.
Two of the remaining three matches on opening day feature sides with higher ambitions, after some headline-making recruitment following mid-table finishes last season.
Sixth-placed Verblitz hand debuts to the All Black halves combination of scrumhalf Aaron Smith and flyhalf Beauden Barrett, with the latter returning to Japan after he finished as the leading point-scorer in the final Top League three years ago, while based at Suntory.
After being used largely as a fullback by All Black coaches Steve Hansen, and his successor Ian Foster, during the last five years, Barrett has been returned to the number 10 jersey by Hansen in his role as Verblitz’s Director of Rugby.
Hansen has made a habit of big-name signings since he took over at Verblitz, but grabbing the two All Black centurions represents his biggest heist yet, with the pair joining former World Player of the Year and World Cup final Player of the Match Pieter Steph du Toit, and JapaneseWorld Cup skipper Kazuki Himeno, on the club’s books.
Europe and domestic talent
Big-name overseas stars will hog the headlines, but there will be plenty of Japanese talent on display.
Japan’s World Cup squad was entirely domestic-based and former captain Michael Leitch believes the fresh influx of foreign talent will help the local players raise their level.
“It’s awesome having so many superstars here playing in Japan and having so many Japanese players playing with them,” said Leitch, who will line up alongside Mo’unga and Frizell at Brave Lupus Tokyo.
“And having so many young Japanese players watching and learning off the best in the world.”
There are new arrivals from Europe, too, including Welsh pair Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe.
Fullback Williams has joined Kubota while flyhalf Anscombe has signed for Sungoliath.
Wales players threatened strike action over contract issues at home earlier this year, while financial troubles continue to engulf the professional game.
Former Wales international Jake Ball, currently playing in Japan’s second division, believes greater financial stability could persuade more players to move east.
“The level of rugby in Division 1, certainly with the top six teams, is a good level of rugby,” said the 32-year-old.
The Japan Rugby League One regular season runs until May, with the playoff semis and final later that month.
Fixtures Round One (all Japan time)
Division One:
Saturday, December 9
Kobe Steelers v Mie Heat – Kobe, 12.00
Sagamihara Dynaboars v Hanazono Liners – Sagamihara, 13.00
Verblitz v Black Rams Tokyo – Nagoya, 14.30
Brave Lupus v Blue Revs – Tokyo, 14.30
Sunday, December 10
Spears Tokyo Bay v Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath – Tokyo, 14.30
Wild Knights v Yokohama Eagles – Kumagaya, 15.05
Division Two:
Saturday, December 9
Green Rockets v Urayasu D-Rocks – Kashiwa, 14.30
Voltex v Red Hurricanes – Fukuoka, 14.30
Sunday, December 10
Japan Steel Seawaves v Industries Shuttles Aichi – Kamaishi, 13.00
Division Three
Saturday, December 9
Blue Sharks v Red Dolphins – Tokyo, 13.00
*Additional source: AFP
