Hansen to coach 'depleted' Sunwolves
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Sunwolves will be sans the bulk of their internationals and head coach when they take on the Sharks in Singapore on Saturday.
Coach Tony Brown is away on national duty – assisting Japan coach Jamie Joseph with preparations for the World Cup.
Sunwolves CEO Yuji Watase confirmed that assistant coach Scott Hansen will take charge of the side until mid-March.
The team is also without the bulk of their Japanese internationals – including Michael Leitch, Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Fumiaki Tanaka and Kazuki Himeno.
New Zealander Craig Miller will captain the team against the Sharks.
Other noteworthy selections include the South African duo of Gerhard van den Heever and Shane Gates.
Van den Heever lines up at fullback in a back three that includes a Sunwolves debut for All Black Rene Ranger.
Gates will make his first appearance for the Japanese franchise in a centre partnership with New Zealand-born Scotland international Phil Burleigh.
Miller said the team built a solid base in pre-season and is confident they would provide the Sharks with a stern test.
“I think that conditions – such as the temperature – will be an important factor in Singapore,” the captain said.
“I think that it will be a big challenge for us, but we are up for it.”
Sunwolves: 15 Gerhard van den Heever, 14 Semisi Masirewa, 13 Shane Gates, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 7 Ed Quirk, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 James Moore, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Asaeli Valu, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Craig Millar (captain).
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Awe Helu, 20 Shuhei Matsuhashi, 21 Keisuke Uchida, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Michael Little.
Date: Saturday, February 16
Venue: Singapore National Stadium
Kick-off: 19.55 (12.55 SA Time; 10.55 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, AJ Jacobs
TMO: Minoru Fuji
