Sunwolves; the sun represents daybreak and the new challenge of Japanese Rugby. The Wolf represents the team’s playing style, which will be speedy, a pack like single unit with fearless fighting spirit.
The hash tag reference in the title represents the twitter tag line used by their marketing and one feels there will be a lot of traffic for the team on the Twittersphere.
Fresh from validating their credentials at the Rugby World Cup, and with a new level of confidence Japan embarks on creating another chapter in their rugby history with the Sunwolves joining Super Rugby.
The Sunwolves entry into Super Rugby was received with mixed reactions ranging from questioning the readiness and capability of Japanese rugby to field a competitive team, to the the excitement of a adding another nation, team and marketplace to Super Rugby.
A mere 24 days before kick off the coach and team came together for the first time and were officially launched.
STRENGTHS
The Sunwolves have appointed an experienced coach in Kiwi Mark Hammett supported by fellow Kiwi’s Nathan Mauger and Filo Tiatia, the current Japan forwards coach. All have Super Rugby experience that will be invaluable to the Sunwolves as they enter Super Rugby.
With primarily an all Japanese tight five including the captain Shota Horie, Tiatia’s work with the national team and familiarity with the players and styles of play should translate smoothly to the Sunwolves. The locks and loose forwards provide an interesting mix of experience and physicality to strengthen the pack that includes a Kiwi, Aussie, Samoan, Tongan, American, Argentinie and rounded out by four Japanese players.
The Sunwolves backline contains some familiar faces from the NZ Super Rugby and test capped Japanese national players that should link well with both Hammett and Mauger to get the backline firing.
Complemented by some other international Super Rugby experienced players it provides a reasonably rounded team of players that bring experience and talent.
WEAKNESS
Overcoming such a short time to prepare will be a big challenge. With only one pre-season game, the lack of preparation time will be a factor in the early rounds
The lack of depth in the squad is another big concern for the team. Injuries through the season will be a big concern for the Sunwolves.
Contributing to the lack of depth and strength of the team is the decision to spread the development of players by allowing them to play for other team such as Goromaru (Fullback -Reds), Hatakeyama (THP-Newcastle), and Yamashita (Prop –Chiefs).
Like the Jaguares, the amount of travel will also be a challenge.
TEAM
Props: Ziun Gu (ROK), Shohei Hirano (JPN), Keita Inagaki (JPN), Shinnosuke Kakinaga (JPN) , Masataka Mikami (JPN), Koki Yamamoto (JPN)
Hookers: Ryuhei Arita (JPN), Shota Horie (c) (JPN), Takeshi Kizu (JPN)
Locks: Tim Bond (NZL), Shinya Makabe (JPN), Liaki Moli (TON), Hitoshi Ono (JPN)
Back row: Andrew Durutalo (USA), Yoshiya Hosoda (JPN), Fa’atiga Lemalu (SAM), Tomás Leonardi (ARG), Tsuyoshi Murata (JPN), Ed Quirk (AUS)
Scrum-halves: Atsushi Hiwasa (JPN), Daisuke Inoue(JPN), Yuki Yatomi (JPN)
Flyhalves: Tusi Pisi (SAM), Harumichi Tatekawa (JPN)
Centres: Derek Carpenter (NZL), Mifiposeti Paea (TON), Yu Tamura (JPN), Ryohei Yamanaka (JPN)
Wingers: Amanaki Lotoahea (JPN), John Stewart (FIJ), Akihito Yamada (JPN)
Fullbacks: Yasutaka Sasakura (JPN), Riaan Viljoen (RSA), Hajime Yamashita (JPN)
Sunwolves skipper Shota Horie
VENUES
The Sunwolves will play five of their seven home games at the home of Japanese Rugby Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (capacity 21,188). The team is receiving plenty of support and are quickly establishing a strong supper base. Their marketing team is putting in a concerted effort in to publicise the team with a strong social media presence (in English and Japanese) and mainstream media reporting.
The other two games will be played at the National Stadium in Singapore (capacity 55,000). It will be interesting to see what sort of support the team receive in Singapore.
IMPORTANCE TO JAPANESE RUGBY
As the hosts of the 2019 RWC there is pressure on the Sunwolves to be competitive and be marketing vehicle for the future of rugby in Japan. It’s a big ask but I think they will meet the challenge over time.
Japanese rugby can be a complex beast to deal with as we have seen recently with the Goromaru contract speculation and that any talks would need all six (yes six!) stakeholders to be involved and agree.
There seem to be a growing unity, motivation and desire in Japanese Rugby to see the Sunwolves succeed. There are reports that the Top League clubs are on the verge of changing the competition schedule to give the Sunwolves more time between the end of the Top League and start of the Super Rugby to prepare and be ready for season 2017.
This may have a favourable impact on Aussie Super Rugby teams who would get their players back sooner.
PREDICTION
Of all the teams, I think the Sunwolves are the hardest team to predict with no real evidence and a good chance of over-achieving.
I can’t see them giving most of the top teams to much trouble but I dare say they are the team that they could slay a lazy giant and I think the lack of depth will hold them back from making the top ten.
My fearless prediction is they will end the season in 13th with some good competitive performances and a year that lays the foundation for the future.
