Coach Eddie Jones on Monday named former Australian rugby league star utility back Craig Wing among a 31-strong Japan World Cup squad packed with imported talent for the tournament beginning next month.
Jones handed a place to former Kangaroos and New South Wales State of Origin player Wing, named Waikato Chiefs flanker Michael Leitch – who is of Fijian origin – as captain and included former Queensland Reds loose forward Hendrik Tui in the squad.
Australian Jones also turned to second-row forward Michael Broadhurst, who is the brother of one-cap All Black lock James Broadhurst, and picked veteran New Zealand-born big man Luke Thompson, 34, who can play either in the second or back rows.
A day before the Brave Blossoms step on the plane to England for their final warm-up against Georgia in Gloucester on Saturday, Jones said his squad had a “nice mix of experience and youth” despite containing 20 players who will be making their tournament debut.
But Jones, who will step down after the World Cup, said “you’re asking the wrong person” when questioned about the number of imported players in his final Japan squad.
“We’ve got approximately 42 players in Japan who are capable of playing in international rugby. That’s all I can pick from,” he said.
“It’s not my job to develop (Japan-born) international players.”
Jones recognised that two-thirds of his squad will be getting their first taste of World Cup action when they tackle formidable Pool B opponents South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and USA and said they would have to adjust rapidly to the step up in class.
“We’ve got to take a gamble with the squad. At the end of the day, what I tried to do was to pick the best 31 players,” he said.
Jones took Australia to the 2003 World Cup final against England and he said the way his debutants cope with their surroundings would be key to Japan’s chances.
“A Rugby World Cup is like the Olympic Games. It’s normal sport taking place in an abnormal setting. You need to learn how to relax. They understand the responsibility they carry,” he said.
The World Cup begins in England on September 18, with Japan’s opener coming against two-time winners South Africa a day later.
Jones is bidding to reverse Japan’s dismal record at the tournament, where their sole win was against Zimbabwe in 1991.
Japan squad
Forwards: Justin Ives, Shoji Ito, Keita Inagaki, Hitoshi Ono, Takeshi Kizu, Hendrik Tui, Luke Thompson, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Michael Broadhurst, Ryu Holani, Shota Horie, Shinya Makabe, Amanaki Mafi, Masataka Mikami, Hiroshi Yamashita, Hiroki Yuhara, Michael Leitch (captain)
Backs: Craig Wing, Kosei Ono, Ayumu Goromaru, Male Sau, Harumichi Tatekawa, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yu Tamura, Toshiaki Hirose, Atsushi Hiwasa, Kenki Fukuoka, Yoshikazu Fujita, Karne Hesketh, Kotaro Matsushima, Akihito Yamada
buzzard
Guest
Vunipulo is a great Anglo Saxon English name isn't it? Manu Tuilagi? It happens all over the world!!!
DaniE
Roar Guru
Gosh Craig's come a long way from Heartbreak High
Jerry
Guest
True, how come no one talks about poor Manawatu having all their Whitelocks poached? Won't someone please think of the Turbos?
Kiwi
Guest
As players they are all a product of the NZ rugby system, try not to confuse that with their ethnicity and upbringing. The only poaching that goes on in NZ rugby is internal. Sth Island franchises have been doing it for years.
Highlander
Guest
Naholo Fekitoa Laulala all came to NZ at High school age and developed from there coming through the system to where they are now. The other channel available is the one Henry Speight took develop in Fiji playing for the national junior side then move to NZ play 1st15 rugby there and then move into the pro ranks in NZ develop more there before moving to Australia and waiting the 3years to qualify for the Wallabies
Tigranes
Guest
I think you're giving Eddie Jones too much credit there. He didn't exactly develop Australian rugby when he was Wallaby head coach, and it could be argued that the All Blacks lost to Wallaby in that quarter final, Jones kept his job longer than he should have, There are something like 10,000 tongans living in Japan, which is a decent amount, considering there are only 100,000 people living in Tonga itself.
ncart
Roar Rookie
So you have to be white to be a Kiwi? I grew up in Auckland and right from primary school there were lots of non white kids I went to school and played rugby with - Maoris, Samoans, Tongans, Rarotongans, Fijians, and lots of Yugoslav kids too, all born there. This is a silly debate - Japan has struggled with sizeable players so the imports fill those gaps easily. I didn't know about the Tongan schooling arrangement, that's interesting. I would have thought that Eddie Jones, being a full time Japan coach, would have some responsibility for developing players, surely he has the time for it, Japan don't exactly have a packed international schedule. You could argue that the NZ and Australian SR teams that have taken on Japanese players - I know the Highlanders and Rebels have done it, plus Tui at the Reds, and I think some of the ITM Cup teams have as well, have done more for developing Japanese players than Eddie. That exposure would certainly help to improve their abilities.
BluesMan
Guest
'I came here just to visit New Zealand to see some friends and I found out I'd be able to play first XV,' 'So I went to ask Wesley for a scholarship, they gave me five minutes to play and I played the whole game.' 'I just performed and gave it my all. They gave me that chance to stay, so I was happy." Seems to me like Fekitoa chose NZ and not the other way round. Taniela Tupou a.k.a Tongan Thor...now thats a poach.
Aaron
Guest
this is a poach.. "Fekitoa was born in Ha'apai, Tonga (May 10, 1992). In 2009, during a visit to New Zealand, he gained a rugby scholarship and enrolled at Wesley College.[1]"
Jerry
Guest
By 'non NZ visitor' I assume you mean 'Person who came to NZ on their own and asked for a trial at Wesley College'?
Aaron
Guest
of course he was a poach..since when did NZ offer full scholarships to 17-year old non-NZ visitors?
Jerry
Guest
"how come nobody asks the NZRU why they have imported players?" Good point, why has no one asked that? I have literally never heard anyone use the word 'poach' or 'south sea islanders' or 'Combined Pacific XV" when describing the AB's ever. And certainly not ALL THE F_CKING TIME over the last 20 years.
BluesMan
Guest
if you were to ask Fekitoa where he developed more as a rugby player, in Tonga or NZ? I'd bank on NZ
BluesMan
Guest
They still attended NZ schools didn't they?
Jerry
Guest
And there's an argument that he's a bit of a poach. But I'd argue a guy develops his rugby a fair bit between 17 and 23. Certainly a hell of a lot more than Michael Broadhurst has between the ages of 25 and 28, for instance.
Aaron
Guest
fekitoa went to nz when he was 17..he did not develop his rugby in nz..
Aaron
Guest
Moderated. Silly
Jerry
Guest
Cause when you're talking about representative rugby, a player who moved to a country because they were paid to play rugby there isn't really representative of that country's rugby development.
Aaron
Guest
why is it silly?..people move to different countries for different reasons..birth, adoption, marriage, refugee, school, employment, health, retirement, etc..
Tav
Guest
Leitch the captain moved to Japan at the age of 14 to attend school and stayed so he's spent more of his life in Japan then anywhere else. Mafi and Holani both attended school in Japan. Tonga has an exchange program set up with Japan after a the Tongan king and the Japanese prime minister sat on a plane together in 1973. They formed a relationship and in return for education opportunities Tonga would teach them rugby. I think there's now over 200 Tongan boys in Japan at school and university.