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Form players leave Sunwolves squad in lead up to Brumbies rematch
By Online Editors
As has happened throughout the season, the Sunwolves will be without a contingent of their top players when they take on the Brumbies in Tokyo on Saturday.
The Brumbies cantered to a 33-0 win in Canberra last time the teams met earlier this year, and things don't look to be getting any easier for the Japan-based side.
Sunwolves interim head coach Scott Hansen announced earlier in the week that five players would be leaving the squad to prepare for the upcoming World Cup with the Japanese development team. Rugby News Japan confirmed the five players would be prop Hiroshi Yamashita, lock Luke Thompson, loose forwards Henrik Tui and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco and halfback Kaito Shigeno. As such, all five players have been omitted from the Sunwolves match day squad to face the Brumbies.
Yamashita has been replaced at tighthead prop with Takuma Asahara. He is joined in the front row by Nathan Vella and Alex Woonton. Thompson's position is filled by Otago second-rower Tom Rowe and he will partner fellow Kiwi Mark Abbott to round out the tight five.
The loose-forwards receive a shake up with Warren-Vosayaco's vacant spot taken by Toshitaka Tokunaga. Amanaki Mafi, who was close to the best player on the pitch last weekend, will also sit out the Brumbies fixture. Regular Sunwolf Ben Gunter, who just this week was deemed ineligible for Japan selection this year, will take his spot.
Jamie Booth returns to the starting side to take over from Shigeno. Other changes in the backs include Jason Emery shifting forward to centre and Semisi Masirewa taking over at fullback with Tongan-born Hosea Saumaki coming into the starting side on the left wing.
The forwards will feel the losses of Thompson and Warren-Vosayaco in particular, who have been some of the Sunwolves' best performing players this season.
Besting the Brumbies would have been a tough ask for the Sunwolves will a full strength team but few will give them a chance now with so many of their top players unavailable.
The Brumbies are on track for the final but can't afford to slip up, with so many teams chomping at their feet. The Sunwolves, on the other hand, need to secure one more win this season to match last year's effort of three victories.
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Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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