The All Blacks coaching shift under Dave Rennie is set to bring about a significant change in the team’s selection policy, with Rennie eyeing Japan-based stars to challenge Springbok dominance. Rennie is reportedly looking to end NZ Rugby’s “home-only” rule to bring back superstars like Richie Mo’unga and Brodie Retallick from Japan.
There are two players in particular that Rennie wants back in the All Blacks starting line-up, one in the engine and one in charge of the backline — Brodie Retallick and Richie Mo’unga, respectively. But there are plenty more. Currently, around 50 South Africans are playing in various Japanese leagues, including 10 current Springboks, and there are probably more Kiwis than that, given that New Zealand is much closer to Japan than South Africa.
Challenging Springbok Dominance
All Blacks fans have long lamented NZ Rugby’s stance on not picking overseas-based players, and point out the significant advantage the Springboks have in being able to pick Japan-based stars such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Faf de Klerk, and Kwagga Smith. The Japanese national team coach, Eddie Jones, is the latest high-profile rugby figure to point out the benefits of playing in Japan’s less physically demanding leagues, according to Wikipedia.
Extending Player Careers
As Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has often said, Jones points out that playing in Japan as opposed to the arduous French Top 14, Super Rugby, or URC, extends a player’s career. Jesse Kriel, in his seventh season in Japan, told a rugby magazine last year why he feels he is a better player for having moved there. “There’s money involved for every South African who goes overseas, and that’s one of the motivators,” Kriel said.
“The main thing for me is that there are a lot fewer distractions in Japan. You eat, sleep rugby, and get so much time to hone in on your skills and become a better rugby player. I think that’s the reason I’ve been here for six seasons.” Jones recently told the Rugby Unity podcast that in the Japanese leagues, players handle the ball far more than in other competitions.
Here are some of the key benefits of playing in Japan:
- Less physically demanding leagues
- More time to hone in on skills
- Fewer distractions
- More touches on the ball
And the rugby must be of a reasonable quality, given that Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit have won World Rugby Player of the Year Awards while based in Japan. As Kriel says, “It’s definitely not easy rugby. There are so many international players here – and some absolute freaks, including guys from rugby league.
