Robbie Deans-coached Japanese club on for unbeaten season

Robbie Deans coaches the Wild Knights, which was a top club before he joined for the 2014-5 season. Under him, they have won three league titles.

The video above shows their semi-final win over the Eagles yesterday. If they manage to win next week's final, the Wild Knights will have gone through the season unbeaten. They almost managed the feat in 2008, before Deans was involved, but came a cropper in the play-offs.

The other semi-final today features a Todd Blackadder coached Toshiba Brave Lupus against Suntory Sungoliath. Suntory is the club Eddie Jones used to coach, and they have Sam Cane and Cheslin Kolbe on the books. Brave Lupus have Richie Mo'unga, who has been in great form. That's probably why New Zealand are wondering whether they can tempt him back home.

The squad page for Brave Lupus shows eveyone in suits, which makes it look like a firm of door supervisors.

https://www.bravelupus.com/member/

Brave Lupus vs Sungoliath semi-final.

They met three weeks ago, in regular league play, and Brave Lupus were comfortable winners. This was closer. Go to the 4:25 mark in the video above for an example of how Mo'unga orchestrates plays.

If you think the Leinster-Toulouse match was a compelling drama, then take a look at the Japanese club final between the Wild Knights (in blue) and Brave Lupus (in red). The eight minute clip below has Japanese commentary but you can work out what's going on with the various TMO reviews.

In the first half, the scorecard at top left shows Brave Lupus first, then switches around for the second half. It reflects the way the teams line up each half.

I hope you can watch this without knowing beforehand who wins the match.

If you’re out and bump into Deans, can you ask if he wants to coach Wales?

https://youtu.be/elOWD2nulws?si=zIvHDST432P6bO4a

mikey_dragon wrote:If you’re out and bump into Deans, can you ask if he wants to coach Wales?

You've Gatland until the next world cup at least lad.

I wonder how many Kiwis go play in the Japanese League One? Now I see there are at least two Kiwis (Blackadder and Deans). I also wonder how many Kiwi coaches make the trek up north.

doctor_grey wrote:I wonder how many Kiwis go play in the Japanese League One?  Now I see there are at least two Kiwis (Blackadder and Deans).  I also wonder how many Kiwi coaches make the trek up north.  

New Zealanders coaching or advising: Ian Foster, Robbie Deans, Steve Hansen, Todd Blackadder, Wayne Smith, Kieran Crowley, Wayne Pivac and Dave Rennie. There are other lesser-known Kiwi coaching names sprinkled around the leagues too.

Among recent and current All Blacks, Sam Cane, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell and Brodie Retallick all played this season.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:If you’re out and bump into Deans, can you ask if he wants to coach Wales?

You've Gatland until the next world cup at least lad.

Probably true, and no amount of wooden spoons can change that. Only on 600K mind, and his chums in the supposedly reformed WRU allowing him to do everything he wants.

There's a match report in English here.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240526/p2g/00m/0sp/027000c

The Wild Knights didn't go unbeaten. In a bit of an upset, Brave Lupus took the title.

It really was a dramatic match, with several twists of fate.

The full video of the final, with English commentary.

It includes the line "It's the most extraordinary of climaxes you will ever see in a final anywhere on the planet"