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NRL convert Joseph Manu faces biggest test yet versus Bok centre

Joseph Manu makes a carry Credit: Japan Rugby League One

Rugby league convert Joseph Manu faces his biggest test to date when he squares off against Springbok centre Jesse Kriel in the latest act of Japan Rugby League One, which returns after a one-week break on Saturday.

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The 28-year-old former National Rugby League (Australia) star has shown promising signs in his five-match foray into rugby union but in Kriel, he marks up against one of the game’s best, as Toyota Verblitz hosts fourth-placed Yokohama Canon Eagles.

A key part of a South African side that has won back-to-back Rugby World Cups, as well as last year’s Rugby Championship – the Boks’ first for five years – Kriel is arguably in the form of his life.

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    And he has started the new season in fine style, picking up three tries, to boost his tally to 22 from 58 appearances since he joined the Eagles after the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

    Although Manu showed what he is capable of after coming off the bench for the latter stages of the 38-22 loss to the Wild Knights two weeks ago, scoring one try and setting up another, the game was long gone by that stage.

    Fixture
    Japan Rugby League One
    Toyota Verblitz
    20 - 24
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    Kriel is unlikely to afford his novice opponent, who will start this week, the time and space he enjoyed then.

    While the stars collide at Toyota Stadium, it could be hard going for Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo, and their head coach Tabai Matson when they head to Kobe.

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    So far, Setagaya has been a frustrating place for the ex-Harlequins boss, who saw his side lose to an 81st minute try against Mie Honda Heat on opening day.

    Joseph Manu
    Jessie Kriel hits the line Credit: Japan Rugby League One

    Things haven’t gotten much better in the time since.

    Matson’s men are second from bottom but a record showing one win and four defeats is misleading as the Black Rams haven’t been that bad.

    Ricoh has led at halftime in three of their four losses, and while Matson has already had great value from off-season signing TJ Perenara, the All Black has been unable to stem the tide, even playing from flyhalf where he scored a try in the latest defeat against Kubota.

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    Perenara returns to scrumhalf this week against an opponent for whom coach Dave Rennie has the luxury of running foreign test players George Turner and Ngane Laumape from his bench.

    The winless Urayasu D-Rocks will probably remain that way after Saturday’s trip to Saitama while coming off their first win of the season, Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath will test themselves against third-placed Shizuoka Blue Revs.

    Fifth placed Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay visit Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars while Sunday’s game sees Mie Honda Heat, whose season has started sinking after three straight defeats, host Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

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    Spew_81 3 hours ago
    'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

    I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test, in a series they had already won, would’ve been a perfect opportunity.


    I also made it clear I would’ve kept Cruden in the mix, up until the end of RWC 2019. As he was a game manager. He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement: “or should I say anyone not Mo’unga”. I would’ve had Mo’unga in the wider training group and in the end of year tours. At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie (as McKenzie can cover: 9, 10, 14, and 15); but as Cruden was out of favour and departed, I would’ve had Mo’unga, B Barrett, and McKenzie as the 10 hierarchy; as Mo’unga is a game manager.


    McKenzie had to have made his intentions clear that he wanted to transfer to 10 at least as far back as 2018. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have played at 10 for the Chiefs in 2018. The Chiefs had other options at 10. Why play someone out of position in Super Rugby, when they didn’t have to - unless McKenzie wanted to be the All Blacks 10 after B Barrett left? McKenzie played 10 in high school and never hid the fact that he wanted to have a shot at 10 and the highest level (nothing wrong with that). Also, McKenzie played 10 for the Maori All Blacks earlier in 2017:


    [January 18, 2018] “It [10] has been a position I've always played and in the last few years I've played at 15, but now there is the opportunity to play at 10 and its one I'm looking forward too.


    Damian McKenzie targets first-five role for Chiefs ahead of Super Rugby season | Stuff


    Hansen seemed to think that McKenzie was a valid option at 10: “In World Cup squads, versatility is king. McKenzie's Test career has been at fullback; next year at the Chiefs he will be their first-choice fly-half”.


    'When you're afraid you start second guessing yourself' - The Damian McKenzie All Blacks Interview - ESPN


    It makes sense that Hansen and Foster’s logic was that McKenzie would follow the same path as B Barrett did to the 10 jersey for the All Blacks; from 15 to 10.


    Why would McKenzie move positions from 15 to 10 at Super Rugby level, if he didn’t want to play 10 for the All Blacks? Just to be a better ‘dual playmaker’? He clearly wanted the All Blacks 10 jersey (nothing wrong with that). Hansen wanted a dual playmaker system, that’s why he wanted two 10’s that could play 15. It removes the need for a 10 on the bench (Cruden or Mo’unga) that’s why Hansen didn’t give Cruden a real shot at reclaiming the 10 jersey, and why he didn’t develop Mo’unga - until McKenzie got injured out of RWC 2019. This all fits the established narrative. Hansen could’ve had Mo’unga at 10 and B Barrett at 15 and had two pivots with different styles.


    I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10, that played like the incumbent 10, instead of a game manager at 10. That was one of my main points. I’m saying that was the reason why Mo’unga wasn’t given a proper chance to develop into the international 10 he could’ve been.


    All I’ve said is that I don’t think Hansen and Foster made the best choice, in hindsight. One of each type of 10 would’ve offered more options, making the job harder for opposition defense coaches. But without the benefit of parallel universes, where all the alternative ideas could play out, no one will really know.


    I believe what the information shows, and what seems to be plausible, based on that information. There can be many, sometimes contradictory, conclusions that can be drawn from the same information. Without reading the minds of all involved we can just speculate based of the information that we have.


    I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did). Foster and Hansen would’ve had long term planning discussions while Hansen was the main coach and Foster was the assistant. The next 10, after B Barrett would’ve been discussed during the 2016-2019 cycle as B Barrett (while very good) didn’t have the ability to consistently manage the really tight games (I’m not sure any 10, even Carter, could do it alone against the developed rush defenses that are common now). Also, as with any long term planning, they would’ve been thinking about B Barrett’s eventual replacement. They seemed to want another player who played like B Barrett.


    Hansen and Foster seemed to be grooming McKenzie as the replacement 10. No wonder Mo’unga chose not to die for the team, and made sure he would be set for life by the time RWC 2027 comes around.


    I have shown my reasoning and the information that led to those conclusions. If you have contrary information, post it, I’d be interested to see it. I’m happy to change my mind. I am very interested to discuss this type of thing, especially when someone has different views. It makes the discussion more interesting. I am happy to agree to disagree on this. You make some good comments, I’m sure we will sometimes agree and sometimes disagree in future :)


    [Bonus Comment] Also, here’s an idea that is a bit left field that you can sink your teeth into. McKenzie should’ve made his primary position as a 9, covering: 10, 14, and 15 (McKenzie has been seen as valid 9 cover, he played 9 when Perenara got sin binned in Wellington, vs France in 2018). Start Aaron Smith and have Mo’unga at 10 and Barrett at 15; bring on McKenzie with 20 minutes to go. Three playmakers. That would’ve been a nightmare for defense coaches to defend against. Imagine A Savea taking the ball off the back of a mid-field scrum on the 22, with those three options to offload to. You can’t rush all three players. That is the way to beat a rush defense, create too many options to cover; but you need a 10 who is a game manager that can take advantage of the options.

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