Wallabies' duo need to make a Lions statement this weekend

There might be other business at hand, but Wallabies-hopefuls Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete are also running out of time to impress Joe Schmidt as Japan Rugby League One enters its penultimate weekend.

Kerevi, who has been one of the players of the season across the league, will suit up for Urayasu D-Rocks on Saturday as they seek to avoid relegation in the first leg of their series against Division Two champions, Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.

Test teammate Koroibete, who has been restricted to just five appearances for the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights due to injury, could make his return in Sunday’s Division One semi-final against Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay.

The 59-cap winger skipped last year’s end-of-season trip to Europe, and made a late start to the fourth edition of League One due to a hand injury which kept him out until the round 11 loss to Shizuoka BlueRevs.

Further trouble struck when he injured his hamstring against Mie Honda Heat, although the 32-year-old has since recovered and may play some part for the second-placed Wild Knights against the Spears.

Fixture

Japan Rugby League One

Saitama Wild Knights

24 - 28

Full-time

Kubota Spears

All Stats and Data

Both sides have lost just twice this season, and drew 29-29 when they met earlier this month, suggesting another tight contest is likely.

Kerevi had his most recent test appearance, his 50th for Australia, soured after he was sent off against Wales for high contact while tackling backrower Jac Morgan.

But while his club struggled in its first season in Division One, the muscular 31-year-old midfielder has been in super form, with 10 tries in 14 appearances.

Given he also offers a level of experience that would likely be invaluable for a young test squad against the British & Irish Lions, the Wallabies coach is sure to be an interested follower as League One winds down.

The D-Rocks’ showdown with the Shuttles is one of two ‘Replacement Battles’ between sides from Divisions One and Two, with veteran Wallabies Quade Cooper and Will Genia looking to sign off from their time at Hanazono Kintetsu Liners with promotion after their series with Mie Honda Heat.

There are also two promotion/relegation series between Divisions Two and Three kicking off on Saturday, with Nippon Steel Kamaishi Seawaves and Lima Sopoaga’s-Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks defending their status against challenges from Mazda SkyActivs Hiroshima and Sayama Secom Rugguts.

Division One is where most eyeballs will be trained though, as Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo continuing their quest for back-to-back titles in Saturday’s semi-final against Kobelco Kobe Steelers.

While the first three editions of League One have produced different champions, Dave Rennie’s Kobe are the only member of the final four who have not won the new competition.

Kobe’s last national title came in the tournament’s predecessor, Top League, where a side featuring All Black legend Dan Carter belted Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in a one-sided 2018 final.