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Young Australian trio close to completing allegiance switch after being named in Japan squad

By AAP

13 Apr 2021

(Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images for Sunwolves)

The Australian trio of Dylan Riley, Jack Cornelsen and Ben Gunter are a step closer to donning the colours of Japan after being named in a 52-man training squad by Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph.

The Japanese are preparing for a historic test match against the British and Irish Lions at Edinburgh on June 26.

Queensland-educated, the young Australians have qualified on residential grounds after performing for the Panasonic Wild Knights in the country’s Top League.

Why John Kirwan believes Beauden Barrett should be benched for All Blacks

The Wild Knights, who are coached by former Wallaby mentor Robbie Deans, took out the white conference of this year’s competition, giving the team top seeding for the upcoming elimination playoffs.

While Gunter, who was born in Thailand but schooled at Brisbane Boys’ College, had been in a previous training squad, inclusion is a first for Cornelsen, who will follow his famous father Greg into test rugby should he win selection for the 2019 Rugby World Cup quarterfinalists.

Cornelsen senior is Australian rugby royalty after writing his name into history when he scored four tries during the Wallabies’ shock 30-16 win over the All Blacks in the third test of the 1978 series at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Riley, who is a former Australian Under-20 representative, joined Panasonic three years ago after failing to secure a Super Rugby contract.

He has been a standout for the Wild Knights this year, and last weekend scored three tries.

The Australians are three of 11 players from Panasonic who have made the cut, only the red conference champions Suntory Sungoliath have more representatives, with 12.

The Brisbane State High School product James Moore, who has played eight tests for Japan since his debut in 2019, has also been included.

Moore is one of sixteen players who featured when Japan famously beat Scotland 28-21 to secure a maiden Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

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Comments on RugbyPass

TBPinOZ 13 minutes ago

Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.

Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.

I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.

No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.

I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.

I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.

Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.

46 Go to comments

Wit Kant 45 minutes ago

Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

That is very rude towards Kieran Read

46 Go to comments

Cantab 1 hour ago

Australia player ratings vs Scotland | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

If OZ are to regain their lost credibility they now need to tip up the Irish or at least run them close. Can't see that happening even though miracles occasionally occur

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Cantab 1 hour ago

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Aussie very much a Cinderella team, can be very very good or absolutely horrid. The latter applied against Scotland. Nothing short of their best will enable them to be competitive against an Irish team defending their 2nd world ranking. NZ were able to beat the Irish by 10 points & would love to see OZ do the same. Can't see it happening through

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SadersMan 1 hour ago

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Ohh, it's Izzy, was expecting DC. Meh!

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Cantab 1 hour ago

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Australia will need their best team to be at least competitive against the Irish. Ireland are a much stronger team than Scotland.

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Mzilikazi 3 hours ago

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I wonder how Leinster will use Jordie. I would rate the current centres there above him, and the rest of the backline is strong. Pity he did not go out to Connacht, or up to Ulster....both would really benefit from a player of his class.

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Mzilikazi 3 hours ago

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I am saddened that this is how Brendan Mullin has ended up. I met him in the 70's as a 16 year old , when attending a trial for an Irish Schools age group sevens team. I was coaching in Ulster at the time, and we had a player in contention.

On the way back up to Belfast, he was on the train for part of the way out of Dublin, and I got to know him a bit. He told me was born in Jerusalem, lived some years there. He was now being educated at the rugby powerhouse, Blackrock College. He made that team, as did my player. His immense talent was clear at that age.

5 Go to comments

Jmann 3 hours ago

TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

Wrong

13 Go to comments

Jmann 3 hours ago

TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

in fact polls have shown conclusively 2 things: First - more people in NZ support the bill than do not (FACT!)/ Secondly - 96% of the 'hikoi' participants had not read Act's bill. In other words... they have no idea what it is about. You have carried this ignorance on with your statement that Act "seek to rewrite the Treaty'. That is 100% inaccurate and in fact is explicitly ruled out in the bill. You should educate yourself and read it before before commenting on matters that you clearly have no understanding of.

13 Go to comments

Jmann 3 hours ago

TJ Perenara clarifies reference to the Treaty in All Blacks' Haka

Balls - it was a misguided and unsanctioned dig into matters he (like 95% of the anti-Bill crowd) completely misunderstand and misrepresent. Good riddance to this bench warmer.