Joseph brings in foreign legion for Lions job

JAPAN will be without seven of the side that beat Scotland at the World Cupwhen they face the Lions at at Murrayfield in June.

Head coach Jamie Joseph this week announced his 52-man training squad.

Four-time World Cup representative lock Luke Thompson, 66-cap hooker Shota Horie and winger Kenki Fukuoka have all retired.

The latter who tallied 25 tries in 38 Tests and toyed with the Irish and Scottish defences in Japan two years ago, bows out at the end of the country’s Top League next month to focus on his medical studies.

Full-back Will Tupou, half-backs Yutaka Nagere and Fumiaka Tanaka, and No.8 Hendrik Tui are also absent but Joseph has put together an exciting group with experience and talent in depth.

Long-time skipper, back row Michael Leitch, and flyhalf Yu Tamura, who both have over 60 Tests remain in place while winger Kotaro Matsushima (Clemont) and No.8 Kazuki Himeno (Highlanders) are both included.

Former New Zealand Super Rugby players, prop Craig Miller and locks Liaki Moli and Mark Abbott have each qualified after serving the three-year residency period, as have the South Africans Gerhard van den Heever and Shane Gates, who also boast experience with multiple Super Rugby clubs.

The talented young Australian trio of centre Dylan Riley and loose forwards Jack Cornelsen and Ben Gunter have also come into consideration after standout performances for the in-form Wild Knights, who won the Top League’s white conference.

Among the other newcomers, another loose forward to watch is Kobe’s Tongan wrecking-ball Lui Naeata, who has recently served the residency eligibility requirements.

An U20 representative for his native Tonga, Naeata is almost unstoppable near the try-line, as evidenced by his tally of nine tries from seven games this year, which included five in the win against the Canon Eagles.