Rugby Union: Only two players can follow Michael Hooper to Japan

Dane Haylett-Petty and Matt Toomua are the only players who have it in their contracts to follow Michael Hooper and take a sabbatical in Japan

Dane Haylett-Petty can’t have a stint in Japan at the same time as Matt Toomua

Melbourne Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty and fill-in skipper Matt Toomua are the only players who have it in their contracts to follow Michael Hooper’s lead and take a sabbatical in Japan – but only one can go at any particular time.

Hooper is to head to Japan early in 2021 to join forces with former All Blacks captain Kieran Read in the Toyota Verblitz team before potentially returning to Australia to play in any Super Rugby playoffs for the Tahs and then joining the Wallabies. Haylett-Petty and Toomua are the only other Australian players with a clause in their Rugby Australia contract that permits them to do likewise.

Melbourne Rebels coach Dave Wessels admitted he wanted to keep both his Wallabies stars at home in Australia but recognised that the sabbaticals were given as a reward for long and meritorious service.

“Dane is our regular captain and when he is not playing Matt is the captain,” said Wessels. “So I want to keep both of those guys. The way it works is that the both can’t go together, so if one did decide to go, they would have to alternate years. They are both honest guys and they are committed to the team and we have had multiple conversations with them in which they have been really transparent about how they are thinking about things.”

Wessels, meanwhile, has made just two changes to his side for the desperately vital clash against the NSW Waratahs at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

Tighthead Jermaine Ainsley, who performed so well in the surprising win over the competition leaders, the Brumbies nearly three weeks ago, has returned to the side in place of powerhouse prop Pone Fa’amausili, while former Tahs backrower Michael Wells relieves Josh Kemeny who, at the age of only 21, deserves a rest after playing some big matches in recent weeks.

“He is a young guy and we felt that the experience and the workrate of Wellsy would be really good for us,” said Wessels.

Haylett-Petty’s knee injury was predicted to have him on the sideline for around five or six weeks and that is the way his rehabilitation is shaping up.

“If it was a final, we probably would have pushed him to play but we are quite happy with our outside backs … Marika (Koriobete) is playing well, (Reece) Hodge is playing particularly well at 15, so I keep reminding Dane that I’m not sure how he is going to get himself back in the team. He is going to have to earn that.”

The Waratahs have taken a huge gamble of naming brilliant youngster Tepai Moeroa at inside centre for his first Super Rugby start in an absolutely must-win match for NSW. If the Tahs lose, it will be the end of the season for them. Even if they win without a bonus point, they still will need results to go their way in the final round next week.

Moeroa, a former Cook Islands rugby league international, will make his return to top-line rugby in partnership with former Australia Under 20 centre Joey Walton.

Wallabies halfback Joe Powell is the only change to the Brumbies side that beat the Tahs last weekend for Friday night’s match against the Western Force in Canberra. He comes in to replace Ryan Lonergan, who has dropped out of the match-day 23 with Nic White holding his place as reserve number nine.

James Slipper continues to impress at loosehead and may well have edged ahead of Scott Sio not just as the Brumbies leading number one but as the main contender for the Wallabies team.

Significantly, Reesjan Pasitoa, who at one stage appeared to be the frontrunner for the Brumbies playmaker role this season, has earned a place on the bench as back-up to five-eighth Bayley Kuenzle.

Again Solomone Kata has been chosen at outside centre ahead of senior Wallaby Tevita Kuridrani. Play generally passed him by last week but Kata has proven himself such a threat with ball in hand that coach Dan McKellar has decided to give him another go.

The Force have made six changes to the team comprehensively beaten by the Reds last weekend, with inside centre Henry Taefu returning to the midfield in place of All Black Richard Kahui and Marcel Brache coming in for possible Wallabies contender Bryon Ralston.

Jack McGregor reverts to fullback, his more customary position, allowing Jono Lance to return to five-eighth, while young flaker Tevin Ferris, who looked to have suffered a serious injury when he was stretchered from the field against the Tahs, making a welcome return to the bench.