Veteran Wallabies duo gear up for Japanese farewell
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Suzuka is set to host the end of an era on Friday night, when Quade Cooper and Will Genia play their final match in Japan.
The former Wallabies halves are yet to declare whether Hanazono Liners’ season finale will double as the final chapter of their professional careers.
But the duo will bid farewell to Japan Rugby League One after playing the Liners’ second promotion/relegation game against Mie Heat.
Hanging up the boots together would be fitting for Cooper and Genia, who have partnered in the halves for Australia, Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels and in Japan.
The pair of 37-year-olds, who joined the Osaka-based Hanazono in 2019, boast a combined 190 Tests caps.
Playmaker Cooper was given his Wallabies debut by Robbie Deans against Italy at Padua in 2008, while scrumhalf Genia’s international career started a year later.
Hanazono skipper Genia, who registered interest in playing for the combined Australian/New Zealand side on July 12 against the touring British and Irish Lions, has been a star performer in his final season with 11 tries.
Hanazono must overturn a four-point deficit from the first leg, after a try by Genia’s former Wallabies teammate Tom Banks helped Heat snatch a late 29-25 win in the opening game of the series.
Cooper and Genia aren’t the only Australians with important business to conclude on the final weekend of the season, with Israel Folau and Samu Kerevi needing to inspire Uraysau D-Rocks in Saturday’s return match against Shuttles Aichi.
The Division Two champions are currently one point ahead, after recovering from a 28-0 deficit to upset D-Rocks 43-42 in the opening match of their relegation series.
It is the final chance for Kerevi, who has been one of the league’s standouts, to impress Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt before his squad for the Lions series is named.
On Sunday, ex-Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley will chase his second title in Japan as Spears Funabashi Tokyo-Bay take on All Blacks playmaker Richie Mo’unga’s Brave Lupus Tokyo in the Division One decider.
Foley, who won a Super Rugby crown with the Waratahs in 2014, was part of the Spears outfit that became Japanese champions.
AAP
