Ex-Wallabies duo rave about Japan’s ‘physical’ enforcer Michael Leitch

Nick Phipps and Morgan Turinui have sung the praises of Japan’s “physical” 90-Test backrower Michael Leitch, who returned to the Brave Blossoms’ starting side in last weekend’s 15-19 defeat to the Wallabies in Tokyo.

Lietch hadn’t suited up in the Brave Blossoms’ iconic red and white jersey since July 12, when they were beaten 22-31 by Wales. Coach Eddie Jones recalled the Test veteran for the clash with the Wallabies, along with fellow loose forward Ben Gunter.

Both Leitch and Gunter stood out as some of Japan’s best performers in the narrow loss, as they fell short of what would’ve been their first-ever win over the Wallabies, having mounted an impressive second-half comeback at the National Stadium.

The Wallabies were within reach of the try line in the 20th minute as they spread the ball wide-left, before Leitch secured a pilfer penalty in the 10th phase of that attack. Leitch finished with a team-high 14 tackles, marking a memorable return to the international arena.

“He’s a bit older than me and he’s still so good, especially in League One, he’s still dominant. In a team full of stacked players… he’s still the out-and-out best player in their team,” former Wallabies scrum-half Phipps said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“He’s old, yeah, but someone’s got to come through and replace him and no one’s playing good enough to put their hand up and do that.

“He made some tackles on the edge and then Edmed or Gordon would kick and he’d be back in the backfield covering,” Turinui added. “Challenged both attack and defensive breakdowns, he was physical.”

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