TOP LEAGUE SPECIAL: Team profiles

Rich Freeman / Daily Yomiuri Sportswriter

Toshiba Brave Lupus

Head Coach: Tomohiro Segawa

Last year: 1st

Prospects: Lost three times in the regular season last year but came good when it really mattered, with veterans such as David Hill, Steven Bates and Hitoshi Ono to the fore. Segawa has a very stable squad, which has been boosted by a couple of good acquisitions, most notably Warren Smith. Failure to make the top four (and even top two) would be a shock.

Player to watch: Steven Bates

Very unlucky not to be named league MVP last year (and the year before that for that matter). The flanker is at the heart of everything the team does.

Sanyo Wild Knights

Head Coach: Hitoshi Iijima

Last year: 2nd

Prospects: Three consecutive All-Japan Championships would be reason to celebrate for most clubs. But Iijima and his team want a league championship pennant flying above their clubhouse in Ota, Gunma Prefecture. Have unparalleled strength in depth but seem to struggle going the distance. Could this finally be the year, Tony Brown et al lift the trophy?

Player to watch: Yu Young Nam

Very physical, fit and athletic (as one would expect from a former South Korean soldier). The flanker/lock was picked in the league All-Star XV last year.

Suntory Sungoliath

Head Coach: Eddie Jones

Last year: 3rd

Prospects: The only side other than Toshiba and Sanyo to pick up any silverware in the last four years. The 2007-08 league champions were unbeaten in the regular season, but fell apart in the playoffs. With Katsuyuki Kiyomiya standing down, Jones now has complete control of a side that contains some of the best attacking players in Japan.

Player to watch: Todd Clever

Captain of the U.S. Eagles and a member of their sevens team, Clever gave up Super 14 rugby with the Lions to bring his flowing mane to Japan.

Toyota Verblitz

Head Coach: Yasuhiro Kutsuki

Last year: 4th

Prospects: Came very close to upsetting Sanyo in the playoffs last year. New coach Kutsuki has inherited a stable squad that on its day can beat any team in the league, but just need to be a little more consistent. With Takeshi Kikutani in the pack and Orene Ai'i pulling the strings at No. 10, Verblitz should be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

Player to watch: Toshizumi Kitagawa

Tough, uncompromising lock who is one of the first names on John Kirwan's list for the Brave Blossoms. Never takes a step back.

Kobe Kobelco Steelers

Head Coach: Yuji Sonoda

Last year: 5th

Prospects: Given the club's history, the last few years have been a bit of a disaster. The talent is there, but they have struggled to follow the script and some of the performances have had the coaching staff pulling their hair out in frustration. A shoulder injury to Jason Kawau won't have helped preparations, as he is one of just four new backs at the club.

Player to watch: Peter Grant

The flyhalf headed east when overlooked for the Springboks. Will add stability to the backline and has the ability to play both a running and kicking game.

Kubota Spears

Head Coach: Jun Sano

Last year: 6th

Prospects: Sano takes over a side that started well last year, only to lose five of its last seven games. With Toutai Kefu retiring and Michael Broadhurst jumping ship to Ricoh, the big question is whether Kaname Ogiwara and his pack can win enough ball. Last year it was often kicked

to good effect but the law changes could hurt Kubota more than most.

Player to watch: Scott Daruda

With Sano hoping to play a more fluid game this year, Daruda could challenge the prodigious boot of Shane Drahm for a spot in the starting XV.

Fukuoka Sanix Blues

Head Coach: Yuichiro Fujii

Last year: 7th

Prospects: Played some of the most enterprising, attacking rugby last year only to be let down by some poor defense. Fujii says he has worked the team very hard in the offseason in the hope of improving the defensive system. A little more consistency and the Blues could make Fujii's dream of beating a top four side come true.

Player to watch: Yu Kanto

At 1.79 meters and 93 kg is hardly the biggest backrow forward around, but Kanto never gives less than 100 percent and as captain leads by example.

Coca-Cola Red Sparks

Head Coach: Shogo Mukai

Last year: 8th

Prospects: Like most sides outside the top four, the biggest problem for Mukai is consistency. The boot and vision of Shaun Webb certainly helped last year and the addition of Tim Bateman will give them even more of an attacking edge. But the pack are more workmanlike than spectacular and may struggle to last the distance.

Player to watch: Masakazu Toyota

In just his second season in the Top League, Toyota has already been named club vice captain. A strong, athletic flanker who should make the World Cup squad.

Yamaha Jubilo

Head Coach: Takanobu Horikawa

Last year: 9th

Prospects: The mass departure many feared after the club said it was cutting all professional contracts failed to happen with the likes of Yuki Yatomi and Ayumu Goromaru staying in Iwata. But Horikawa (who is in his second spell as head coach) only has a 36-man squad to deal with and the side could struggle if it picks up a few injuries.

Player to watch: Yuki Yatomi

The scrumhalf needs a big year if he is to regain his spot in the national team for the World Cup. Very dangerous around the fringes.

NEC Green Rockets

Head Coach: Kaname Okamura

Last year: 10th

Prospects: A tremendous rearguard action saw the Green Rockets save themselves from relegation, after losing nine of their opening 10 games last year. With Greg Cooper having more of an influence on the coaching and a number of the old guard leaving, Nili Latu and his team could be a thorn in the side of a number of teams.

Player to watch: Makoto Tosa

The No. 8 spent the last year in England studying at Oxford University. Is seen as a replacement for Takuro Miuchi, meaning he has some pretty big boots to fill.

Kintetsu Liners

Head Coach: Peter Sloane

Last year: 11th

Prospects: Will be hoping their new players don't follow in the footsteps of Leon MacDonald, who missed all of last season due to injury. Were the second lowest points scorers last year leading Sloane to have big clearout in the offseason. The former All Black coach has brought in 10 players, who will be led by the newly naturalized Japanese lock Luke Thompson.

Player to watch: Rico Gear

Providing he can get enough ball the former All Black wing could prove to be a try-scoring sensation with his pace and power.

Ricoh Black Rams

Head Coach: Todd Louden

Last year: 12th

Prospects: Failed to deliver last season even with the biggest squad in the league. Despite a big clearout, the Black Rams still have 17 new faces, meaning Louden will once again have to work hard to keep everyone happy. New recruits Kim Young Dae and Michael Broadhurst should add an extra dynamic to Ricoh's forward play.

Player to watch: Tamati Ellison

Left New Zealand having been capped once by the All Blacks. Versatile player who can cover any of the back positions bar scrumhalf.

NTT Shining Arcs

Head Coach: Teruyuki Onuma

Last year: Promoted (1st Top East)

Prospects: Went unbeaten in Top East and then won the Top Challenge series to earn a spot in the top flight. Have recruited well with the likes of Hajime Kiso, Daigo Yamashita, Adam Wallace-Harrison and Craig Wing joining in the offseason. But as with all promoted teams, the big question is whether they have the physicality to stay up.

Player to watch: Hajime Kiso

Signed from Yamaha in the offseason. His skill at the line-out will be invaluable in providing go-forward ball for the likes of JP Nel and Mark Gerrard.

Toyota Shokki Shuttles

Head Coach: Makoto Tamura

Last year: Promoted (1st Top West)

Prospects: The arrival of 150-kg Luatangi Samurai Vatuvei together with 115-kg center Joseph Vaka will ensure the Shuttles start the season as one of the fans' favorites. The presence of three Hong Kong internationals will also ensure plenty of publicity overseas but it remains to be seen if the news will be good come the end of the season.

Player to watch: Yuya Saito

Was touted during the 2003 World Cup as the Japanese player most likely to play in the Super 14. But seemed to waste his natural talent with a reluctance to train.