The prospect of a World Cup berth looming tantalisingly on the horizon, Ben Gunter’s quest to, as he put it, ‘earn his jumper’, continues in Perth on Friday night.
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The Gunnedah product and his Panasonic Wild Knights side tackle the Western Force in the final game of World Series Rugby for 2018.
Gunter has been named at six for Robbie Deans’ side, moving from the back of the scrum where he played predominantly last season.
“They like the way he plays and think that’s the position that suits him,” his pop Jeff Worrell said.
He said former Red Devil is “very excited” about taking on the Force in what is expected to be the tightest contest of the competition.
It is shaping up as a big season for the 20-year old, who was earlier in the year named in Japan’s 40-man Rugby World Cup training squad.
The youngest player to ever play in the top league, and the youngest tryscorer, Gunter is one of five uncapped players in the squad.
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“When he rang me he said ‘I’m in the squad for the Japan World Cup but I’ve got to earn my jumper’,” Worrell recounted. It’s a glimpse of the attitude that has taken Gunter to the cusp of rugby’s showpiece event.
Friday will be the Knights’ final hit-out ahead of the Japanese Top League season, which kicks off in two weeks.
The Knights will be looking to go one better after going down to Suntory Sungoliath 12-8 in last seasons final.