Upcoming stars

With it being the beginning of a new year, complete with an entire calender full of Internationals, if you could choose one player of your club, region, province, or nation, who you will be watching eagerly in the hopes they finally break through and begin to live up to potential?

For Wales I truly think the likes of Jordan Williams has the potential to become a Shane Williams-esque figure in the squad, breaking deadlocks and finding gaps for others, though simultaneously am unsure as to whether or not he may be slightly too green to find himself challenging for starting spots before the Autumn internationals.

Pieter Steph du Toit and hopefully the return of Johan Goosen for an injury free season.

Jaco Taute, Damien de Allende and Paul Jordaan might be in the Bok picture.

Biltong wrote:Pieter Steph du Toit and hopefully the return of Johan Goosen for an injury free season.

Jaco Taute, Damien de Allende and Paul Jordaan might be in the Bok picture.

Do you really need any more high class second rows?! Is du Toit a 4 or 5 Biltong?

Ardie Savea didn't tour with ABs for nothing and the next year or two will confirm his early promise or not.
Benji Marshall as a world cup winning league captain and NRL star will be closely watched. Played rugby at age group so isn't new to the game. Just whether his age of 28? will see him at his best in rugby.
There's also a collussus out of Wellington school rugby I can't recall the name of but next two years should see him at itm or sxv level.

Elliott Stooke is looking good for Gloucester. I can see him moving on from England U20's to Saxons and then full England team in a few years.

Scarlets
Jake Ball
Samson Lee
Steve Shingler
Rhodri Williams
Jordan Williams

Wales
Samson Lee
Eli Walker
Jake Ball (i hope he gets into the set up and gets game time under his belt)
Justin Tipuric (if you can class him)
Cory Allen
Rhys Webb

Taylorman wrote:Ardie Savea didn't tour with ABs for nothing and the next year or two will confirm his early promise or not.
Benji Marshall as a world cup winning league captain and NRL star will be closely watched. Played rugby at age group so isn't new to the game. Just whether his age of 28? will see him at his best in rugby.
There's also a collussus out of Wellington school rugby I can't recall the name of but next two years should see him at itm or sxv level.

So New Zealand need anymore world class wingers, they have already have a list now

Quins have 6 or 7 players who could break through to International level - maybe not for 2015 but certainly by 2019. However, since the OP asks for a focus on one, I'll pick Will Collier because he may actually be the least familiar of the candidates.

Collier is an academy-grown tighthead who became the default first choice this year with the departure of James Johnston to Sarries and with Paul Doran-Jones having been injured for much of the season so far. After a bit of a baptism by fire, he's settled in very nicely and most recently had a very clear upper hand against Racing, both home and away.

It's early days yet, and this week's game against Saints followed by next week's against Clermont will give us a clearer idea of his progress, but I picked him because England do not have much depth at tight head beyond Cole and Wilson and Collier is currently well ahead of Saxon Doran-Jones in the Quins pecking order. If he continues to develop at his current rate, he may get a call-up sooner rather than later.

Ireland:

Robbie Hendshaw (Connacht)- Huge talent. Pivotal in Connacht's win over Toulouse.
JJ Hanrahan (Munster) - IRB Junior Player of the Year 2012.
Iain Henderson (Ulster) - probably Irelands most promising young forward.
Luke McGrath (Leinster) - Immense any time he has subbed for Cian Healy.

Thats one from each province in Ireland.

Marty Moore at Leinster. He's looked better then Ross in a number of games this year. He's only 22 and tight head is not exactly a position Ireland are well stocked in.

Chjw131 wrote:

Biltong wrote:Pieter Steph du Toit and hopefully the return of Johan Goosen for an injury free season.

Jaco Taute, Damien de Allende and Paul Jordaan might be in the Bok picture.

Do you really need any more high class second rows?! Is du Toit a 4 or 5 Biltong?

He is playing 5 mostly, but I heard some rumours that he is equally adept in the backrow.

Jhamer25 wrote:

Taylorman wrote:Ardie Savea didn't tour with ABs for nothing and the next year or two will confirm his early promise or not.
Benji Marshall as a world cup winning league captain and NRL star will be closely watched. Played rugby at age group so isn't new to the game. Just whether his age of 28? will see him at his best in rugby.
There's also a collussus out of Wellington school rugby I can't recall the name of but next two years should see him at itm or sxv level.

So New Zealand need anymore world class wingers, they have already have a list now

None of the above are wingers though these days depth...real depth...is critical. We are usually strong at wing...lately we've included depth by bringing them in for test experience. Every side has to face the possible scenario of having half their side out- particularly the key players. Injuries are no longer down to luck...they're logical certainties in today's professional game.

Morgan Allen and Ieuan Jones are two that I hope push through in next 12-18 months or so becasue after Toby our No8 cupboard is pretty bare, especially on the youthful side of things.

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland:

Robbie Hendshaw (Connacht)- Huge talent. Pivotal in Connacht's win over Toulouse.
JJ Hanrahan (Munster) - IRB Junior Player of the Year 2012.
Iain Henderson (Ulster) - probably Irelands most promising young forward.
Luke McGrath (Leinster) - Immense any time he has subbed for Cian Healy.

Thats one from each province in Ireland.

I think you mean Jack Mcgrath

No need to thank me   

bedfordwelsh wrote:Morgan Allen and Ieuan Jones are two that I hope push through in next 12-18 months or so becasue after Toby our No8 cupboard is pretty bare, especially on the youthful side of things.

Add Dan Baker to that list of eights, he needs to move to another region though. He has no game times at an experienced and a well stocked 8 department at the Ospreys.

Poorfour wrote:Quins have 6 or 7 players who could break through to International level - maybe not for 2015 but certainly by 2019. However, since the OP asks for a focus on one, I'll pick Will Collier because he may actually be the least familiar of the candidates.

Collier is an academy-grown tighthead who became the default first choice this year with the departure of James Johnston to Sarries and with Paul Doran-Jones having been injured for much of the season so far. After a bit of a baptism by fire, he's settled in very nicely and most recently had a very clear upper hand against Racing, both home and away.

It's early days yet, and this week's game against Saints followed by next week's against Clermont will give us a clearer idea of his progress, but I picked him because England do not have much depth at tight head beyond Cole and Wilson and Collier is currently well ahead of Saxon Doran-Jones in the Quins pecking order. If he continues to develop at his current rate, he may get a call-up sooner rather than later.

Collier has a vary long way to go yet. He's having just as many poor games as good ones at the moment and while his technical skills at the scrum are getting better I've seen nothing from him in the loose. Something that is required these days at Int level.

My pick for Quins is Charlie Walker. A natural player who finds space easily and runs some incredible lines to turn defenders inside out. He's also quick as lightening. Played his Eng age rugby at 13,14 and 15 and has covered those positions at Quins.

Nathan Hughes at 8 (currently injured) and Guy Thompson (utility back row) have impressed for Wasps.

Elsewhere in the NH, JJ Hanrahan has the potential to be world class. Henderson at Ulster, Patchell at the Blues, Scott Williams at Scarlets, Slade at Exeter have all shown much promise.

Watch out for Iain Henderson if he gets fit for the Six Nations

Slade at Exeter is a good call. Very talented centre that got some HC game time this season.

Look out for a young lad called James O'Connor at London Irish too, he's fairly unknown out side of Reading but is off to France next season and I don't think this is the last we'll see of him...

You read it here first:

Simon Hickey, All Black no. 10. 2016.

I know Dom Barrow is already a JWC winner, but his performances for us at both second row and blindside have been hugely impressive for a 20yo. Has the lot...including intelligence. Key an eye on that lad.

Caught a bit of the Rugby Club yesterday night, they had a few clips of a young South African back 3 player called Cheslin Kolbe. Don't know much about him but he looked a terrific runner, perhaps on the small side though.

Any of our South African friends able to shed any light?

Kieran Marmion - Connacht. Scrum half.

Jhamer25 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland:

Robbie Hendshaw (Connacht)- Huge talent. Pivotal in Connacht's win over Toulouse.
JJ Hanrahan (Munster) - IRB Junior Player of the Year 2012.
Iain Henderson (Ulster) - probably Irelands most promising young forward.
Luke McGrath (Leinster) - Immense any time he has subbed for Cian Healy.

Thats one from each province in Ireland.

I think you mean Jack Mcgrath

No need to thank me   

Yes sorry.

With Flood moving away its time for Baths George Ford to step up, Nathan Catt although not really young anymore if given a chance could be a revelation at loosie, otherwise Bath don't give academy players the time of day (unless bought in) so thats about it.

Blues and Wales
10. Rhys Patchell
12. Corey Allen
13. Owen WIlliams

This midfield desperately need the game time they were denied last season, all 3 are currently injured though. Hopefully soon they will be starting together regularly.

sirtidychris wrote:With Flood moving away its time for Baths George Ford to step up, Nathan Catt although not really young anymore if given a chance could be a revelation at loosie, otherwise Bath don't give academy players the time of day (unless bought in) so thats about it.

Devoto has been playing very well this year and broken into the squad

Christian Wade - I really hope and pray he comes back ok from his injury and rightly takes the Shirt from Ashton (no offense to Ashton).

To my eyes CW has been the best wing in england for the passed 12 months in both codes of the game, however in the passed I've watched others like Oti and Ojo have their talent frustrated by injury and selection and so trust me on this occasion i'm looking skyward.

From a jock perspective, I would like:

1. Any of Weir, Heathcote, Leonard, Miller, Tonks or Russell to make the Scotland 10 shirt unequivocally their own. Dear lord, we've waited long enough.

2. Matt Scott to keep sufficiently fit to demonsrate that surprisingly he is in fact the most talented 12 amongst the home nations.

3. Mark 'the Messiah' Bennett to recover from the broken foot and start justifying the hyperbole.

Bathite wrote:

sirtidychris wrote:With Flood moving away its time for Baths George Ford to step up, Nathan Catt although not really young anymore if given a chance could be a revelation at loosie, otherwise Bath don't give academy players the time of day (unless bought in) so thats about it.

Devoto has been playing very well this year and broken into the squad

Very true bathite, after lacking the pace needed for a 15 and 10 being stacked he seems to be doing well at 12 as kicking/distributor mike catt type 12 and is keeping the orange one and ben williams off the team sheet entirely. May thrive if Eastmond leaves ( which i really hope he doesn't !!).

Mark Bennett is the obvious pick from a Scotland perspective. Despite the relatively weak field of outside centres at Glasgow and Scotland, he still isn't getting a game. He's been hugely disappointing so far, if only because of the lavish hype. We've seen glimpses of what he can do in a grown ups jersey, but Townsend doesn't seem to rate him, and so far he doesn't appear to be high on Scott Johnson's radar either.

Fingers crossed he gets more opportunities this year, because he looks to have a good attacking skillset which could work well with Scott and Horne respectively.

Sorry - forgot to mention Jonny Gray.

To be the biggest and heaviest lock amongst Glasgow's considerable canon at 19 years of age is quite something and most people who saw he and his brother play at school and for Hamilton tend to say Jon was the better footballer. He hasn't looked out of place against any of the monsters he has faced off against this season and that really is amazing in his first professional year.

He'll be a Lions captain within a decade. No, really, he will.

One more - speaking of enormous young locks, if I was an England fan I would be keenly watching Matt Symons in his first Super Rugby season for the current champs, the Chiefs.

Hmmmm, remember GC that he'll be up against a couple of very good locks indeed throughout his career, including his brother (24) and Grant Gilchrist (23).

Courtney Lawes is 24. Joe Launchbury is 22.

Anyway, in terms of the Lions captaincy, Mark Bennett will have that sown up as the natural heir to BOD.

Harry Thacker is the my choice at Tigers. Former England under 18. Made his Tigers debut at 17 in an LV win at the Stoop. Man of the match vs the Ospreys at Welford Rd and should be stepping up to England under 20s this year. Having played fullback and flyhalf in his young days you won't find a more skillful hooker though his diminutive stature will need to be added to he his pure power and gets through a lot of work.

Javiah Pohe the massive inside centre at Tigers is another to watch but he'll need to tone up a bit, the Italian under 20s tighthead Pazquali ("the Gladiator") looks to be a youngster of real talent having taken hold of the under 20s shirt at only 18. There's the three JWC winners in Wells, Price and Purdy though I have doubts over Purdy. The J6N will be an interesting watch with some of them involved.

There's plenty of great prospects at Saracens but I will pick just one - Jamie George.

After representing England throughout all the ages groups, he has had to bide his time as 3rd choice hooker at Sarries but with the departure of Smit, he has stepped up this season.

Hooker is a very competitive position for England but I feel George has what it takes.

He's got the physical attributes needed for a hooker but he's also a strong lineout thrower, has good hands and is no slouch.

Saints have two young wings who should be in line for England some time in the future.  Jamie Elliott (age 21) and Tom Collins (age 19).  Both are local lads, Elliott from Bedford and Collins a Northampton lad through and through.  
Add in the two Waller lads, ages 21 and 23, and also local, we have a nice group of young players getting regular game time right now.

With the sevens season under way at the moment here in Auckland, I just thought Id introduce you guys to Chicago Doyle (might qualify as an Irish project player), when you watch the clip remind yourself that he is ten years old.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11193154

I am going to move away from Saints players, they have been well supported before. I was massively impressed by Sarries young loose head against Natal Sharks, is it Barrington, came from Jersey (presumably therefore open to any of the home unions). Stood up to and later seemed to get the better of Du Plessis. I have not seen that happen many times, especially with Bismark D P hooking.

If he chooses England, it looks like we have another potential quality LH.

Where are all the young THs though?

Theres that lad at Exeter who played in the junior world cup. Hes only got a couple of tries under his belt and half a season as a regular starter thus far but looks a good prospect for a cap in the summer if England are still injury hit in the 3/4
Might be a bit soon for him mind.

  

I think Iain Henderson will be a mainstay of the Irish pack for many years to come.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Theres that lad at Exeter who played in the junior world cup. Hes only got a couple of tries under his belt and half a season as a regular starter thus far but looks a good prospect for a cap in the summer if England are still injury hit in the 3/4
Might be a bit soon for him mind.

  

Luke Cowan-Dickie? Good call - he may be a prop/hooker, but he's got more handling skills than Manu. Could be the ideal replacement at 13.

  

For Ireland:

Jared Payne (Autumn), Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall, Rhys Ruddock, Copeland, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O'Donnell, Robbie Henshaw, JJ Hanaran and Stuart Olding.

Christian Wade, Henry Slade are 2 players i would like too see more of. Both very talented players i hope they come good.

An hour ago I posted a clip of ten year old Pakuranga kid Chicago Doyle showing his amazing skills in a game of sevens, heres a clip of the same kid playing 15 aside,there are many International players that would have the "show and go" that this kid does.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjV-7OB0ozY

If he keeps playing like that, he will be in All Black.s before he is fifteen.

well either the ABs or a Sydney Rugby League club.

Jake Ball and Samson Lee

Owen Farrell

Phil vickery