2017/18 Season - Your Player To Watch

Following on from my recruitment thread, I wanted to ask everyone to identify one player in their club whom other people may not know about, but whom you believe will make a big impact this season. Last season people recommended James Davies and Ross Moriarty to me and both proved to be very influential last season.

To start us off, 2 young Scottish players you should be aware of:

GLASGOW: George Horne



Brother of utility back Peter, George Horne was one of the stars of the World Rugby 7s circuit last year. I cannot think of a quicker scrum half over the first 5 metres than him and he is strong as a terrier. Hugely deceptive player - he will be challenged physically this year but brought on as a substitute in the last 20, I have no doubt whatsoever that he will be a match winner.

EDINBURGH: Darcy Graham



Delighted to be able to highlight a wing three quarter here. One of the main reasons that Scotland finished 5th in the U20 World Championships this year. Still only 19, he is an astonishing sprinter with feet like Fred Astaire. Closest thing I have ever seen to a Scottish version of Shane Williams. There, I said it. I said it.

Very interested to hear other of other prospects from other teams.

Two players to look out for from Wales next year are Rhun Williams and Tomos Williams from Cardiff Blues. Rhun Williams in particular looks a very exciting prospect currently plays at fullback, but I think he is too big for that position and could end up as a 12.

Also I am hoping that Owen Watkin recovers from his injury and takes the center spot left at Ospreys by Josh Matavesi, Cory Allen as well I am hoping stays injury free for a good season.

LordDowlais wrote:Two players to look out for from Wales next year are Rhun Williams and Tomos Williams from Cardiff Blues. Rhun Williams in particular looks a very exciting prospect currently plays at fullback, but I think he is too big for that position and could end up as a 12.

Also I am hoping that Owen Watkin recovers from his injury and takes the center spot left at Ospreys by Josh Matavesi, Cory Allen as well I am hoping stays injury free for a good season.

Not sure who you're watching but it isn't Rhun Williams if you think he's too big - he's pretty lightweight. He's also fresh out of the U20s and has hardly featured.

You're right about Watkin though, looked really good at this level before having to take a break for his op.

For Ulster I reckon there isn't going to be anything we've not seen already but with the new coaching team I'm hoping that the entire squad will find a new lease of life and be a collective 'one to watch'. The standout however could and should be Marcell Coetzee, his short cameo last season was something to behold, a force of nature and someone that can drag the side to victories even if it be kicking and screaming.

From an Irish perspective, the obvious one is Joe Cokanasiga. A similar build to Julian Savea and already looking potentially as powerful. He needs a run of clean health and a string of games and we will see how much damage he can cause in the Premiership. I have high hopes for him. The flip side is that we don't want to overuse him and that is why I think the signing of Nalaga is such a good one.

Otherwise, the midfield axis of Theo Brophy Clews and Johnny Williams could also have a breakout year. Both are potential England players, but both also have big question marks over their fitness.

Finally, I will be keeping an eye on Lasha Lomidze. A big beast of a Georgian back-rower. I expect he will either be a huge success or fade quietly into the background and not make much of an impact. Let's hope for the former as we are crying out for a big ball carrier in the pack.

I think you are right SirBurger - Cockasiga is one to watch. I haven't seen many Irish games with him playing - but must admit when he played in the U20s 6N he didn't stand out - it was the other wing Grabriel Ibitoye that put a marker down. Its a real shame that he was injured and didn't get more of a chance in EJs squad - A couple of stand out performances in the Prem though will stand him in good stead - no doubt he will play a blinder in the opener against Quins.....


For Quins I guess the ones to watch are the new arrivals -
Dimitri Catrikilis, big shoes to fill.....Perhaps a different kind of 10 that we are used to playing with...more structured and hopefully will bring a good kicking %.
Francis Saili, good to bring some competition to the centers (and some stability as wont be called away on international duty) - need to see how he will fit in with Roberts.
Clifford needs a good run without injury - If he can get back to the form that EJ recognised then he will be a great option.
Chisholm - can he avoid 2nd season syndrome.

propdavid_london wrote:I think you are right SirBurger - Cockasiga is one to watch.  I haven't seen many Irish games with him playing - but must admit when he played in the U20s 6N he didn't stand out - it was the other wing Grabriel Ibitoye that put a marker down.  Its a real shame that he was injured and didn't get more of a chance in EJs squad - A couple of stand out performances in the Prem though will stand him in good stead - no doubt he will play a blinder in the opener against Quins.....


For Quins I guess the ones to watch are the new arrivals -
Dimitri Catrikilis, big shoes to fill.....Perhaps a different kind of 10 that we are used to playing with...more structured and hopefully will bring a good kicking %.  
Francis Saili, good to bring some competition to the centers (and some stability as wont be called away on international duty) - need to see how he will fit in with Roberts.  
Clifford needs a good run without injury - If he can get back to the form that EJ recognised then he will be a great option.
Chisholm - can he avoid 2nd season syndrome.

I agree that he didn't really stand out for the Under 20s, which was a shame. He looked much better in most of the games he played for Irish (with a few quieter exceptions). He is a bit of a confidence player though. If he finds that inner belief he could be unstoppable.

That will be great to see if he can get some form back - offers that real power option on the wing that we don't have too many of in England at the moment (and used to rely quite a lot on).

I have seen a fair bit of Darcy Graham already but watching that clips reel right through really whets the appetite to see more.

You have got to be a little bit careful talking up any young player, especially one who is always going to be physically challenged in the world of giants but he you get the impression that he has been playing against bigger kids all of his life and it never seems to have phased him.

It is not just that he is so devastatingly quick off the mark but he does not seem to mind going into contact one bit either and because he is so small, just seems to be an absolute nightmare to put and hold down on the deck.

We will watch his progress with great interest. The conditioners have got the not insignificant challenge of managing to build him up a bit without losing much, if any of his pace. Hopefully we will see him scoring some tries in the Edinburgh shirt this year.

Just in case anyone thinks that I have completely one over to the dark side though and moved my allegiance eastwards. I will mention another Glasgow youngster who along with George Horne, could also become a special player.

Matt Fargerson, the younger brother of Zander has already made his debut for Glasgow at 18 and went on to become one of the stars of this years JWC. He plays in the back row in pretty much any position and has the bulk to run right over a defender or the pace to score from his own line, as he did in the Italy game in this years Junior 6N. We will be seeing a good bit of him this year I think and he will be heading for a cap in the not to distant future.

Folk at Bath had big hopes for Nick Auterac but was injured for most of last season
(along with mass of others). If he returns to his destructive best he will get noticed not least by the current England Scrum coach.
Max Clark also has a big opportunity at centre this coming season. Of course there is also Sam Underhill - the coming messiah - or not.....

LordDowlais wrote:Two players to look out for from Wales next year are Rhun Williams and Tomos Williams from Cardiff Blues. Rhun Williams in particular looks a very exciting prospect currently plays at fullback, but I think he is too big for that position and could end up as a 12.

Also I am hoping that Owen Watkin recovers from his injury and takes the center spot left at Ospreys by Josh Matavesi, Cory Allen as well I am hoping stays injury free for a good season.

6'1"
13st 9lbs

Too big for full back.

You know your stuff.

For us...

Well theres a lad called DTH van der Merve...

Nah, on a serious note I think Calum Chick could make a big splash this season. He was eased in last season, but he will have a bigger say this season. He's got the work rate of Mark Wilson and Will Welch but he's a gliding ball carrier hitting the gaps rather than smashing through. And hes a leader.

he will have competition from new signing from Leeds Ryan Burrows. A physical, rampaging no 8. I expect him to go very well!

Falcons fans are all looking at our front row options after last seasons nightmare with injuries! Ill be looking to see how LH Sam Lockwood gets on...and new French LH Sami Mavinga who looks a monster.

Finally like a broken down record player....CAN Scotty Wilson stay fit!!!!

Quite apt to follow a comment where DTH is the boy to watch. At the Scarlets I think Tom Williams is my one to watch. Tom (Brynmor's don, and LLoyd's brother) has been abut a bit, but never nailed down a shirt. I've been impressed by his attacking attitude when he has played and hoping he can kick on.

PhilBB wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Two players to look out for from Wales next year are Rhun Williams and Tomos Williams from Cardiff Blues. Rhun Williams in particular looks a very exciting prospect currently plays at fullback, but I think he is too big for that position and could end up as a 12.

Also I am hoping that Owen Watkin recovers from his injury and takes the center spot left at Ospreys by Josh Matavesi, Cory Allen as well I am hoping stays injury free for a good season.

6'1"
13st 9lbs

Too big for full back.

You know your stuff.

hes only about 19yrs old isn't he ? Thats pretty big for a kid his age. There is still some growing left. Also, instead of going out of your way to be "that person" all the time, try debating properly. You are a bore on here.

As you notice, I did say could end up as a 12, not will be, or should be. There are some ****** on this forum.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Quite apt to follow a comment where DTH is the boy to watch.  At the Scarlets I think Tom Williams is my one to watch.  Tom (Brynmor's don, and LLoyd's brother) has been abut a bit, but never nailed down a shirt.  I've been impressed by his attacking attitude when he has played and hoping he can kick on.

Sounds promising then.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Folk at Bath had big hopes for Nick Auterac but was injured for most of last season
(along with mass of others). If he returns to his destructive best  he will get noticed not least by the current England Scrum coach.
Max Clark also has a big opportunity at centre this coming season. Of course there is also Sam Underhill - the coming messiah - or not.....

Tough to get much attention as an English loosehead though. There's the two incumbents who are both Lions and then the steady AP performer for years Mullan and then we're into the young tyros Genge and Auterac. Great options but Auterac will have to find an extra gear if he wants to wear the rose.

It would be great to see young Auterac really push on...similar to Scott Wilson at us. Stay fit and both can really show how good they are.

SirBurger wrote:From an Irish perspective, the obvious one is Joe Cokanasiga. A similar build to Julian Savea and already looking potentially as powerful. He needs a run of clean health and a string of games and we will see how much damage he can cause in the Premiership. I have high hopes for him. The flip side is that we don't want to overuse him and that is why I think the signing of Nalaga is such a good one.

Otherwise, the midfield axis of Theo Brophy Clews and Johnny Williams could also have a breakout year. Both are potential England players, but both also have big question marks over their fitness.

Finally, I will be keeping an eye on Lasha Lomidze. A big beast of a Georgian back-rower. I expect he will either be a huge success or fade quietly into the background and not make much of an impact. Let's hope for the former as we are crying out for a big ball carrier in the pack.

Theo did the same knee he did last year in the U20s semi-final and will be out for a couple of months. Doesn't sound as bad this time around but the fact that it's the same one is concerning. However, he's a hugely talented player and I am looking forward to seeing what he can do in the AP.

He's been around the England EPS so isn't unknown but Will Evans at Leicester is a big talent. If he can stay fit then I could see him excelling in a Tigers back row with some extra physicality added to it's squad options.

Ellis Genge and Dom Barrow I expect to keep progressing impressively as well.

Breaking into the Connacht first team I think Cillian Gallagher has looked brilliant whenever I've seen him for Ireland u-20s, Lock or blindside, might not be this year but certainly expect him to make the step up