This Rugby World Cup, some of the most distinguished veterans of the game will be gracing our shores in the form of Richie McCaw, Victor Matfield, Paul O’Connell and more. They will bring with them hundreds of caps of international experience.
Just as exciting a prospect, though, is the group of young players, themselves potential future stars, who will look to stamp their mark on the Rugby World Cup. Here is a selection of some of the tournament’s youngsters that you should keep an eye on.
Damian De Allende
Age: 23
Country: South Africa
De Allende has timed his maturation as a rugby player perfectly for this World Cup. The hard-running centre has long been tipped for greatness, and this Super Rugby season he put together a season that suggests he might just reach his potential.
At 6”2 and 16st, he is a solid slab of a three-quarter who loves putting the hammer down on opponents, be that in defence or with the ball in hand. This willingness to throw himself around means that he plays even larger than his frame suggests and shrugs off tackles at will.
However, de Allende’s turn of pace and nifty footwork are what can catch teams unawares, and with slick handling also in his arsenal, the centre is as comfortable creating tries as he is scoring them.
Metuisela Talebula
Age: 24
Country: Fiji
Fiji have previously provided some of the most breath-taking talent at the Rugby World Cup (see: Rupeni Caucaunibuca) and this year looks no different, with the likes of Nemani Nadolo and Veroniki Goneva pulling on the white shirt and looking to ruin the day of some unsuspecting enemy.
However, 24 year-old Metuisela Talebula is the player that teams should really be doing their homework on. Although listed as a full-back, Talebula is also comfortable at wing and outside centre and can be counted upon for some moments of magic with the ball in hand.
His sevens background gives you an idea of his free-flowing style of play and with pace to burn, he is a threat from anywhere on the field. Moreover, it’s not just promise and potential with Talebula as he has been tearing up the Top 14, scoring 25 tries in the last two seasons.
Will Skelton
Age: 23
Country: Australia
The Waratahs second row is just enormous. Skelton is just 23 and yet tips the scale at a modest 22st and towers over opposition at 6”8. Subsequently, he is already a prominent name on the Super Rugby scene and a prospect that Australia are keen to nurture.
Powerful seems a little insufficient to describe the way Skelton plays rugby as, along with his size, he brings an aggression to the game that can single-handedly change the way opposing packs operate. He also boasts surprisingly soft hands and the ability to find seemingly impossible offloads as the opposing defence engulfs him.
Anthony Watson
Age: 21
Country: England
Watson overcame a great deal of competition from the likes of David Strettle, Chris Ashton and Marland Yarde to secure a berth in Stuart Lancaster’s squad, and based on his performances so far, the England head coach can feel more than satisfied with his choice.
The Bath winger/fullback possesses an attacking skillset that bears some resemblance to that of a certain former Sale wing/fullback. The Jason Robinson comparisons are certainly fair, as Watson possesses jaw-dropping acceleration and footwork and the ability to find space where there is none. A case in point: his first try against France in the first warm-up game, where he left Brice Dulin face down on the scorched turf from a standing start.
Eben Etzebeth
Age: 23
Country: South Africa
Perhaps the only established superstar on the list, Etzebeth has made 37 appearances for the Springboks despite only being 23 years old. A nomination for IRB Player of the Year in 2013 gives a clear impression of how early in his career Etzebeth has made his mark. The lock is renowned for his ultra-physical style of play, but he couples it with a superb lineout game and phenomenal strength.
A large part of Etzebeth’s value to the Boks is his aptitude for provoking opposition players into ill-discipline. If Etzebeth can win the mental battle, it will yield points and unltimately win matches for South Africa. It’s not always pretty, but it is ruthlessly effective.
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Age: 24
Country: New Zealand
In possession of one of the best sidesteps (and best names) you are likely to see, the Hurricanes outside back is lethal if given space, and with his electric pace, balance and handling ability he will slice apart defences given the opportunity.
His rugby league background has granted him the same unearthly offloading ability that we see in fellow All Black Sonny Bill Williams, and the superlative comparisons don’t end there. League fans will recognise Benji Marshall and Shaun Johnson in his style of play, and in union, only Quade Cooper has the same ability to bamboozle.
All that is left for Milner-Skudder to do is deliver on his towering potential. Two tries on debut was a good start, but with the All Black back-line bristling with talent, there is still a great deal to be done for this speedster.
Henry Slade
Age: 22
Country: England
The second English representative and the least-capped player on this list, Henry Slade has much to prove when it comes to his place in the England squad. One of the Premiership’s top performers last season, Slade scored 150 points, 78 of which came in the space of an absurd four game stretch. He followed this up by sparkling in his solitary cap for England, showing his wonderful physical skills as well as an astute rugby brain and instinct.
Slade’s versatility makes him a great fit for Stuart Lancaster’s squad, as his all-encompassing skill-set means he could slot in at 10, 12 or 13 for England. Slade’s ball skills and kicking game are what sets him apart from other backs, but he also has a nose for the try-line.
Waisake Naholo
Age: 24
Country: New Zealand
Simply put, he is a born try-scorer. Nobody in Super Rugby scored more tries than Naholo last season and this is in a league that includes Julian Savea, Israel Folau, Bryan Habana and many other arch-finishers. Naholo has an uncanny blend of speed, power and instinct, so that if he feels the compulsion to score, he can choose from going round you, past you, through you or a combination of all of the above. He also has a knack for interception tries.
These are impressive attributes, and ones that could place Naholo on this list on their own. But it seems that the Fijian-born winger also has mutant healing powers, after he recovered from a broken leg he sustained in July that, according to Steve Hansen, would keep him out until ‘the middle of October’. The World Cup will be better for his inclusion.
Which youngsters are you looking forward to seeing this World Cup? Feel free to chip in with your own below the line.
By Fraser Kay (@fraserkay)
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A good list but one you could easily add several other young RWC debutantes to. I mean from the England squad alone there is:
Mako Vunipola (24), Jamie George (24), Joe Launchbury (24), Billy Vunipola (22), George Ford (22), Owen Farrell (24), Jonathan Joseph (24) & Jack Nowell (22)
and some of the best of the rest:
Sampson Lee (22), Liam Williams (24), Ben Volavola (24), Handre Pollard (21) Stuart Hogg (23), Brodie Rettalick (24)
2 English players on the list and no Welsh. I can think of one Welsh poster who will be apoplectic that Mathew Morgan or Moriarty wasn’t on the list.
Let the flame wars commence…
I for once am happy were excluded I hope coaches ignore them on game day too then we can sneak a few tries whilst they figure out what they forgot
Jonny Gray!
No Argentinean players who may crack this top 8? No Pablo Matera, Tomás Lavanini, Facundo Isa, Ramiro Herrera, Santiago Cordero or Javier Ortega Desio, to toss out some names?
The Pumas have beaten Australia, France and South Africa in the last year, and stand a very good chance of reaching the semi-finals….
Careful, it’s not a ‘Top 8′, just a selection of 8 (amongst many other) youngsters that will star at the tournament. Of course there will be Argentinians that shine also.
Implicitly, these are youngsters that the Rugby Blog is confident enough will shine that they feature them here. So yes, this may not be an actual “Top 8″, but that is a bit of a distinction without a difference.
On a more general note, I have notice a surprising dearth of news about the Pumas in the English Rugby media. While I understand that attention will generally be geared towards the Home Nations and the SANZAR Big 3, the bracket is very friendly to Argentina. Ignoring them may well be perilous to media outlets.
I don’t think it’s an anti-pumas bias JRVJ. The fact is that there are none of the home nations in Argentina’s group and that group rightly or wrongly isn’t seen as all that interesting with New Zealand highly likely to top it. I can assure you there is a lot of fondness and admiration for Argentine rugby, and that their 2007 campaign is well remembered! I’m sure if they get out of the group as expected that they will have more attention in the media.
I don’t think it’s a question of bias. I think it’s a question of simple ommission, since the Pumas are now playing in the RCh (and some of their more exciting young players stayed in Argentina instead of playing in France or England during the 2014-2015 season)
Having said that, I look at things like an article today on Planet Rugby about the top 5 nations who have never won the RCh, and it shocks me that Planet Rugby is implicitly discounting the possibility of the Pumas reaching the Semis in this RWC.
I’m the one who’s probably biased from following them in the RCh, but I certainly think that the Pumas can beat Ireland (their most likely opponent) or France (which they beat in Paris in November 2014) in the Quarters.
I’ve been impressed with Hallam Amos in the warm ups and for Newport last year. Wouldn’t bet against him having a big impact, especially with a few more Welsh injuries.
Not having Liam Williams on this list is just missing a golden one.
Kearney’s better brother is having his WC debut, isn’t he?
Iain Henderson -watch him
Traitor.