Comments on: 8 Rugby World Cup Novices to Watch

By: craigsman

craigsman — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 19:34:50 +0000

Traitor.

By: laraxwell

laraxwell — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:16:27 +0000

Iain Henderson -watch him

By: JRVJ

JRVJ — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:08:00 +0000

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.

By: twelvestocks

twelvestocks — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:56:22 +0000

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.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:49:38 +0000

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?

By: JRVJ

JRVJ — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:19:19 +0000

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.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 15:14:33 +0000

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.

By: JRVJ

JRVJ — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:51:37 +0000

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….

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:38:43 +0000

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

By: john

john — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:08:32 +0000

Jonny Gray!

By: Benjit

Benjit — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:31:34 +0000

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…

By: Leon

Leon — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 13:19:25 +0000

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)