EoYT 2012; who are the rookies to look out for from your country?

[TRF_stormer2010]

I thought it might be worthwhile to discuss who the players are that might debut for your country in the coming tests that might not be familiar to others. I'd certainly like to know who to look out for from the European countries.

From SA we only have 5 uncapped players;

Jano Vermaak
Franco van der Merwe
Arno Botha
Lionel Mapoe
Raymond Rhule

These players are more fringe players and of the lot probably only either of Mapoe or Rhule might play on the wing with Bryan Habana out injured. Of the two Mapoe has done the rounds and having played wing for the Cheetahs in his break-out year in 2009 he has since featured for the Lions at outside center. Mapoe is a very talented player and the all-round skill set he has developed at center might tip the scales in his favor but might Heynecke Meyer prefer an out-and-out winger? That would be Rhule who is the top try scorer in the Currie Cup this year. Electric is the best way to describe Rhule who was born in Ghana and moved to SA with his family because of better opportunities when he was 7 (hasn't that move worked out for him!). He is quite young though and hasn't had the experience that Mapoe has had but he did feature for the Junior Springboks who won the IRB Junior world series last time out.

The other option as replacement for the in-form but injured Habana is playing Francois Hougaard on the left wing with Jano Vermaak- who played ahead of Hougaard in the 9 jersey at the Bulls in the Currie Cup- taking up the role as deputy to Ruan Pienaar. Jano signed for the Bulls last year and has been around for some time playing for the Lions in CC and Super rugby. Also an ex-Lion- having signed for the Sharks recently- is veteran lock Franco van der Merwe who has struck a rich vain of form this year.

The 5th uncapped player is the versatile, skillful, fast and powerful loose forward Arno Botha who got snapped up by the Blue Bulls and is being groomed as a future captain. Certainly one to look out for in the recent future. Botha can play both flanks and 8th man.

 

[big ginger 8]

If he gets a shot Iain Henderson for Ireland. Lock or blindside played u20s last year. Similar to Ferris.

Dave Kilcoyne a loosehead may be another good scrummager for his age string carrier.

Then Paddy Jackson outhalf in the u20 6N last year. Mature beyond his years.

 

[welshglory]

These are rookies i'd look out for from Wales.

Tighthead prop Aaron Jarvis is a capable scrummager to a certain degree, i'm not sure if he can hack it at the highest level though. He will most likely be first choice.

Another uncapped tighthead, young Samson Lee looks like a tremendous prospect. Solid in the scrum with a squatted body shape, he will only improve with age. He's pretty good around the field as well, not quite an Owen Franks or Dan Cole yet but he has his own mongrel style. He could be involved in all of the tests in some shape or form

Liam Williams is a fullback and was capped against the Ba-baas, but i don't really count that as a cap though to be honest. He's another mongrel sort of player imo. Tall and rangy who puts himself about, very brave under the ball as well and with some pace. His kicking game was his weakness before but he seems to have improved there. Most like to to start against Samoa or Argentina.

Ashley Beck could break his way into the midfield at 12.
He's primarily a ball playing centre, with a good eye for space and a great offload and he's also a hefty unit at 6'3 100kg+. Sort of like a Will Greenwood type player or de Villiers when he was younger. His defence is a weakness though, he can make his tackles no problems but his positioning and timing can be pretty shocking at times.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Due to the EPS being a massive pile of tramp sick there's not really anyone for England.

Mako Vunipola is one to watch, good in the scrum (especially for his age) and a great workrate around the park.
Tom Youngs is one to watch if you're not English, due to how comically bad he is at the lineout.

 

[dullonien]

We've only got two uncapped players in the squad, and both are at tighthead prop.

- Aaron Jarvis is likely to be starting the big games with Adam Jones out. He's nothing special tbh, but is a decent scrummager. Not a youngster, but a player that has come into consideration after moving to the Ospreys from an English team at the beginning of last season.

- The second is a 19y/o prop, Samson Lee. He was possibly the stand-out prop at last years U20 WC, and has quickly moved through the ranks at the Scarlets this season to being their first choice prop. He's a very strong scrummager for his age, but being only 19 he has struggled against some of the more experienced looshead props in the HC. The Scarlets have a very lightweight back 5 in their pack though, so I am interested to see how he goes with some weight behind him for Wales. He's a good carrier as well. Ultimately he's the most promising tighthead prop we've produced in my living memory, which basically means he's better than Adam Jones was at 19y/o.

Personally I would have included one more uncapped player in Scarlets scrum half Gareth Davies. He looks very impressive, but the Scarlets have preferred Tavis Knoyle. To be fair to Tavis, he's been good this season behind a struggling pack on many occasions, but Gareth Davies has been on fire for Llandovery and showed what he's capable of against Edinburgh last week. Lloyd Williams isn't playing well, so I would have included Gareth Davies over him.

 

[big ginger 8]

Due to the EPS being a massive pile of tramp sick there's not really anyone for England.

Mako Vunipola is one to watch, good in the scrum (especially for his age) and a great workrate around the park.
Tom Youngs is one to watch if you're not English, due to how comically bad he is at the lineout.

I was at the Gloucester Leicester matches hilarious watching the lineouts.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

If he gets a shot Iain Henderson for Ireland. Lock or blindside played u20s last year. Similar to Ferris.

Dave Kilcoyne a loosehead may be another good scrummager for his age string carrier.

Then Paddy Jackson outhalf in the u20 6N last year. Mature beyond his years.

I don't remember any one particular name but I do in fact remember the U20 Irish pack giving ours all sorts of hell at the start of that tournament. Will keep an eye out, thanks.

Due to the EPS being a massive pile of tramp sick there's not really anyone for England.

Mako Vunipola is one to watch, good in the scrum (especially for his age) and a great workrate around the park.
Tom Youngs is one to watch if you're not English, due to how comically bad he is at the lineout.

Ho-hum and on the flip side our Eben Etzebeth has turned into something of a line-out steal machine (watch the last few RC games and the Sharks only managed 2/9 of their own throws against the WP in the Currie Cup final) after working with the Bok (Bulls) technical staff. Is Youngs likely to start? *rubs hands in anticipation*

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not sure - it's between him and David Paice, with Hartley now out (has that been confirmed yet? Not sure, but for the purposes of this post Hartley is out):
Youngs is, apparently, one step above Paice as he was called up due to injury to Rob Webber, before Paice was (for Hartley).
Paice is nothing special but I'd start him over Youngs every day of the week - I can only hope that Lancaster has been watching him play for Tigers...

 

[Draggs]

I don't remember any one particular name but I do in fact remember the U20 Irish pack giving ours all sorts of hell at the start of that tournament. Will keep an eye out, thanks.



Ho-hum and on the flip side our Eben Etzebeth has turned into something of a line-out steal machine (watch the last few RC games and the Sharks only managed 2/9 of their own throws against the WP in the Currie Cup final) after working with the Bok (Bulls) technical staff. Is Youngs likely to start? *rubs hands in anticipation*

OK Bru, I think it was more to do with Burden/our lineouts in general being shite, but yeah, Eben is a monster. Imagine him an du Toit together for 2015...

 

[LittleGuy]

Only two uncapped players for Canada, at Hooker Ray Barkwill is a player that Canadian fans should be looking out for, at 32 he is quite old for his first cap but he has played very well for Canada "A", Ontario Blues and the Western Force "A" sides. He is quite good in the set pieces especially his lineout throwing, and could provide a solid challenge to Ryan Hamilton who was considered to be the replacement of Pat Riordan by some.

Harry Jones is the only other uncapped player though he was on the bench for a game in which he didn't take the field. A player with some potential I don't see him getting a ton of game time this tour though.

 

[Draggs]

Justin Tipuric, only six caps, so still a rookie.
Outstanding prospect, we might have a Holah/McCaw situation with Tipuric/Warburton. Great on the deck, certainly the in form European openside, alongside Armitage.

 

[welshglory]

Justin Tipuric, only six caps, so still a rookie.
Outstanding prospect, we might have a Holah/McCaw situation with Tipuric/Warburton. Great on the deck, certainly the in form European openside, alongside Armitage.

Tipuric being McCaw that is

 

[Draggs]

Tipuric being McCaw that is

I don't care which is which, I am just glad we are away from days where our options were the legendary Nugget and... Sowden-Taylor. Add Navidi to the mix, and possible Daniel Thomas in a few seasons.

 

[welshglory]

Yea good old Sowden, he never quite had the minerals unfortunately.

 

[Draggs]

Yea good old Sowden, he never quite had the minerals unfortunately.

Yeah, he was a decent prospect, but I think he had some injury issues.
I thought he had a few decent performances with us, and was disappointed when he left mid season, Nice chap, last I heard he was a fitness instructor.

 

[LittleGuy]

Well it won't take much to be an improvement on Pletch.

HAHAHA, very true.

 

[Amobokoboko]

NZ: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (srumhalf) and Dan coles (hooker) I reckon both should get some game time. TKB helped us winning the S15 championship.

Italy: Francesco Minto (flanker), Tommaso Iannone ( back) No idea, never saw them play before. Both play for Benetton Treviso

 

[coonor]

I would love to see Henderson given a shot. He's a great tackler and carrier, although he'll obviously make mistakes, I'd back him to step up.

I think Jackson has been the best 10 in Ireland so far this season and I would love to see him on the bench in place of ROG.

Both the Marshals could be under dogs to keep your eye on. Paul Marshall, although unfortunately unlikley to play, could be the exact player Ireland are looking for. His box kicks are excellent and he provides such a great spark. A Paul Marshal and Sexton partnership who be great to see. Given the situation in the centres, with no BOD and lack of options at 12, Marshal could be given a chance. I really like his style, a strong runner with soft hands. It's an outside shot but I would certainly play him against Fiji.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Justin Tipuric, only six caps, so still a rookie.
Outstanding prospect, we might have a Holah/McCaw situation with Tipuric/Warburton. Great on the deck, certainly the in form European openside, alongside Armitage.

I wonder why people haven't talked more about him on the forum.

 

[Draggs]

I wonder why people haven't talked more about him on the forum.

He has been quite a topic in the Welsh AI thread. No news on Ryan Jones, I am hoping it is move of a precaution, as he is a vital player.
Beck is another 'rookie' I suppose. I wish we played better rugby, then we could actually utilise him effectively. Our style is so boring, so predictable.