Rugby's Rising Stars

[Getofmeland]

Watching this year's IRB Junior World Cup in Italy two things struck me, the first was how players change country at all ages, not just senior level. England's gargantuan Loose- head prop Mako Vunipola was born in New Zealand, France's right winger was the very un- French sounding Marvin O'Connor of Irish extraction, the occupant of New Zealand's number 13 shirt was Rhys Llewellyn a former Ospreys academy player and amongst the Baby Black's other migrants was Stephen Luatua who represented Samoa at the previous Junior World Cup in 2010 and Charles Piutau who wore a Tongan shirt at the same competition.

My second thought was just how impressive the players with experience of the IRB Sevens circuit looked compared to the players who hadn't such exposure. Obviously it's nigh on impossible to say whether they were more comfortable as a result of their sevens experience or if they were selected to play sevens because they were already far superior to their contemporaries.

When choosing the most impressive players of the tournament it is difficult to not name every member of the baby Blacks backline and most of their forwards but there were a few exceptional players who stood out both for and against the most impressive team in the competition;

Baby Blacks' Fullback Beauden Barrett regularly outshone the other members of an exciting backline and it's not hard to see why his signature was one of the most sought after in Super 15 rugby. Barrett was one of the players with experience on the IRB sevens circuit but his pace is just one of his asset's, his ability to inject himself into the line combined with brilliant handling skills attract defenders and afford players both inside and outside him extra time and space when attacking. As one would expect of a player who is as adept at Fly Half as he is at Fullback his kicking from hand is excellent. In defence his positional play looks to be exemplary and only some outstanding handling skills from England in the final of the tournament saw the baby Black's concede more than 1 try in a game. Allied to his positional play his tackling is also robust and I can only remember him missing one tackle, on Christian Wade.

Another player with IRB sevens experience is England's explosive winger Christian Wade from London Wasps. Wade maybe diminutive, standing just 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing in at under 13 stone but his low centre of gravity combined with his frightening acceleration make him one of the most exciting ball carriers and dangerous finishers in the Aviva premiership today. He topped the try scoring chart at the tournament along with 3 other players who all scored 6 tries in just 5 matches. Wade is also a handy defender for a small individual and uses his exceptional pace mean that few players try to take him on the outside so he is able to push attackers inside allowing cover defenders to assist his tackles.

Colby Fainga'a captained Australia's Under 20 side at this year's tournament and lead by example, as you would expect from someone with 6 caps in Super rugby. Fainga'a plays for the Brumbies in the Super Rugby competition, unlike his brothers, twins Anthony and Saia who both started out with the Brumbies but now represent the Reds. Fainga'a was the most impressive flanker I saw at the tournament and his work rate combined with his ability to almost drag his fellow forwards around the pitch alongside him will surely see him represent the Wallaby's senior side in the near future.

As I said there was plenty of talent on show in Italy this year, as one would expect at a World Cup tournament for any age group, but to me these 3 players looked to be the most exceptional talents and made a big impression over the very short duration. Other players had outstanding games but every time I saw these 3 play they made key contributions to their team. The Junior World Cup itself is quite a strange tournament coming as it does at the end of the Northern Hemisphere's season and in the middle of the Super rugby season so some very good players from the 6 Nations sides missed out through injury and some Southern Hemisphere players missed out as they were needed by their Super rugby franchises.

Blog by @buck_mitchell

 

[dan the man nz]

i agree. i think the standard of rugby was amazing. in particular the standard of first fives who were exceptional with the likes of the english chap, morgan and anscombe. haha except for australias guy what a shocker.

dan.

 

[@buck_mitchell]

I did think about including George Ford (Eng) but I didn't think he was at his best in and he is still just 18 so I would imagine he'll definitely play next year (& possibly even the year after that too). I thought Anscombe's goal kicking was some of the best I've seen all season, but with all the talent he had around him it was difficult to say if he was a great 10 or if his job was to make sure he didn't drop the ball and pass it to Barrett & co ! lol

 

[Hulk Hogan]

Colby and Liam Gill would have been an amazing lineup but Liam Gill was needed at the Reds

 

[@buck_mitchell]

Yea, I saw Gill playing in the Reds last game, he gets round the park well too, that's why I can't figure our why they have a "World Cup" tournament in the middle of the Super rugby season ? There could have been even more talent there.

 

[Shaggy]

I alway enjoy this competition each year to see the younger talent coming through ... the final was very closely fought ... interesting that the under 20's and the Womens RWC were both England new Zealand finals - I predict that the Mens RWC final will also be contested by these two nations.

... As you point out in your blog, it's easy to see the benefit that some have got from the Sevens circuit, and also Super Rugby/Premiership rugby - it will be interesting to see how many can force their way into these sides, and how much game time they'll get, over the next couple of seasons.

I was quite impressed with the New Zealand openside flanker, Sam Cane - it was good to see him carry the good form he showed for the Chiefs against the Crusaders, into this tournament

 

[Peat]

I believe Marvin O'Connor's dad is actually Australian.

Also, sod the girls in the backs (particularly Christian Wade who I think may well suffer at pro level), what about the forwards - Vunipola was excellent, as was Thomas, Launchbury, Matthews and Kvesic. South Africa and France both have one very good second row whose name I forget (also the SA full-back was some player, but he's a girl), Sam Cane's been mentioned, I liked what I saw of Tadgh Furlong... they may not have been doing the fancy dan stuff, but its a 15 man game. Didn't see Fainga'a so can't comment.

 

[@buck_mitchell]

Well I've no idea where Marvin's DAD is from, but then again this isn't a blog about U20's player's dad's is it ? The commentator's in France's semi final said, more than once that he had moved to France from Ireland, so I'm sticking the line about Irish heritage. Vunipola wasn't excellent, he was great in the tight, but he's 21 odd stone, he bloody well should be. Thomas was probably England's best player but I can't see him stepping up to England's senior side inside the next 2 years, however he good he was there's along queue for their #3 shirt. Launchberry was out of position and he'll be a great player for Wasps in the next year or 2, but he won't be worrying Wood, Croft, Moody or even Haskell for a while & I expect Lawes to be wearing England's #6 in the future. I didn't Charlie Matthews was anywhere near as good as Thomas or Launchberry (what where you watching ?) & Kvesic's like greased lightning but he's been playing in the Championship all season and looking pretty ordinary, Fainga'a was different class (if you've read the post and not just picked out names you'll understand the point of the blog).

SA had 2 full back's, the first got injured so they had to call 1 up from Super Rugby (Lions I think) and he was all over the shop v England, Christian Wade flattened him. Sebastien Vahaamahina did look pretty in the second row for France, but he also looked like he'd blow away in a strong breeze so I doubt he'll be troubling Nallet or Pape anytime soon.

& Chritian Wade's already had success at senior level, he played Wasps last 2 (or 3) games of the season and score everytime he played. Think of him as a black Keith Earles (pre Lions tour)http://www.irb.com/jwc/teams/team=3223/player=43465/index.html