RugbyPass' breakout XV of 2018
It is fair to say to that 2017 delivered its fair share of exciting rugby prospects.
Down in New Zealand, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane shot to prominence, in Australia it was a coming out party for Taniela Tupou and in South Africa, fly-half Curwin Bosch began to make a name for himself at senior level.
In the northern hemisphere, Nick Isiekwe, Marcus Smith and the Curry twins were at the forefront of a new generation in England, Jordan Larmour and James Ryan announced themselves in Ireland and the slick and skilful Arthur Retiere and Antoine Dupont became posterboys for what France could be in the future.
We ask, then, who will be the players in 2018 to make the breakthrough into senior rugby?
We look at a prospective XV of players to keep an eye on over the next 12 months.
- Will Jordan, Crusaders
This Kiwi full-back has all the hallmarks of being a star, sooner rather than later.
He lit up the World Rugby U20 Championship earlier this year and followed that up with a successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign for the Tasman Makos.
He has speed, footwork, ability under the high ball and a pretty decent kicking game for a 19-year-old. A fit Israel Dagg is probably a lock at 15 for the Crusaders, but Jordan should see some action on the wing this coming season.
- Darcy Graham, Edinburgh
Graham is already beginning to make an impact at Edinburgh and was recently recalled from the Scotland 7s side by head coach Richard Cockerill and proceeded to feature in the Challenge Cup.
Like Jordan, Graham has all the speed and footwork you would want from a back-three player. He doesn’t quite have Jordan’s size or ability under the high ball, but he is quicker. Really, really quick.
He is exactly the kind of threat out wide that a side like Edinburgh, who are becoming a much more cohesive outfit, need, to take the chances they create.
- Gabriel Ibitoye, Harlequins
It might be that Ibitoye makes the breakthrough at Quins on the wing, rather than at outside centre, especially given that Marland Yarde left the club this season and Tim Visser could be in the mix for Scotland during the international windows.
He is just as adept in the midfield, though, and given his relatively short stature, that could be the position he ultimately calls home, with teams valuing height so highly in the back-three.
His low centre of gravity and quicker than fast footwork makes him a nightmare for defensive players to track and tackle.
- Hunter Paisami, Rebels
Paisami was the silver lining in a disappointing World Rugby U20 Championship for Samoa and although his side were ultimately relegated from the competition, he wouldn’t have looked out of place in the New Zealand or England sides that ended up competing in the final.
With David Horwitz arriving in Melbourne and Sione Tuipulotu already on board, new coach David Wessels has a well-stocked cupboard of talented youngsters in his midfield, but a strong preseason and a bit of luck and Paisami could be in the mix to feature in 2017.
- Ben Loader, London Irish
This versatile wing, who can play across the back-three – practically a requirement if a player is to feature for the England U18s these days – has already begun to get a taste of senior rugby in Reading.
Loader has featured for London Irish in the Challenge Cup and bigger challenges and regular playing time surely await in 2018.
With Joe Cokanasiga settled on one wing but Alex Lewington reportedly off to Saracens next season and Topsy Ojo and Napolioni Nalaga both in their 30’s, more opportunities are likely to come Loader’s way over the next 12 months, irrespective of whether or not Irish manage to avoid relegation.
- Bill Johnston, Munster
It’s a good move from Munster to play it patiently with Johnston, who is a fantastic talent but who physically needs time to develop before being thrown into the deep end of senior rugby.
He sustained two shoulder injuries on fairly innocuous tackles at the U20 level and to have thrown him head-first into senior rugby this year would have been reckless.
With another year under his belt, Johnston should be ready to bring his excellent reading of the game and composed gain-line play to a Munster side that have most of the ingredients already in place to be a challenger in the PRO14 and Champions Cup.
- Embrose Papier, Bulls
Games are far from guaranteed for Papier in Pretoria next season given the size of the Bulls’ squad, but he has the ability to compete for playing time.
He is the most polished scrum-half to come out of the South African U20 side in several years and he should be able to inject tempo into John Mitchell’s side, especially if they are looking to evolve as an attacking outfit.
He would be the perfect one-two punch complement with the reliable and consistent Rudy Paige.
- Rhys Carre, Cardiff Blues
Conventional wisdom says Gethin Jenkins can’t keep going on forever.
In this era of front row forwards, the ability to make a significant impact in the loose is vital and Carre can certainly do that. Despite his considerable size, Carre can move at pace and he has the ambition and technical skill to pull off sidesteps and offloads at speed.
- Asafo Aumua, Hurricanes
A lot of people are already aware of Aumua and his impressive skill set, one which saw his season culminate in him being part of the All Blacks’ European tour last month.
His experience at senior level is relatively limited, though, and 2018 should be the year that we see him become a force in Super Rugby and a household name.
With Leni Apisai moving to the Blues, the hooker hierarchy at the Hurricanes has become less congested for Aumua and when you look at how they look to play and how they utilise Dane Coles, it seems Aumua could not be a more perfect fit for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnQ8ZXxf5Jw
- Shambeckler Vui, Waratahs
Another prop with his fair share of ability in the loose, Vui took the path less travelled after leaving the Force and instead of following many of his teammates and his coach to the Rebels, he has pitched up in Sydney.
Sekope Kepu is a good player to learn from and if Vui can get up to speed quickly enough this coming season, he could offer a dynamic presence off the bench, helping spell the veteran Wallaby.
From a tighthead crisis in recent years to the compelling competition about to unfold between Tupou and Vui, the Australian front-row looks to be in decent shape moving forward.
- Florian Verhaeghe, Toulouse
The great Toulouse sides were built on formidable second rows like Fabien Pelous, Grégory Lamboley and Romain Millo-Chluski and the forthcoming departure of Yoann Maestri could pave the way for Verhaeghe to become the next player in that proud tradition.
The lock has already had a taste of senior rugby with Toulouse, but needs more if he is to kick on and take the next step in his development, and Maestri’s move to La Rochelle next season should expedite the process.
- Isaia Walker-Leawere, Hurricanes
Just like Aumua, Walker-Leawere seems purpose-built for the Hurricanes free-flowing style.
Nick Isiekwe’s senior England call-up in the summer denied us what would have been an incredible head-to-head at the World Rugby U20 Championship, where Walker-Leawere reigned supreme in Isiekwe’s absence.
He has already made an impact with Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup and the thought of him being added to a Hurricanes pack that already includes the likes of Coles, Ardie Savea and Vaea Fifita should be enough to keep Super Rugby defence coaches awake at night.
- Max Williams, Dragons
A new head coach, a strong age-grade campaign in 2016-17 and a string of injuries provided Williams with the opportunity he needed, and he took it with both hands over the last few months.
The arrival of Ross Moriarty halfway through 2018 could push Williams back to the second row, the position he played in the age-grades, but there should be plenty of games for Williams to make his mark, especially with Moriarty likely to be a part of Wales’ plans moving forward.
Bernard Jackman-coached sides like to play with tempo and speed and Williams certainly ticks those boxes, whether it’s as a flank or a lock.
- Liam Wright, Reds
After apprenticing on Australia’s European tour this year, Wright should be in line to make his Super Rugby debut in 2018.
He will get to learn from one of the best in the business in George Smith and could do far worse than to shadow the veteran openside at all possible times next season, soaking up whatever knowledge he can.
A fleet breakdown-to-breakdown type, Wright should do well in Super Rugby.
- Juarno Augustus, Stormers
The reigning World Rugby Junior Player of the Year, Augustus is primed to consolidate his 2017 with a breakthrough campaign at the senior level in 2018.
His physicality is exceptional, he leads by example and Nizaam Carr, who has enjoyed his spell in England with Wasps over the last month or two, could be heading into his last season with the Stormers, making the emergence of Augustus even more fortuitous.
He is not the quickest N8 around, but he is no slouch and the dents he can make in defensive lines around the fringe won’t be heralded, but they will be what allow his teammates to succeed further out.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments