Nine players whose stock rose massively this July in Nations Championship

Trends, stocks, bonds, and rising values. Terms more commonly linked to economics, yet appropriate in this context, as many players saw their value increase during the first month of the Nations Championship.

From young and talented wonderkids like Fabien Brau-Boirie to already well-established Test Match operators, here are a few players who saw their stocks go up after July.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (England)
If there were any remaining doubts, they were erased over this three-game stretch, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso firmly establishing himself as deserving of a spot on England’s wing. Feyi-Waboso is pure electricity, channelling his refined footwork to slip through any defence, delivering results for England week-in, week-out, as seen by his Player of the Match performance against Argentina. But if you still hold some doubts, then have a look at his Nations Championship stats: six line breaks, 30 carries, 246 running metres, 27 defenders beaten, 16 successful aerial takedowns, one assist and two tries scored. One of the safest stocks to get in the Test Match player market.

Paul de Villiers (South Africa)
The Springboks couldn’t wait to usher another de Villiers to the Test Match scene, and it seems Jean de Villiers Paul is destined to become a superstar for the World champions. The back-rower missed just three of his 36 tackle attempts — two of those coming inside the opposition’s half — while excelling defensively, consistently shutting down attacking threats and quickly rejoining the defensive line. His ability to instantly read and adapt to the opposition’s attacking pattern played a key role in the Boks’ win over England, with de Villiers masterfully denying Ben Earl and Jack van Poortvliet any entry from the scrum or lineout. Complementing his defensive excellence, de Villiers was the Springbok forward who gained the most metres (123), further highlighting his exceptional versatility and giving Rassie Erasmus and Co another spectacular operator. For those who jumped on the Paul de Villiers bandwagon when he was captaining the U20s, congratulations — you’ve hit the (figurative) jackpot.

Josh Canham (Australia)
Four tries in three games, the first lock to land a hat-trick for the Wallabies, complete control of the lineout battle and one certainty: Josh Canham is the real deal. The 25-year-old, 2.02 metres tall, USA-born lock was certainly the Wallaby whose stocks rose the most since the start of the Nations Championship, thanks not only to his set-piece knowledge but also his surprisingly flashy agility. The Queensland Reds giant’s performance versus Italy was beyond what anyone could’ve expected from Canham, dismantling the Azzurri’s defence from close-range carries and scrambling the opposition’s lineout throughout the 80 minutes. It is still early days, but Australian fans can be confident that the Josh Canham era is about to begin.

Fabien Brau-Boirie (France)
20 years old and already holds the keys to the Les Bleus kingdom! Fabien Brau-Boirie, who had made his Test Match debut back in February, made quite the statement over in the Southern Hemisphere, giving the All Blacks and Wallabies a hard time. In France’s opening game, the Section Paloise centre threw some of his team’s best shots, forcing Damian McKenzie and Jordie Barrett to make a forced error, while devising a fireworks play that led to Attissogbé’s try. His flexibility to turn any carry into a promising attacking opportunity and ability to put a padlock in the centre-pairing is just the tip of the centre’s iceberg, which goes a long way towards explaining Fabien Galthié’s unwavering faith in him. With all the time in the world ahead of him, Fabien Brau-Boirie will be a regular presence in France’s starting line-up for the next decade, and fans need to join the frenzy.

Ross Vincent (Italy)
Italy experienced quite the ordeal in July, but Ross Vincent was in sensational form with the flanker deploying a tackling masterclass, landing 70 successful takedowns in the span of 180 minutes. Assuming the role of Italy’s main enforcer, Vincent was one of the few Azzurri picking up the pace and trying to avoid the worst outcome. Although his attacking numbers were not especially impressive, the flanker’s exceptional top form allowed him to consistently support his teammates’ running lines, bringing some reliability to the Italian attack. If anyone should be pleased with their investment in Vincent, it is Rob Baxter, who took a chance on the Italian and is now reaping the rewards.

Ryunosuke Ito (Japan)
Not a single professional club game under his belt, yet Ryunosuke Ito looked completely unfazed when he made his debut against Italy, leading the Brave Blossoms backline throughout the Nations Championship. In his international debut, Ito stung the Italian opposition with precise and surgical passes and kicks, driving Japan to full control of the game and securing a remarkable result. While a few forced errors here and there, Ito’s performances against France and Ireland were thrilling to watch, as the fly-half showed no hesitation in taking centre stage and dictating play. With Eddie Jones having no doubts about Ito’s potential to reach the top, the 21-year-old has already shown why his stocks are on an upward trajectory.

Joaquín Oviedo (Argentina)
Joaquín Oviedo isn’t new to the Test Match scene, but his stock has skyrocketed following three staggering performances in the opening rounds of the Nations Championship. Across the campaign, the No. 8 was an exhilarating bulldozer, racking up over 90 post-contact metres and forcing a flurry of missed tackles, leaving Wales and England struggling to contain him. The mobility and dominant physicality of the USA Perpignan back-rower made the difference for Felipe Contepomi’s squad, with his impact going far beyond the three tries he scored, as he consistently destabilised the opposition. At 25, Oviedo is entering his prime and looks ready to assume a key role for the Pumas, having showcased exceptional strength, resilience, and consistency over the last three weeks.

Sam Darry (New Zealand)
In the All Blacks’ opening match of the Nations Championship, it was almost impossible not to notice Sam Darry’s work rate, with the lock hellbent on creating havoc at the breakdown and set-piece. Darry, who has steadily and consistently risen through the ranks with the Blues and New Zealand, has shown exceptional determination and drive, drawing comparisons to Broadie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. While we could easily have selected Ruben Love for this category, Sam Darry’s performances were impossible to overlook, with the lock showing all the signs of becoming the next big thing in the All Blacks’ lock front-five.

Sean Jansen (Ireland)
Has the rugby world witnessed Sean Jansen’s rise to become a regular member of Andy Farrell’s Ireland? The New Zealand-born loose forward made a strong impression in his start against Japan and was equally impactful off the bench against New Zealand, consistently winning the gain-line battle. Now that the dust has settled, the Connacht enforcer was one of the most effective tacklers of the July window of the Nations Championship, nailing 96 per cent of 29 tackle attempts. While Ireland is well supplied in the back-row trio, Sean Jansen has earned the right to have another shot at the No. 8 shirt.