Nine U20 Trophy standouts that should have Tier 1 clubs salivating
After Fiji graduated from the tournament last year in Romania and re-established themselves in the top tier competition in 2019, the World Rugby U20 Trophy moved on to Brazil this month.
The South American side were joined by Uruguay, Hong Kong, Canada and Portugal from last year’s competition, whilst Japan joined the party as the side relegated from the U20 Championship and Kenya and Tonga were the new teams from their regional qualifiers.
An annual tournament, the Trophy is a coach’s dream for scouting out raw and talented players that are the pick of the crop among Tier 2 and Tier 3 nations, with this year proving to be no different.
We take a look at some of the more impressive performers over the opening three rounds of play, before the teams go head-to-head in the finals on Sunday.
Shota Fukui, Japan
Probably the standout player at the tournament, Fukui is a cut above at this level. The Panasonic Wild Knight eschewed the traditional pathway in Japan of going to university before beginning his professional career and his impressive physicality and technical skill has benefitted from being pushed further and harder at a younger age.
Japan have an array of back row options for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, but don’t be surprised to see Fukui drafted in immediately after the tournament as they build in the next cycle. The dynamic flanker could be a future senior Japan captain and is already playing and leading like a person far more experienced than his youthful age would suggest.
Halatoa Vailea, Japan
Vailea is taking the route that former Japan U20 wing Ataata Moeakiola did, by being utilised in the back row following an impressive debut U20 season in the back three. Whilst that move didn’t take for Moeakiola, who is now prospering once again on the wing, Vailea has looked more comfortable packing down alongside Fukui.
His work closer to the ruck in defence was much better than you’d expect of a converted wing, but he was still a threat further out, marauding down the flanks like a young Tom Croft. It would be a surprise if he is able to live with the physicality and attritional nature of the position at the senior level, however, and he’s more likely a very promising wing moving forward, which is where he was redeployed for the final pool match against Kenya.
Number 6 has got wheels! Halatoa Vailea romps down the wing and scores an outrageous try for @JRFURugby #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/NGjFdy4DaI
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2019
Paul Altier, Hong Kong
The Hong Kong fly-half featured in last year’s version of this article and has only reaffirmed his ability in the 12 months since. He’s a refined playmaker who can see and exploit space on the pitch and when he was shifted to full-back for the match against Canada, he displayed impressive counter-attacking and defensive reads.
Hong Kong have been physically outgunned at the tournament which hasn’t put Altier in the best position to succeed, despite some strong play from former Newcastle Falcons U18 Will Panday and London Irish U18 Joe Knight. The good news for Hong Kong is that Knight and Panday should be back next year, but Altier, who already has a senior cap, will be moving full-time into the senior set-up in 2020.
Will Perceillier, Canada
An aggressive scrum-half around the fringes, Percillier ran rampant in Canada’s 78-26 win over Hong Kong, crossing for four tries and setting up plenty of others with his turn of pace and distribution. Admittedly, the Hong Kong defence showed Percillier plenty of gaps, but the scrum-half’s execution once the space opened up, whether as a finisher himself or as a facilitator for others, was ruthless.
Great try for @rugbycanada No.9 Will Percillier at the #WorldRugbyU20s Trophy
Follow it LIVE: https://t.co/YbdQ7hx1TU pic.twitter.com/Jdl2GBtBV0
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 17, 2019
He signed a three-year deal with Stade Français earlier this year and will be competing with the likes of Arthur Coville and James Hall moving forward. If his game management and box-kicking, which wasn’t on show too often in Brazil, matches up with his carrying and passing games, then Heyneke Meyer has a gem in Percillier.
Apitoni Toia, Tonga
This loosehead has lit up the tournament with his dynamic ball-carrying. One of, if not Tonga’s most effective forward with the ball in hand, Toia’s power, speed and offloading made him a nightmare for opposition teams to try and contain.
Tonga’s scrum was solid, too, albeit without Toia really going after his opposite numbers and turning the screw at the set-piece. If that part of his skill set can be developed, plenty of teams will salivate over Toia’s potential, whose speed and footwork prior to, at and after breaking the gain-line, was exemplary. He’s not quite the all-round player yet that Rhys Carre was at this point, but he may be even more influential and composed in the loose.
Hateni Tafolo, Tonga
It all fell apart for Tonga in their last pool game against Portugal, which included a far quieter display from Tafolo, but the full-back was one of Tonga’s standouts in the wins over Canada and Hong Kong. A well-measured kicking game, an eye for space on the pitch and good link play with his wings in the wider channels, Tafolo had plenty of positive attacking impact in Brazil.
No doubt about the man of the first half – two tries already for Hateni Tafolo for @officialTongaRU! #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/0dGdGHzPx3
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 13, 2019
Playing off the back of Malakai Uasi’s powerful and direct carrying at 12, Tafolo was clinical in space. His defensive positioning was also solid and he looks like a promising deputy for Telusa Veainu moving forward, unless Tonga like the balance of his skill set and experiment with what he could bring to the 10 jersey.
Raffaele Storti, Portugal
Composed, quick, ambitious and with a powerful fend, Storti has run rampant on the wing for Portugal during the tournament. The 18-year-old has experience on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and that shows up in his game at this level, where he has the confidence to take on a man or two or three and beat them all individually.
He can step off both feet, he has a dangerous stutter step and the acceleration to leave defenders embarrassed, and if he can’t find a way around a defender, he’ll put out a piston of a fend and generate deceptive power through his footwork and speed. Through the first three games, no one has had an answer for his devastating attacking skill set and he helps give Portugal a puncher’s chance at least to upset heavy favourites Japan in the final.
Raffaele Storti is at it again! #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/vBnmWj7rHs
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 17, 2019
Baltazar Amaya, Uruguay
Another dangerous wing, Amaya is unlucky to have been left somewhat in the shadows of the stellar performances of Storti for Portugal. That said, Amaya has been dangerous and, in another year, he may well be the pick of wing options at the tournament.
He has good size for the position and impressed with his reading of the game defensively, pouncing and turning defence into attack with opportune interceptions, as well as shutting down the width that teams looked to get against Uruguay. With a number of veteran back three options playing in the MLR, Uruguay are unlikely to look to Amaya until after the Rugby World Cup, but northern hemisphere clubs should keep a close eye on the wing, who definitely looks like he has what it takes to make it at a higher level.
? Read it like a book! Baltazar Amaya reads the intercept perfectly and breaks away to score for @RugbyUruguay #WorldRugbyU20s Trophy pic.twitter.com/VzY3QSO2cP
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2019
Geofrey Okwach, Kenya
The 19-year-old wing is already a fully-capped international for Kenya, having made his senior bow against Uganda back in June. He was joined in that starting XV by Dominic Coulson, Kenya U20s’ impressive fly-half from this year’s Trophy tournament.
That acceleration from @OfficialKRU's Geofrey Okwach ?#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/QAs9gOgoYL
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 17, 2019
Okwach wins with his speed and acceleration, which left plenty of defenders clawing at thin air over the last couple of weeks. In one particularly impressive move, the wing ran out and around three Japanese defenders off of first phase in Kenya’s encouragingly competitive outing against this Sunday’s finalists. A future in sevens could beckon for Okwach, who clearly has the physical ability to prosper in that form of the game and, barring interest from abroad, may be his best chance of making a global impact.
Watch: RugbyPass’ latest exclusive documentary – ‘Nadolo’
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments