Premiership and PRO 14 players who thrived domestically in November
Whilst most eyes would have been on the international game over the last few weeks, at the club level, certain players were making waves, too.
With a raft of players away with their international teams, opportunities were handed out to some of the fringe and up and coming youngsters at Gallagher Premiership and Guinness PRO14 sides in November, many of whom grabbed those opportunities with both hands.
Here are some of the players whose RugbyPass Index (RPI) scores have jumped the most over the last few weeks and really put down markers to the incumbents, upon their returns to their clubs this week.
No player’s score has risen so rapidly as Saracens’ Tom Woolstencroft, with the former England U20 hooker posting a score of 36 prior to the internationals and now set to go into the weekend with a score of 55. He has flourished in the absence of Jamie George and Mark McCall will be feeling better about his hooker depth going into next year’s Six Nations.
Similarly, Leicester’s Ben White’s value has risen with Ben Youngs busy with England, as the 20-year-old rose from 47 to 50 after the loss to Gloucester, and from 50 to 55 following the defeat to Saracens at the weekend. Leicester may have struggled during November, but White has certainly not contributed to that.
Not necessarily a result of international call-ups, with Sam Simmonds injured and Dave Ewers and Don Armand unselected, but Exeter Chiefs’ Tom Lawday has also been a significant mover over the last few weeks. Exeter were sorely tested by Bristol Bears two weeks ago, but it was a result which saw Lawday’s score rise from 63 to 67, before exerting a more comfortable victory over Gloucester, a performance in which Lawday brought his score all the way up to 73.
Max Malins was another to profit from Saracens’ international contingent being elsewhere, moving from 57 to 65 over the last two weeks and signalling his readiness to cover for, and push, Owen Farrell on a regular basis. Other notable Premiership risers during the period were Ollie Thorley (57 to 65), Lewis Ludlam (54 to 59) and Freddie Clarke (60 to 66).
In the PRO14, Leinster youngsters were understandably rapid risers, with so many of their teammates away with Ireland. Ciaran Frawley thrived with increased responsibility, moving from 56 to 66 over the month, whilst centre Conor O’Brien also jumped, rising from 65 to 72.
Munster, without Conor Murray, thrust Neil Cronin into the spotlight and were rewarded, with the scrum-half moving from 65 to 71 after a couple of strong displays. Having almost turned his back on rugby last season, the Limerick-born man’s rise this year has been quite the story. He wasn’t the only Munster player to rise, either, with highly-touted fly-half Bill Johnston making a significant 10-point leap from 59 to 69, with Joey Carbery away with Ireland.
Former Wales U20 openside Will Jones also used the window to make his mark, rising from 53 to 61, as the Ospreys fell to defeats to Glasgow Warriors and Leinster. Against Glasgow, Jones played a prominent role as a starter, whilst he offered impact from the bench in a heavy loss to Leinster.
Other prominent PRO14 risers included Harri Millard (59 to 64), Callum Hunter-Hill (66 to 70), Garyn Smith (54 to 61) and Grant Stewart (66 to 70).
Watch: Andy Farrell set to takeover as Ireland head coach next year.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments