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Seven emerging talents to keep an eye on in Super Rugby
As if the Guinness Six Nations, European club competitions and looming Rugby World Cup were not enough to tickle rugby aficionados’ fancies, the 2019 Super Rugby season kicks off this weekend, adding itself to the die-hard fan’s weekly schedule.
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In a RWC year, all competitions take on added interest, with senior players jockeying for position ahead of the tournament, whether they are seeking to defend their spot in the national side or attempting to force their way into contention.
With players’ game-time and minutes managed particularly stringently, due to unions wanting to peak in the months of September and October, the presence of the RWC can also create plenty of opportunities for younger players, eager to make their marks and fill the voids created by senior players’ absences.
We have put together seven of the top talents to watch in Super Rugby this season, all of whom could enjoy breakout years.
The electric full-back is in line to make his Super Rugby debut on Saturday, after being named on the Crusaders bench for their visit to Eden Park to take on the Blues. Jordan was a teammate of Braydon Ennor at the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship and he will be looking to recreate the chemistry the pair had at that tournament should he make it on to the field in Auckland.
His breakthrough stalled last season when he picked up a head injury and the Crusaders wisely opted for a cautious and patient approach, but he was coping extremely well with the transition to the senior game at the Tasman Makos. This should be the season that he shows he has what it takes to succeed at the Super Rugby level.
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Ataata Moeakiola, Chiefs
Moeakiola lit up the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2016 for Japan, helping them cause plenty of problems for the more established nations at that level. He was part of the Sunwolves squad in 2017, without seeing the field, as well as reportedly being tried out in the back row with Tokai University.
Now based in Hamilton with the Chiefs, Moeakiola will get an opportunity to shine on the wing and push his way back into contention with Japan’s senior side, for whom he already has three tries in three appearances. His power on the outside will be quite the weapon for the Chiefs this season and he is likely to make his debut on Friday, after being named on the bench for his side’s home opener against the Highlanders.
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Tupou actually made his Rebels debut in 2017, when he was still an U18-eligible player, and after getting more of a taste of rugby at the senior level in 2018, the 2019 season could be the one that sees him truly announce his arrival. He starts the campaign on the bench, for the visit to Canberra to take on the Brumbies, but the Rebels will need to be versatile with their back line this season, with their starting back three of Jack Maddocks, Dane Haylett-Petty and Marika Koroibete all likely to be involved with the Wallabies.
Tupou brought hard-running and an ability to straighten the line at 13 to the Australian U20 side last season and could do so again this year, with the 19-year-old eligible for another season. That said, it will be a surprise if the Rebels let him go to the U20 Championship at the end of May, when they will be finishing their season off against the Waratahs, Crusaders and Chiefs.
Phendulani Buthelezi, Sharks
Another U20-eligible player, Buthelezi could see involvement for the Sharks this season as they prepare for, if you believe the reports, the impending departures of Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez. The twin back rows have been linked with multiple clubs in England following Jean-Luc’s loan stint at Sale, a loan stint which saw him pick up an injury which has ruled him out of the first month of Super Rugby.
Buthelezi has a shot in his absence and has been named on the bench for the Sharks’ opening game of the season against the Sunwolves in Singapore. A versatile second and back row in school and representative rugby, Buthelezi will likely play solely in the back row at the senior level. With impressive mobility, handling and footwork, the Shark fits the Warren Whiteley mould of number eight in South Africa.
Harry Plummer, Blues
The New Zealand U20 fly-half from 2018, Plummer is going to be hot on the heels of Otere Black at the Blues this season. Black, having impressed at the Hurricanes but struggled, understandably, to dislodge Beauden Barrett, has made the move to Auckland to try and establish himself as a starting Super Rugby fly-half and he will get first shot at it, lining up in the 10 jersey against the Crusaders.
Plummer will get his opportunities this season, though, and should make his debut from the bench in that match with the Crusaders. It’s an important season for Plummer, who is not only competing with Black for the 10 jersey, but also Stephen Perofeta, another former New Zealand U20 fly-half, with the Blues amassing talent at the position, if not experience.
From one promising 10 to another, Stewart is one of the brightest prospects in Australian rugby. With three of the four starting Australian franchise fly-half positions taken by established players in Bernard Foley, Quade Cooper and Christian Lealiifano, Stewart’s playing time with the Reds will give the ARU a valuable look at one of the future prospects at the position.
The Reds and Brad Thorn notoriously parted ways with Cooper last season and there will be a fair amount of expectation on Stewart’s shoulders to make that look like a good move. He has shown he has what it takes to succeed at the U20 and NRC levels, and a more prominent role in Super Rugby beckons for Stewart this season.
Wandisile Simelane, Lions
As a number of South Africans prepare for post-RWC moves to Europe or Japan, blooding the next generation of players has never been more important for franchises like the Lions. In Simelane, Swys de Bruin has one of the most naturally-gifted players to come out of the South African U20 pathway in recent years. His speed, footwork and ability to read the game regularly separated him at that level.
He has been included in the 23 for the Lions on Saturday, when they head to Buenos Aires to take on the Jaguares, and he can provide an effective one-two punch with Lionel Mapoe at the 13 position this season. The Lions are far from afraid of putting the ball up the jumper and mauling teams to death if that’s what required in a game, but their free-flowing style is a comfortable fit for Simelane, who is at his best when running at the opposition in space.
Watch: Brumbies coach Dan McKellar speaks ahead of the season opener.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments