Seven explosive new talents to watch in the Autumn Nations Cup
The Autumn Nations Cup is finally here and with it, the beginning of the new international season and a fresh crop of youngsters to watch as they forge careers for themselves in the Test arena.
In Group A, Six Nations powerhouses England and Ireland meet with an out-of-sorts Wales side and a Georgian team eager to impress and prove that they belong at this level. Whilst there is no shortage of flair in Group B as France and Fiji come together, with Scotland and Italy also setting their sights on success.
It’s easy to forget given the enduring Coronavirus pandemic that has played havoc with rugby all over the globe, but the Rugby World Cup was only a year ago and plenty of teams are still blooding new talent and building chemistry with fresh combinations. Outside of arguably the pair of England and France, who both took relatively young teams to Japan last year, there are plenty of opportunities for players from the Six Nations, Georgia and Fiji to put their hands up and fill vacant spots in sides or replace veterans.
We have run the rule over a number of the exciting youngsters to keep an eye on over the next month.
Ollie Lawrence, England
The Worcester Warriors centre has earned himself comparisons to Manu Tuilagi by the media and Eddie Jones in recent weeks and made his international debut against Italy in the final round of the Six Nations. It’s a just reward for the impressive ball-carrier, who has excelled in the West Midlands since making the leap from U18s rugby to the senior side.
His ability to blend his physicality as north-south carrier with his footwork and acceleration to beat defenders on the outside is reminiscent of Tuilagi, even if Lawrence doesn’t boast quite the same size as his England teammate. With Tuilagi currently sidelined, Lawrence offers England something very different to their current centre options.
Caelan Doris, Ireland
Doris has already began to make an impact at the international level and is far from unknown in the northern hemisphere, though his dynamism as a ball-carrier gives Ireland something they do not necessarily otherwise have in their back row options, just as Lawrence gives England the same in their midfield.
Alongside the breakdown and lineout nous of Peter O’Mahony, the physicality in the tight of CJ Stander and jackaling ability of Ireland’s other options, Doris provides game-breaking proficiency as a ball-carrier in space, as well as the footwork and power to make gains in the tighter confines. He is potentially the most adept carrier Ireland have had in the loose forwards since Jamie Heaslip.
Louis Rees-Zammit, Wales
Having lit up the Gallagher Premiership with Gloucester, Rees- Zammit made his international bow against France in October, just over a year after he left Hartpury College. His transition to senior rugby, at least externally, was as seamless as any over the last few years and he showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion or step up in quality.
His speed, a point of difference at the junior level, has also allowed to thrive in the professional ranks and his defence, kicking game and game understanding, areas where young wings are often found out, have all stood up well to the demands of the Premiership. A starter’s role in Wales’ back three will be in his sights.
Demur Tapladze, Georgia
A mention for talented Georgia U18 full-back Davit Niniashvili, who will bring plenty of speed and incision to the Lelos in the coming years, though centre Tapladze would seem the more likely to feature prominently over the next month. For a side consistently built on the set-piece prowess and physicality of its forward packs, Tapladze brings some-much needed punch to the midfield.
The centre has an impressive turn of pace and could become a valuable weapon for Georgia, who have frequently lacked the kind of speed in the back line that they need to compete with the Tier 1 nations. Tapladze could be the spearpoint of a faster back line that is capable of exploiting the forward strength of the Georgian side moving forward.
Paolo Garbisi, Italy
The fly-half made his debut for Italy last month at the senior level and has seemingly won the battle with Antonio Rizzi to be the next great hope for the Azzurri at 10. Both players impressed at the U18 and U20 level, but it is Garbisi that has emerged and looks to be held in higher esteem by head coach Franco Smith.
The young playmaker will need to refine areas of his game, such as his game management, defence and tactical kicking, though his comfort with the ball in hand is already clear to see and certainly hurt Ireland in October. His decision-making will need to be improved, too, but there are green shoots of hope that Italy may be able to fill the long-term problem position of fly-half.
Kilian Geraci, France
The flame-haired lock has the benefit of coming through at one of the few positions in French rugby which is not overflowing with young talent. With Bernard Le Roux and Romain Taofifénua both in their 30’s, there could well be an emphasis from the French coaching staff to get younger at the position and give some new faces an opportunity.
Geraci certainly has the physical potential to make a big impact at the international level and with France boasting a group of front rowers, back rowers, half-backs and centres who could all be around for the next two or even three Rugby World Cups, Geraci could soon find himself involved among them in the matchday 23.
Tevita Ikanivere, Fiji
A former Fiji U20 captain, Ikanivere has been fast-tracked into the senior Fiji set-up, despite the nation already have the likes of Sam Matavesi, Mesulame Dolokoto and Veremalua Vugakoto to call upon. Hooker is a competitive position for Fiji but Ikanivere could eventually become the best of a talented bunch.
His throwing will need to become more consistent if he is to make a significant impact at the international, though he already boasts impressive work rate and ability in the loose. Exposure at the Test level will do wonders for Ikanivere, who should have been involved for the Barbarians had the game against England not been called off in October.
Comments on RugbyPass
I wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to comments