Six diamonds in the rough at the U20 Trophy to dust off the chequebook for
The World Rugby U20 Championship isn’t the only global gathering of talented youngsters and for the last 10 days, the second-tier competition, the U20 Trophy, has been raging on in Romania.
Unsurprisingly, Fiji and Samoa will meet to decide the final on Sunday in Bucharest, with the winner earning promotion to the Championship tournament in 2019, which will be held in Argentina.
The level of quality across the board falls significantly short of the Championship, which was contested back in June, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players with bright futures in the game on show.
We have picked out six diamonds in the rough, who will not only be eyeing up successful careers with their nation’s senior sides, but quite possibly club careers that could see them perform in Super Rugby, the Top 14, the Gallagher Premiership or the Guinness PRO14.
Continue reading below…
Patrick Schickerling, Namibia
The tighthead prop is a big slab of meat. Weighing in at 130kg, he has been the spearhead of a Namibian scrum that has been dominant at the Trophy, something which is only made more impressive by the fact that he was packing down as a loosehead this time last year.
In addition to being the fulcrum of the Namibian scrum, Schickerling has also impressed in the loose, proving a powerful presence with ball in hand as he has pinballed his way through would-be tacklers. The scrum may be becoming a less influential factor in the game, but tightheads with the natural size of Schickerling still exert their value on the pitch, as well as in contract negotiations, and there should be teams from both hemispheres interested in this prop.
Iosefatu Mareko, Samoa
A close call, with a more than an honourable mention for Mareko’s partner in the Samoan engine room, Wesley Patu. Similar to Schickerling, Mareko’s natural size has helped him dominate the competition at the Trophy, but that shouldn’t detract from a good all-round skill set and a technical ability that will mean he isn’t a fish out of water when he steps up to the senior level.
In fact, Mareko has already been making an impact at the next level, having represented Samoa A earlier this year in the Pacific Challenge, albeit as a blindside flanker rather than a lock. A member of the Bay of Plenty U19 squad last year and pushing now for further recognition with Samoa, Mareko will be on plenty of teams’ radars.
. @manusamoa's Wesley Patu is at it again. Don't kick him the ball he's big, fast and has got a outhalf's hands #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/Rub2ocSYK2
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) September 5, 2018
Vilimoni Botitu, Fiji
An inside centre who is unerringly Fijian, Botitu has lit up the Trophy this year with his dazzling runs and comfort with the ball in hand. His long stride sees him easily exploit holes in defences and put distance between himself and tacklers when he moves through the gears.
Given that Botitu was representing Nadi U20s a couple of months ago, it seems as though he remains a relative secret to those outside of Fiji, but if he can replicate this form at the next level, potentially for the Fiji Warriors, or the Fijian Drua side in Australia’s National Rugby Championship, he is going to quickly become coveted by European clubs and southern hemisphere franchises.
Take a bow Vilimoni Botitu! Incredible try from @fijirugby at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/Q8khPaKeNV
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) September 5, 2018
Brennig Prevost, Canada
A versatile full-back and fly-half, Prevost isn’t the biggest player at the Trophy, but he has shown speed, attacking instincts and a passing game that have set him apart from a Canadian team that has been competitive in their three losses so far.
Canada have a history of players straddling the divide between 7s and XVs and Prevost could be another that ends up taking that route. If he develops physically over the next year or two and that doesn’t detract from the footballer that he currently is, then a promising career solely in XVs could beckon instead, especially with semi-regular opportunities for Canadian players in European leagues.
Manuel Ardao, Uruguay
Ardao is the best player in the Uruguay side and, at times, it looks like he knows that. There is definitely a swagger to his play and he picks and chooses his moments to get involved, something which isn’t necessarily a negative as an openside flanker.
He is extremely efficient with his tackling, often going low and wrapping the legs of his opponents, rather than getting sucked into a physical contest with bigger forwards, whilst his ability as a carrier, particularly his leg drive, often sees him break tackles and rip off big gains down the pitch. Having featured at this tournament last year and represented the Uruguayan 7s team, Ardao is building a decent portfolio for interested teams.
Paul Altier, Hong Kong
There is some x-factor about Altier and he put it on display against Romania on Wednesday, picking up a hat-trick and running the Hong Kong back line with finesse and composure. At just 18 years of age and not set to turn 19 until later this month, Altier may well get another shot at this competition next year if Hong Kong can qualify again, and the prospect of what he could be as a player in 2019 is exciting.
As a runner, he has a wicked step off of his right foot and there is very little loss of speed when he deploys it. At this level it’s devastating, and although he wouldn’t enjoy the same space and pace mismatches at senior level for Hong Kong or in a professional competition, it could still prove quite the weapon for a team willing to invest time into him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJstCSq6eNI
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar 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.
9 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments