The 3 young players who could change everything for England in 2019
The 2019 World Cup which will be hosted in Japan is less than a year away now, and opportunities for players to burst into their national teams are becoming less and less common. Countries such as New Zealand and Ireland appear to have a settled team going into World Cup year with players such as Jacob Stockdale and Rieko Ioane making a major name for themselves in 2018.
For England however, things do not appear to be as clear-cut after a poor year laden with injuries and poor form. In December of 2017 the starting XV of the England team appeared to be almost certain, with the likes of Vunipola, Joseph and Watson all performing exceptionally well for club and country. This trio of players have suffered massively with medical layoffs and other options should realistically now be considered.
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I 2016, Maro Itoje was famously given his chance in the Six Nations at the tender age of 22 against Wales and he seized that opportunity with both hands.
We take a look at four players that we believe could have a major impact on England’s fortunes in the coming year if selected by Eddie Jones
Ted Hill (19-years-old)
Ted Hill has been somewhat of a revelation at Worcester Warriors since he started for the Midlands team this year. In five Gallagher Premiership appearances, the 19-year-old has scored three tries for the club as well as an excellent try in the Challenge Cup. The all-action back row made his England debut against Japan this Autumn and despite only having a few minutes of game time, he certainly impressed.
With the likes of Robshaw and Haskell struggling with niggly injuries this year, could Hill be another young option for Eddie Jones coming into this Six Nations? Weighing in at 112kg, he certainly has the bulk that is necessary to compete himself at an International level. The main question resides in whether Jones is willing to give him a full start in a big test match so close to the World Cup.
Ollie Thorley (22-years-old)
Gloucester’s 22-year-old winger has been in exceptional form for his side so far this season. In three games so far, he has scored 4 tries, and those tries have been spectacular to say the least.
Just from watching this try from a couple of weeks ago, it is clear to see how much of a threat this young player is from anywhere on the pitch.
Ollie Thorley is the Player of the Month for November ?
The @gloucesterrugby has been on ??? pic.twitter.com/EpiXxS6Nc3
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 12, 2018
Many have compared his playing style to that of New Zealand legend Ben Smith with his wide running style and heads up rugby. He has a long way to go to reach the level of Smith but with this style of play, it’s very possible that we may see him in an England shirt in a couple of months time.
Ollie Lawrence (19-years-old)
Ollie Lawrence is another success story of Worcester’s academy process in recent years, making a serious name for himself with strong performances for the men in blue and gold this season. The 19-year-old centre has recently been offered a contract extension for the Midlands club and it’s clear to see why.
In one of his most recent performances against Stade Francais, Lawrence was simply on another level, standing up players with ease and being a general nightmare for his opposite number in attack.
If you have not seen him play before, then a good description of him would be that he is a far more aggressive version of Jonathan Joseph. His quick feet give him the ability to beat most players, but his refusal to go to ground in contact sets him apart from most players his age.
Rugby Pass regular contributor Alex Shaw wrote a brilliant piece on Ollie Lawrence over a year ago highlighting how much a talent this player is. It is well worth a read if you want to get to know this player better.
It is not beyond the realms of imagination to see Lawrence starting for England in 2019. England go into this tournament with three tough fixtures against Ireland, France and Wales. By the time the team comes up against Italy and Scotland, there could be several injuries that have deplete the team. Could this be Lawrence’s chance to solidify a first-team position?
Comments on RugbyPass
In 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 getitng 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.
5 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.
6 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
5 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.
55 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.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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 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.
54 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.
6 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 Go to comments