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The top six signings in the 2018/19 Guinness PRO14
With the Guinness PRO14 campaign now at the semi-final stage, it’s an appropriate time to look back at the 2018/19 season and pick out the top signings made by the participating teams.
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Welsh rugby welcomed George North back into the fold and also lured Ross Moriarty across the Severn bridge, whilst Uzair Cassiem has proved a valuable addition to the Scarlets. Benetton have profited from the signing of back row Toa Halafihi. In South Africa, Tian Schoeman added stability at fly-half for the Cheetahs, while Jordi Murphy, and Mike Haley all impressed in their new homes in Ireland.
As noteworthy as their impacts were, they all fell just short of cracking the top six, whose influence on their new sides bodes well for bright futures for the five provinces/clubs represented in the rankings.
The Australian has fitted seamlessly in at Connacht, blending the potent mix of carrying and passing ability that made him stand out previously for the Western Force before a short stint at the Brumbies.
Under Andy Friend’s guidance, Godwin’s versatility in the midfield has been invaluable to Connacht, as has his accuracy with the boot when required. With Bundee Aki likely to be heavily involved with Ireland at the Rugby World Cup, Godwin’s importance to Connacht should only continue to increase next season.
The arrival of Carbery has added a new dimension to Munster. It showed in a European campaign that saw the province make it to the semi-finals, as well as a PRO14 season which has yet to conclude with Munster set to play Leinster at the RDS on May 18.
Carbery’s play has been a mix of individual brilliance, identifying and exposing holes in defences himself, and structured management of the game, which has seen Munster’s power play flourish. Another year at the province should see him continue to spearhead their domestic and European ambitions, as he and coach Johann van Graan become a more cohesive combination.
With Ulster seemingly on the ropes at the end of last season, Addison’s addition has been one of the key pieces behind turning around the province. Whether in his favoured position of outside centre, or filling in at full-back or on the wing, Addison has consistently brought positive impact to the Kingspan.
His play warranted an Ireland call-up for the November internationals where he went on to win three caps, and his versatility to play across the back line could be a big fillip for Ireland at the upcoming World Cup.
Paired with Monty Ioane, Ratuva has given Benetton one of the most potent wing duos in the competition and the Fijian was integral in their march to the play-offs. Unfortunately for the Italian side, their post-season adventure agonisingly ended against Munster last weekend, but that should not diminish Ratuva’s impact on the team.
'I haven’t been at Benetton for a long time but just you could see the emotion in a lot of the players’ faces'
– @MontyIoane tells @heagneyl what reaching the @PRO14Official quarter-finals really means to @BenettonRugby ahead of their trip to… https://t.co/dI9dyjJ1F0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 1, 2019
The power, speed and off-loading of the former Bordeaux player has tormented defences all season and he has followed in Ioane’s footsteps, providing a cutting edge out wide in his debut season. Ratuva hasn’t played for Fiji since 2013, but his form this season should at least warrant consideration from the islanders who do not lack for talent out wide.
An unsurprising selection, with fans of the PRO14 well aware of what Beirne would bring to Munster thanks to his multiple match-winning performances for the Scarlets. A return to Ireland has seen Beirne make his international debut and, just like Carbery, he has been integral to Munster’s advance to the knockout stages of both competitions.
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He hasn’t proven to be a like-for-like replacement for Donnacha Ryan, but his work at the contact area and the lineout, providing transition opportunities to expose opposing sides, has added to Munster’s threat as an attacking force.
Not even the most optimistic of Edinburgh fans expected a debut season such as this one from Schoeman, with the South African loosehead having turned in stellar performance after stellar performance for Richard Cockerill’s side. His displays against Toulon and Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup were particularly impressive.
'It happens all the time, playing off the ball is a big part of rugby. Unfortunately the ref did see it'
– @pierraSCHOEMIES talks to @JLyall93 about life at @EdinburghRugby and that infamous Champions Cup quarter-final incident versus @Munsterrugby… https://t.co/nAB2Oiw5TH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 25, 2019
From his scrummaging, which has taken apart many a potent tighthead, to his tireless and physical play in the loose, Schoeman has been one of the stand-out players in the PRO14 this season. His combination with Stuart McInally and WP Nel has made for one of, if not the most effective positional group in the competition.
WATCH: Leinster’s James Ryan speaks to the media ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup final
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