Picking a Tier 2 RWC XV
With the Pacific Nations Cup currently playing host to the pick of world rugby’s tier two nations aside from Georgia, what better time to debate what a prospective tier two Rugby World Cup XV could look like?
The upcoming finals in the Japan will give plenty of these players an opportunity to make an impact in international rugby on a more even footing than they would usually be given.
From the devastating Fiji back line and back row stars to the muscle and control of Georgia’s front row and half-backs, the global game does not lack for talent in the second tier.
Read on to see who makes our combined XV, with Japan, Tonga, Samoa and USA also offering up candidates for selection.
- Telusa Veainu (Tonga)
Veainu might not currently be in Tonga’s PNC squad but, if fit and available, he is a certainty to be in their 31-man RWC squad. Since arriving at Leicester Tigers, he has lit up the Gallagher Premiership with his dazzling footwork and excellent counter-attacking skills. An injury-disrupted 2018/19 campaign should see him eager to re-establish himself in Japan later this year.
Alternative – Alivereti Veitokani (Fiji)
- Josua Tuisova (Fiji)
The 25-year-old is off to Lyon this summer after a very impressive six-year stint at Toulon where he was a constant source of tries on the outside. The power he is able to generate through his size and speed is among the very best in global rugby and both Australia and Wales will be wary of the threat he poses at the RWC.
Alternative – Alapati Leiua (Samoa)
- Semi Radradra (Fiji)
Perhaps not quite as defensively rounded out as he is in attack, Radradra has the ability to rip holes in defensive lines and is yet another potent ball-carrier that Fiji will be able to call on. The centre hit the ground running at Toulon after his shift from rugby league and although the buzz has lessened somewhat around him over the last 12 months, he is more than capable of lighting up the RWC, something which could pave the way for a return to the NRL.
Alternative – Timothy Lafaele (Japan)
- Levani Botia (Fiji)
Although not guaranteed to be in the centres, with the La Rochelle man also very comfortable at flanker, Botia has been one of the most exciting players in European rugby over the last few years. He will keep Fiji moving forward and getting over the gain line and will be another thorn in the side of their Pool D opponents.
Alternative – Paul Lasike (USA)
- Vereniki Goneva (Fiji)
Again, it’s hard to look beyond the Fijian players at this position, despite Canada’s DTH van der Merwe and the Japan pair of Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima also impressing. Goneva gets the nod here based on his consistency and ability to still, even at 35 years of age, leave defenders stuck in the ground or grasping at thin air.
Alternative – Filipo Nakosi (Fiji)
https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/1116785718813233153?s=20
- AJ MacGinty (USA)
There is not quite the pool of talent at this position as there is in the rest of the back line, although MacGinty has shown his ability to execute a gameplan and a run a team at both Connacht and Sale Sharks, as well as with the USA. Tier two fly-halves rarely make it at the highest level in Europe, although Brive will be looking to buck that trend with the signing of Tedo Abzhandadze.
Alternative – Tedo Abzhandadze (Georgia)
- Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia)
From the under-18s to senior international rugby, Lobzhanidze has taken every step in his budding professional career with, seemingly, remarkable ease. The Brive player will link up with Abzhandadze this summer at club level in what should prove a hugely important pairing for the Georgian national team.
Alternative – Sonatane Takulua (Tonga)
- Guram Gogichashvili (Georgia)
The rise of Gogichashvili over the last 12 months has been extremely impressive and is enough to see him edge out Georgian veteran Mikheil Nariashvili here, although the Lelos could well opt for experience in their starting XV later this year. The Racing 92 loosehead looks to be firmly on the path to becoming the next wonderfully destructive Georgian prop in the Top 14.
Alternative – Keita Inagaki (Japan)
- Shota Horie (Japan)
Japan’s experienced hooker has proven time and time again that he can cut it at Super Rugby and international levels against the toughest of opponents. At 33 years of age, this will likely be Horie’s last RWC and potentially one of his last times in the Japan jersey, with the impressive Kosuke Horikoshi coming up fast behind him on the depth chart.
Alternative – Joe Taufete’e (USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dXJelCfp_4&feature=youtu.be
- Ben Tameifuna (Tonga)
The big Tongan tighthead might not be the most athletic or well-conditioned of props currently playing in the second tier of international rugby, but he offers formidable impact on the pitch. You could also take your pick of a couple of Georgians here, as the tier two nations continue to produce high-quality props at a noteworthy rate.
Alternative – Titi Lamositele (USA)
- Leone Nakarawa (Fiji)
Nakarawa is widely regarded as one of the best second rows in world rugby and his skill set is almost unique at the position. Few players can keep phases alive as well as the Fijian does, and he is yet another dangerman for the tier one nations to keep an eye on in Japan later this year.
Alternative – Albert Tuisue (Fiji)
- Chris Vui (Samoa)
After an exceptional campaign with Bristol Bears, where he was one of the key contributors to keeping the club in the Premiership, Vui is the glue in the Samoan forward pack. Samoa’s fortunes may have faded of late relative to the successes that Fiji have enjoyed, but the work rate in defence and set-piece ability of Vui will help them in their efforts to claim a scalp or two at the RWC.
Alternative – Steve Mafi (Tonga)
- Kazuki Himeno (Japan)
The options come thick and fast in the back row, with the likes of Maama Vaipulu and Sione Kalamafoni all also in the mix, though Himeno’s performances for the Cherry Blossoms have set him apart in recent seasons. The 25-year-old injects physicality and work rate into the Japanese back row, which has a stock of options on a level with many of their tier one rivals.
Alternative – Peceli Yato (Fiji)
- Semi Kunatani (Fiji)
Everything hasn’t quite clicked for Kunatani at Harlequins yet, although there were signs at the end of last season that he was beginning to become fully acclimatised to English rugby. His potent carrying ability can singlehandedly wreck opposition gameplans and given how Fiji will likely opt to use him at the RWC, he is going to be a box office attraction at the tournament.
Alternative – Michael Leitch (Japan)
- Viliame Mata (Fiji)
The depth of options at No8 is exceptional, with Sione Vailanu, Tyler Ardron and Beka Gorgadze just some of the players missing out. Mata has followed in the footsteps of Nakarawa by moving to Scotland and not only prospering individually, but also by energising his club, Edinburgh. If teams allow the game to become loose against Fiji, the islanders will hurt them.
Alternative – Amanaki Mafi (Japan)
WATCH: Nadolo, the exclusive RugbyPass documentary on legendary Fijian player Nemani Nadolo
Comments on RugbyPass
Who's Jarrad Hohepa?
1 Go to commentsSo let me get this straight. Say you have the dominant scrum. You are 99% sure you can go for a scrum pushover try on the line to win the game. The opposition knows it too. They give away a silly tap kick instead. You are now not allowed to scrum. This is ridiculous! *%@ing the game up as usual! The fact that the attacking teams are not allowed to scrum from a held up over the line is just as ridiculous. Really world rugby? Careful people might start a rebel league called True Rugby or Real Rugby.
72 Go to comments12 subs during a game? How has that been allowed to happen NB? I hate when the game goes in this monopolistic direction closing up shop, it just becomes non sport. Btw have you seen anything of how Liam Coltman was tracking for Lyon? He has just signed to return to Otago though we have a couple of young hookers developing here. He was a popular gentle natured character down here and I’m glad to see him back but maybe he will be a mentor primarily?
4 Go to commentsGreat breakdown and the global politics always confuses me a little. The southern hemisphere seems to be left out a bit but I wouldn’t even know where to start with fixing it. Club challenge could be a step in the right direction
4 Go to commentsSince he coached Free state, from that time onwards, I maintained he was the coach for the Boks. A nice, no nonsense guy with an excellent brain, who gets results.
11 Go to commentswell - they only played against 14 men and had the TMO team on their side - and still should have lost… so actually that makes sense.
32 Go to commentsSouthern hemisphere Rugby is exactly that, boring. Northern Hemisphere Rugby is soooo much more entertaining and better with better players.
2 Go to commentsIf he was to be cited for a dangerous behavior, then it’s natural that he should be. Then NTamack too, yes? And I’ll add a good whataboutism - Yeandle eye-gouging on Richie Arnold: not cited. Eye-gouging. Not high tackle. Eye-gouging. It was on French TV, with French TV directors.
5 Go to commentsReally poorly written rambling piece ..
4 Go to commentsIt was so boring
2 Go to commentspersonally I’d go with : 1. France 2. NZ 3. England 4. Ireland 5. Scotland
32 Go to commentsAndy everything becomes easier with experience therefor counting etc straight after a match becomes easier when you have 100+ caps vs 17 which is the experience you speak from.
160 Go to commentsGetting rid of the Dupont Law is a good thing and ought to have been done months ago! Officially getting rid of the croc roll is a good thing. The law about no scrums from a short arm is well intended in terms of speeding the game up but it’s an overreaction to a clever yet calculated gamble that could have blow up in South Africa’s face if they conceded a penalty from the scrum that was set after Willemse took claimed the mark in the World Cup QF.
72 Go to commentsRassie The GOAT
11 Go to commentsOf their 5 big matches in RWC Scotland and NZ were the easiest. They took a 12-3 lead against NZ and after the red decided it was best to hold the lead and take chances that came. None came and it was tight but they dug a lot deeper in the other two knock out matches. They had trounced NZ in Twickenham in a fixture that NZ must now regret. Psychology was clearly with SA in the final as a result.
32 Go to commentsMy favourite line/exchanges from Chasing the Sun 2. News headline: “SA. The last hurdle in ABs World Cup glory”. Something like that. “You’re all just a hurdle. A hop, skip and a jump”. Coming from Rassie and Jacque. Basically - nobody thinks you’re going to win. You’re just a pushover team. Nobody respects you. When the camera shows the players faces, you can see the effect. You can see the rev meters (die moer metertjies) firing up. Mitchell said he felt it prior to the 19 final. He said to Eddie watching the teams warming up that it was going to be a tough day at the office. Wave a red flag in front of South African, and you can expect a reaction. This is not unique - many teams rev themselves. And Bok teams in particular. With horrific consequences (discipline, poor thinking under pressure) because that’s the drawback to using emotion right? But what this Bok team does better than many since 2007 is channel the emotion and stay on task. Despite the emotion. Why, because while Rassie might play mind games - he talks about creating a safe environment. Listen to his recent honorary doctorate acceptance speech. While he uses psychology he creates psychological safety. He’s a damn fine coach. Can’t wait for Pretoria. It’s going to be a hummer.
11 Go to commentsWhat Rassie does for SA is big. It has helped people to unite and see we can win with the right people in place.
11 Go to commentsTerrible conditions for young players to express themselves just enjoy it guys. As a saffa great to see Ausie youth looking good. Wow SA have some great talent also.
2 Go to commentsYes, another example of French tv directors ensuring that incidents like this are swiftly glossed over for the benefit of their teams…
5 Go to commentsThe prospect of the club match ups across hemispheres is surely appetising for everyone. The reality however, may prove to be slightly different. There are currently two significant driving forces that have delivered to same teams consistently to the latter champions cup stages for years now. The first of those is the yawning gap in finances, albeit delivered by different routes. In France it’s wealthy private owners operating with a higher salary cap by some distance compared to England. In Ireland it’s led by a combination of state tax relief support, private Leinster academy funding and IRFU control - the provincial budgets are not equal! This picture is not going to change anytime soon. The second factor is the EPCR competition rules. You don’t need a PhD. in advanced statistical analysis from oxbridge to see the massive advantage bestowed upon the home team through every ko round of the tournament. The SA teams will gain the opportunity for home ko ties in due course but that could actually polarise the issue even further, just look at their difficulties playing these ties in Europe and then reverse them for the opposition travelling to SA. Other than that, the picture here is unlikely to change either, with heavyweight vested interests controlling the agenda. So what does all this point to for the club world championship? Well the financial differential between the nh and sh teams is pretty clear. And the travel issues and sporting challenge for away teams are significantly exacerbated beyond those already seen in the EPCR tournaments. So while the prospect of those match ups may whet our rugby appetites, I’m very much still to be convinced the reality will live up to expectations…
4 Go to comments