Up and Coming Aussies: The young bucks ready to take on Super Rugby in 2019
Every year, the rugby public get to see the latest talent that the Australian Super Rugby franchises have managed to unearth in the off season.
The likes of Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale and David Pocock all seamlessly transitioned at a young age from schoolboy footy to successfully plying their trade in arguably the hardest competition in world rugby.
This year is no different with many gifted youngsters potentially set to grace our TV screens in the coming months, making this an ideal time to highlight some of the current crop.
To shorten my long list of names, a player must fit the following criteria:
- Is aged 20 or younger
- Has played less than 2 Super Rugby games
- Hasn’t appeared (or is unlikely to appear) in the starting lineup.
So no Jordan Petaia, Harry Hoopert, Tate McDermott or Rob Valentini, who are already established members of their sides.
Brumbies
Len Ikitau (Position: Centre – Age: 20)
Len Ikitau is a hard-running, former Australian Schoolboy centre who is on the verge of Super Rugby selection in 2019.
After being picked up by the Brumbies straight after school, Ikitau has had a streamlined path to the top grade through the Brumbies academy.
A balanced runner who isn’t afraid to do the hard yards in attack, Ikitau has the ability to break tackles at ease, although it’s his defensive ability that catches the eye.
Ikitau possesses an amazing tackle technique, particularly his late dip, allowing him to generate power and drive through the tackle contest.
2 NRC campaigns and a Rising Star award in round 7 last year, Ikitau has shown he is ready for the step up into Super Rugby.
The challenge will be difficult given a certain Tevita Kuridrani is in front of him but Ikitau is up to the task.
Mack Hansen (Position: Fullback/Flyhalf – Age: 20)
After shining in the John Dent Cup, 2018 was Hansen’s first to dip his toe in the professional waters and the 19-year old went on to represent the Australian u20’s, impressing from fullback.
An old school rugby brain without a big flashy step or unseen strength, Hansen’s talent is the ability to unlock others. A rare players player, who at his best, brings the rest of the team with him.
The fullback/flyhalf had an excellent campaign with the Junior Wallabies in France, showcasing his eye for the try line on several occasions.
The sky is the limit for Hansen and if an injury strikes Banks or Muirhead, Hansen could make his debut for the Canberrans.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Ross (Prop), Bayley Kuenzle (Flyhalf/Inside Centre)
Waratahs
Patrick Tafa (Position: Blindside Flanker/no.8 – Age: 19)
Coming from a rugby family, Patrick Tafa’s father represented Manu Samoa.
Much is also expected of Tafa, an absolute specimen at 194cm and 114kg, and he is now in contention for NSW after making the switch from Queensland.
Tafa is everything you’re searching for in a number 8 or flanker. A big, bustling, tackle breaking ball carrier who has the tenacity to burst through any defence but also the deft hands of an outside back.
A Wycliff Palu clone, the Waratahs will be hoping for a big year from the no.8 to fill their ongoing hole in that position.
If Tafa can pick up his work rate in the Shute Shield, look for him to be included on the Waratahs bench later in the year.
Will Harrison (Position: Flyhalf – Age: 19)
Darryl Gibson earmarked Harrison as a star for the future earlier this year but there is a chance we will see a sneak peak in 2019.
Will Harrison is a dangerous fly-half who possesses all the skills required to round himself into a world class fly-half.
Having trained with the Waratahs for most of 2018, Harrison spent the back half of the NRC guiding the Sydney team around the park and all eyes will be on his performances in Shute Shield in his first full season in first grade.
Harrison likes to take the ball to the line and play flat, characteristics which allow you to provide space for your ball carriers and outside backs.
Having skippered the Australian Schoolboys two years ago, the 19 year old is already in an enviable position of being just one injury away from making the Waratahs 23.
With just Bernard Foley and Mack Mason in front of him in the depth charts, look for Harrison’s name to pop up more then once this season.
Honorable Mentions: Ben Donaldson (Fullback/Flyhalf) and James Ramm (Wing)
Reds
Fraser McReight (Position: Openside Flanker – Age: 20)
Fraser McReight is another openside flanker in the Queensland production line, following in the footsteps of David Pocock, Liam Gill and most recently Liam Wright.
A player that has been closely followed by many talent scouts since school, McReight represented Queensland and Australia at all age groups and is now looking to take his talents further.
Playing NRC for Brisbane City in 2018, McReight proved he was up to the challenge.
Dominant in the tackle contest, McReight’s go to skill is the jackal and proved to be a menace at the breakdown, a true compliment.
McReight’s also has an underrated ball carry and picked up 142 metres in just 36 carries in the NRC, with his skill on the ground allowing him to gain every last metre of his 100kg frame.
With George Smith now gone and Brad Thorn trusting his younger cohort, McReight is strongly in line for at least a bench spot and seems that he is only 1 injury away from being in contention for a starting place.
Watch this space.
Harry Wilson (Position: Back Row/Second Row – Age: 20)
Hailing from Tamworth in rural New South Wales, Wilson is a competitive country boy.
After 2 years of representing Queensland and Australia at schoolboy level, Wilson moved straight into Queensland Premier Rugby for Brothers.
One standout season later and after being named the U19 Player of the year in QPR, Wilson was rewarded with a fulltime Super Rugby contract.
An athletic player with incredible offloading ability, his dangerous running game means defenses often have to commit a number of players to deal with him, creating space for teammates.
Comfortable in the second or back row, if Wilson can improve the defensive aspect of his game, there is no doubt he will continue his development and be rewarded with an opportunity on the big stage.
Honorable mentions: Jack Hardy (Centre/Wing), Isaac Lucas (Utility back)
Rebels
Trevor Hosea (Position: Second Row – Age: 19)
Trevor Hosea is a giant.
Literally.
Standing at 203cm and 115kg, Hosea is an imposing figure who is just starting to build into his extremely large frame in just his second season since finishing school in 2018.
A local Melbourne product, Hosea has all the raw physical attributes to be something special and if the Rebels teach him how to use his gifts, look out.
Naturally, his lineout work forms a major part of his repertoire and provides a point of difference to many young locks who are still learning the tricks of the trade.
Looking at his trial form with the starting XV, Hosea has proven to be a ferocious ball carry who provides plenty of go-ahead and he isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and do the dirty work.
Much like Wilson at the Reds, if Hosea can pick up his defensive workload, look for him to jag a bench spot.
Esei Ha’angana (Position: Back Row/Second Row – Age: 19)*
The other side of the coin to Hosea is big Esei Ha’angana, another absolute specimen.
The young backrower possesses raw power and mental toughness which makes him a coaches favourite.
Not afraid to make his tackles and chime in with ball carries, Ha’angana also excels at ruck time with his abrasive clean out.
Representing Australia in the junior pathways, Ha’angana is the Rebels youngest ever debutant at just 18 years and 15 days.
Having started on the bench in round 1, it’s clear he has impressed the Rebels coaching staff enough to snag a spot ahead of some quality players.
If Ha’angana can work on the technical aspects of both the lineout and scrum, look for him to become an absolute beast.
Honorable mentions: Sione Tui (Outside back)
*Note* Although Ha’angana is technically ineligible seeing as he has played 5 matches, we included him as he is one to watch this season.
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments