What Player will we be all be Talking about in Years Time

[big ginger 8]

Simple I'd like people to nominate a player from their country who not too many would know of who they believe will or have the potential have become big name players within a year. e.g. last year Ireland's player probably would have been SO'B.

For Ireland one player who I can see breaking through is Luke McGrath.

Maybe it's a year or two too early but many are backing him to acheive great things. Given a lack of really good scrumhalves I think with a bit of luck he could make the breakthrough by this time year and the other player who could make a breakthrough play positions where we have good depth.. I'll probably be wrong by a few years but thats my guess.

Looking forward to some countries particualary who the South Africans pick as I'd feel Coetzee and Goosen would pop up the most but which one more than the other?

 

[bushytop]

Ashley Beck

 

[Robert Prosser]

Steffan Jones from Newport Gwent Dragons

 

[Draggs]

Steffan Jones from Newport Gwent Dragons

And Cross Keys

From a Welsh perspective, Harry Robinson.
I think we will see more of Lambie and Goosen with regards to SA rugby, but they are known in SH circles.
Marcell Coetzee has a big future ahead of himself.

 

[dullonien]

Not sure how 'unknown' you're looking for. Difficult to name one, so I'll list a few from each region.

Ospreys.

- Ashley Beck is my tip. He's already having a breakthrough season at the Ospreys though, so may be not be considered 'unknown' anymore. He'll find it tough to displace Roberts or Davies from the national team, but offers something different. He's a great all round centre, who's just quietly getting on with things, doing the business week in week out for the O's.

-James King. Lock/backrow player who's starting to make some waves in Wales. Recently suffered an unfortunate injury when his ear was ripped off, so not sure how long he'll be out.

- Am I allowed to mention Matthew Morgan? Probably not.

Blues.

- Macualey Cook. Starting to break into the Blues starting line up (a year late imo). Along with Down and Screech, the Blues have a host of young promising second-rows coming through, and considering Tito's age is catching up with him, Deiniol Jones' averageness, and Paterson being played at blindside, the Blues are looking for one of these three to step-up to the plate. Cook looks the most likely.

- Josh Navidi. Probably Wales' third best openside already, but is improving all the time. Has put some bulk on since captaining for the U20's a season or two back, and looks much more comfortable with the physicality of professional rugby because of it. Quick mention for Thomas Young, Dai Young's son who's got the makings of a special player, but is gonna find it difficult to break into the Blues squad with Warburton, Navidi and Martyn (for now) ahead of him.

- Rhys Williams. With Rhys Thomas leaving at the end of the season, this could be a big chance for the young hooker. I personally don't rate Tyrrell or Breeze in the slightest, and hope to god that Baber and Burnell realise they've got a much better option in Rhys Williams just waiting for them to show some confidence in him.

Scarlets.

- Kieran Murphy. With Ben Morgan off to Gloucester, there'll be no choice for the Scarlets but to stick with Murphy. Luckily he's shown more than just a little potential filling in for Morgan.

- Is Liam Williams considered an unknown?

- Quick mention for a couple of good young hookers at the Scarlets. Both Kirby Myhill and Emyr Phillips are good young players, but have their work cut out for them with Wales' current 1st and 2nd choice hookers in front of them at the Scarlets.

Dragons.

- Darren Waters. Yet another young openside who's recently made his mark. He's the kind of player that will better compliment Lydiate and Faletau. Gavin Thomas has been good at the Dragons, but I've always felt that he's lacked a little quality. Waters is more of a genuine openside who makes his presence felt at the breakdown and in his support play.

Steffan Jones from Newport Gwent Dragons

Would help if the Dragons gave him an extended run of games, instead of continually chopping and changing between him, Tovey and Lewis Robling.

 

[Draggs]

@Dull. Tove is done with us. Training with Pooler recently.
Daz needs to decide where Robling will play/how good Ashley Smith is. Ashley could very well be our next captain, and if he is, then its between Robling and Stef for the 10 shirt. Robling kicks well for Newport but has issues with the Dragons sometimes. Stef has a better boot but worse defence and not the best to release his players.

I'd like to nominate Paul Jordaan as well.

 

[Robert Prosser]

Would help if the Dragons gave him an extended run of games, instead of continually chopping and changing between him, Tovey and Lewis Robling.

Agree with you there but with Tovey leaving for the Blues he will surely get more game time.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Dull, King has played quite recently for the O's, see here: http://www.ospreysrugby.com/people/rugby/players.php?player=87991&includeref=dynamic

 

[Tadginator]

Ian Madigan

Harry robinson(will oust north with ease)

Zac Guildford(will establish himself as one of the all time greats)

Robbie freuan to make the all blacks for the summer tests

 

[Aedaphon]

From the Hurricanes:

Barrett, Savea and Perenara.

For England:

Christian Wade (if he recovers form after injury...)

 

[dullonien]

Dull, King has played quite recently for the O's, see here: http://www.ospreysrugby.com/people/rugby/players.php?player=87991&includeref=dynamic

Oops. Nice to see. Out of interest, do you see him as a lock or blindside? The Ospreys are in need of locks (and no Tandy, Ryan Jones and Jon Thomas aren't locks if you're reading this), so I think we'll see him being developed there.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Oops. Nice to see. Out of interest, do you see him as a lock or blindside? The Ospreys are in need of locks (and no Tandy, Ryan Jones and Jon Thomas aren't locks if you're reading this), so I think we'll see him being developed there.

Personally id play him at lock but others have argued on this board as well as on other forums that King may well be better suited to play 6 because of his height. I think his style of play better suits him to play second row.

 

[Draggs]

His height is a limiting factor, especially at international level.
Jack Jones and Rhodri Hughes development will influence King as well, as they are also second rows.

 

[Me 1]

A few other guys down at the Scarlets-
Jordan Williams- A few years from the finished article but already looking like quite a handy fly-half. A pretty creative player and good goal kicker. Not as good as Matthew Morgan but has ok defence on him.
Rhodri Jones- Good young prop who can play on either side of the scrum. Most Welsh posters will know a little about him.
Daniel Thomas- Seen him for the under 20's and was a very good player. Kept out another very promising player in Thomas Young for the majority of the tournament. Toulouse already offered him a contract, need I say any more.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Jordan Williams is being shoed in to play 15. From what I gather thats where the Scarlets see his future at.

 

[William18]

A few players I can think of: Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Joe Weber, Beauden Barrett. Depends how obscure you want to go.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Francois Hougaard (Bulls) - for making Bok rugby exciting for the neutral
Pat Lambie (Sharks) - to settle as 1st choice 15
Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks) - to show why he is undoubtably the world's premier hooker

As for new players.. well, these players have already had 5 rounds of Super rugby and have shown to different extents why Saffa's rated them beforehand so they aren't totally unknown but i would say, in order, -

Johan Goosen (Cheetahs) - playing off the bench at 10 and nailing it
Eben Etzebeth (Stormers) - getting gametime in the 3rd June test (the dead rubber after SA secured the series win )

Also wouldn't be surprised to see any of these players make a sucessful step up-

Jacques Potgieter (Bulls)
CJ Stander (Bulls)
Elton Jantjies (Lions) if he can regain form after coming back from injury
Jaco Taute (Lions) as back-up to Lambie
Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
Siya Kolisi (Stormers)
Rynhardt Elstadt (Stormers)
Steven Kitshoff (Stormers)
Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs)

Also, I think whoever the Bok captain will be will be somewhat... news-worthy.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Buttin (probably doesn't count anymore) and Lapandry, and maybe Ric from Clermont.
The Wallis and Futuna armada: Tolofua and Taofifenua. Both very young frontrowers.

 

[welshglory]

Wild Card:
Hallam Amos - Might be another 2/3 years before he comes through. But we don't have a lot of fullbacks and he made his debut at age 17 so maybe he has something special!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I havn't watched 6N this year (the wife made me choose between S15 and 6N and I went for S15). I know most of the young Welsh guys from last year's RWC and Wade looked like a Jason Robinson in the JRWC. Anybody new from France and Ireland? I saw a new name- Fofana- for France that I don't know anything about. Is he a good prospect for les Blues? Any Youtube vids of the 6N to recommend?