Part Three – The Australian Rookies[/SIZE]
[/B]Dan Carter. Will Genia. Schalk Burger. World class players know by all rugby follows. However, even these great players were once relatively unknown rookies. In this series we examine a number of young players yet to make their Super Rugby debuts, but who have the potential to develop into world class players in the future. In the second of the series we look at five Australian rookies who are set to announce themselves on the Super Rugby stage this season, and could potentially take the Super Rugby tournament by storm.
Paul Alo-Emile (Rebels)
Age: 20
Position: Tighthead prop
Signed while just 19 years of age, Alo-Emile is the youngster member of the Rebels core playing squad for the 2012 season, and arrives in Victoria as a player of immense potential. A powerful tight-head prop of Samoan heritage, Alo-Emile grew up in Brisbane, and was identified at a young age as a player of immense talent. He has been involved in the Australian Rugby Union’s National Talent Squad since 2006, and after standing out for the Queensland side that won the Australian Schools Rugby, Alo-Emilie went on to represent the Australian Schoolboys side in 2009. He was a key member of the Australian Under 20 squad at the Junior World Championships in both 2010 and 2011, starting all of the key games at tight-head prop. Though initially part of the Queensland Reds academy, Alo-Emile joined the Western Force in 2011, though did not receive any game-time that season. Alo-Emile signed for the Rebels in the off-season, and they will hope he will help to fill the void left after the retirement of Greg Sommerville.
Standing 1.80m (5’11) and weighing over 120kg (18st 13lb) Alo-Emile has enough size to compete with props at any level. He is regarded as a very strong scrummager at age-grade level, though whether he has the necessary technique to excel at Super Rugby level is yet to be seen, as numerous players have excelled at age-grade level due to their superior size, only for their lack of technique to be exposed at higher levels. He has remarkable athleticism for a man of his size, and is a strong runner with ball in hand. He is regarded as a solid defender, and gets round the track very well. He has been ear-marked as a future Wallaby by many pundits, however whether he is ready to step up to Super Rugby this season is yet to be seen,
How much game-time Alo-Emile receives this season will depend on whether Rebels Head Coach Damien Hill decides to opt for youth or experience. Though Sommerville has departed, the Force still have three experienced props on their roster: Laurie Weeks, Nick Henderson, and Rodney Blake, with Weeks and Blake both capable tight-heads. Though Alo-Emile lacks the experience of these three players, he has far more potential than any of these props, and the Rebels management may look to introduce him to Super Rugby as soon as possible, though likely from the bench. If he manages to hold his own at this level, Alo-Emile may be able to force his way into the starting side by the end of the Super Rugby season, and may even being knocking on the door of Wallaby selection.
Chris Feauai-Sautia (Reds)
Age: 18
Position: Centre / Wing / Fullback
Offered a full Reds contract while still at Brisbane State High School, Chris Feauai-Sautia is considered by many as the ‘next big thing’ in Australian Rugby. Born in New Zealand, but of Samoan heritage, Feauai-Sautia is the joint most capped Australian Schoolboy in history with 11 caps, a record he would have held individually had a torn hamstring had not ruled him out of the sides recent matches versus England and New Zealand. After holding Academy and Rookie contracts with the Queensland Reds for the past three years, Feauai-Sautia has been upgraded to the Super 15 champions' 30-man playing roster for 2012, and is hoping to make a big splash on the Super Rugby scene this season.
Capable of playing centre, wing, or fullback, the multi-talented Feauai-Sautia is undoubtedly a prodigious talent. Listed at 1.81m (5’11) and 88 kg (13st 12lb) Feauai-Sautia is solidly built for an 18 year-old, and is still growing. His major strength is his pace, which he frequently uses to make breaks on the outside, though he also possess a very good step, and has the power to break through tackles. However his defence, particularly at centre, is still a work in progress. Like many young players who have dominated at age-grade level with their superior size or speed, there are question marks over whether Feauai-Sautia has developed the necessary technical skills to compete at the next level where he will likely meet players who are equally strong and fast. However Feauai-Sautia is considered as a quick learner, so is expected to be able to make the step up to Super Rugby without too many problems.
Despite his undoubted talent, Feauai-Sautia may have a difficult time breaking into the Reds match-day 22 this season, even with the injuries to Quade Cooper and Peter Hynes. He is stuck behind the incumbent pairing of Tapuai and Faingaa in the midfield, Ioane and Davies on the wing, and Morahan, Lucas, and Lance at fullback. However given his versatility and immense promise the Reds may be tempted to introduce him to Super Rugby as soon as possible, if only from the bench, as he has the potential to become a fixture in the Reds starting lineup, and possibly even the Wallabies starting lineup, in the years to come.
Ben Seymour
Age: 21
Position: First-five eighth / Fullback
In the days of professional rugby, Ben Seymour has taken a less than usual path to Super Rugby. The New Zealand born Seymour moved to Sydney at the age 13, and quickly impressed with his rugby ability. After several years of Colts rugby with Sydney University, he signed with the Manly Marlins Club in Sydney in 2008. He spent several seasons playing reserve grade for the Marlins before he secured a junior Waratahs contract for the 2010 season, and his rugby career took off. A strong season for the Marlins in the Shute Shield, albeit in his less favoured position of fullback, saw him attract interest from a number of Super Rugby franchises. In the end he secured a contract with the Western Force for 2012, where he will look to help fill the gaping void left by the departure of James O’Connor.
Though primarily a first-five eighth, Seymour is also capable at fullback. He is a solidly built player at 1.81m (5’10) and 90kg (14st 2lb), and is capable of taking the ball strongly to the line. Though he lacks express pace, he is fast enough for a first-five eighth, and possess a solid all-round kicking game, however can be guilty of attempting too many chip kicks at times. He is a solid defender, and has a strong work-ethic, and is expected to have the necessary temperament to handle the step up to Super Rugby.
First-five eighth has been a problem area for the Force over recent years since the departure of the reliable David Hill. Hill’s replacement, Willie Ripia, failed to step-up to the mark at Super Rugby level, with the Force far more effective with either halfback James Stannard of utility James O’Connor in the 10 jersey in 2011. Even after the departure of James O’Connor in the off-season, Seymour, selected as the 30th and final member of the Forces squad, was not expect to receive much game-time for the Force in 2012, as he was stuck firmly behind Willie Ripia and James Stannard. However after Willie Ripia resigned due to allegations of stealing from team-mates, Seymour’s stocks rose considerably. Given Seymours’ versatility he looks set to start the season off the bench for the Force, backing up James Stannard. However if Stannard is injured, rested, or favoured in his preferred position of halfback, expect Seymour to be given a chance to show his wares in the starting 10 jersey for the Western Force.
Greg Peterson
Age: 20
Position: Lock
Standing 2.04m (6’8) and weighing 122kg (19st 3lb) Greg Peterson is a big man even by modern-day lock standards. Always regarded as a promising player, Petersons’ career took off in 2009 when he was included in the ARU’s National Talent Squad, and was selected to be part of the Australian Schoolboys team that played against New Zealand and Tonga, and toured the UK and Ireland. Peterson was offered a Professional Academy contract with the Waratahs in 2010, and he went on to represent Australia at the Junior World Championships in 2010, and again in 2011. Peterson was forced to have shoulder surgery after returning from the Under 20 World Championships in 2011, but his strong form throughout 2011 saw him secure a full Waratahs contract for the 2012 season.
Not surprisingly, given his height, Peterson is strong in the lineouts, whether used at the front or the middle of the lineout. He is a hard-working player who many compare to Dan Vickerman in style of play, though he does perhaps lack the aggression (and sometimes over-aggression) that Vickerman brings to the field. He is a good scrimmaging lock, a reliable defender, and is happy cleaning out rucks and driving in the mauls. He is not known as a strong ball runner, but given his size this will be an area he will want to improve in.
The Waratahs have good depth at lock for the 2012 season, with five locks - Dean Mumm, Kane Douglas, Dan Vickerman, Sitaleki Timani and Peterson – all included in their 30-man squad. However Vickerman’s rugby future is in serious doubt; he was expected to miss the first few months of the season after shoulder surgey, but a stress fracture in his leg has put his entire career in doubt. Mumm and Timani look set to be the starting locking pairing at the start of the season, with Peterson competing with Douglas for a bench spot.
Joseph Tomane
Age: 22
Position: Wing / Centre
The New Zealand-born Joseph Tomane joins a long list of NRL players who have switched from Rugby League to try their hand at Super Rugby. Tomane does, however, have a strong background in the 15 man code, having played rugby union alongside James O'Connor at Nudgee College and for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2007. Tomane was signed by the Melbourne Storm in 2008, and had several strong seasons with the Storm before signing with the Gold Coast Titans for the 2010 season. After strong season for the Storm in 2010, which saw him selected for the Samoan train on squad, Tomane was expected to make a big impact in 2011. However he failed to do so, playing only three NRL games during the season, and spending most of his time in the second-tier Queensland Cup. Fortunately for Tomane, new Brumbies coach Jake White liked the potential he saw in him, and signed him up on a two year contract.
At 1.90m (6’3) and weighing well over 100kg (15st 10lb) Tomane will be one of the largest backs in the Brumbies squad for 2012. He possess deceptive pace off the mark, good footwork, and is a very strong at carrying the ball into contact. He is also an under-rated goal-kicker, though was not used a lot at NRL level. However several major deficiencies were exposed in the NRL, specially his defence and option taking ability. His defence was of particular concern, as he was often found running up too quickly and leaving gaping holes in the defensive line. Because of his defensive deficiencies, and the fact he largely is not used to the defensive patterns used in Rugby Union, he looks to be better suited to playing on the wing at this stage of his career, though does have the size to move into the centres should his defence and option taking improve with experience.
The departure of Tyrone Smith, Adam Ashley-Cooper, and Francis Fainifo at the end of the 2011 season left the Brumbies with an inexperienced group of midfield and outside backs for 2012. Pat McCabe and Andrew Smith look set to start in the midfield, with Christian Leallifano and Matt Toomua expected to switch between the 10 and 15 jerseys, but who will start on the wings is yet unknown. At this stage Henry Speight looks set to have one wing spot secured after a strong debut season last year, but there appears to be a three-way battle for the remaining wing spot between Tomane and fellow rookies Tevita Kuridrani, and Kimami Sitauti. All three offer strong attacking abilities, but are unproven on defence at this level, but Tomanes’ incredible power and pace may give him the edge in securing a starting wing spot as the season progresses.
(all photos courtesy of Getty images)
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