Following on from Sam’s excellent article, An International Rugby Team Of The Decade, I thought I’d look at some of the young players right now that could be tomorrow’s superstars.
It’s naturally all very subjective, given most have yet to prove themselves over a consistent amount of time.
The only criteria is that they have to have played international rugby already and will, barring injury, still play at this level in 2013. A little bit of reasoning also goes along way to explain your choice.
15 – Rob Kearney: Safe as houses, howitzer boot and not afraid to take on the defense. What more do you want from your fullback?
14 – Tommy Bowe: A constant threat, I think we will see a lot more from him in the future
13 – Yann David: Haven’t seen a hell of a lot the French man, but he wreaks of class.
12 – Jamie Roberts: Lions player of the series, says it all
11 – Digby Ioane: Already making a mark as an explosive runner
10 – Berrick Barnes: A class act, composed, with vision, good footwork and educated boot
9 – Will Genia: Already shown some crisp service and great footwork
8 – Pierre Spies: A lot of hype behind this one but the man is a freak and if he can translate the Super 14 performances into the Test arena, it will be something.
7 – Heinrich Brussouw: The fetcher/flanker find of the year. He has proven himself a handful to almost all teams he has played against. It will be interesting to see if that can be maintained as teams look to negate him
6 – Rocky Elsom: Already an established performer who will only get better
5 – Isaac Ross: I was surprised when Graham Henry didn’t take him on tour as he had a very good season
4 – Andries Bekker: Maybe controversial as I personally think he is a 5 but for lack of quality 4s at the moment, I have put him in
3 – Ben Alexander: This was the only young TH I could think of. Pity Barcela plays on the LH
2 – Bismark du Plessis: Powerful hooker, an extra flank in the loose who has also forced his captain out of position
1 – Benn Robinson: Find of the decade for Australian frontrow forwards. It was a pick between him and his twin Euan Murray, but the nuggety Robinson has been sticking it to every TH he faces with aplomb
Rusty
Roar Guru
I actually dont think Giteau at 31 will be around circa 2013
Rusty
Roar Guru
Forgot about Kahui - he has just been so injured you kind of dont remember him
Winston
Guest
Liam Messam if he ever gets his S#!t together and plays to his potential
stash
Roar Pro
If you need to add more kiwis than one - then I reckon you would have Zac Guilford on wing and Richard Kahui at centre - both very dangerous.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
I wouldn't consider Elsom or Robinson as starts of tomorrow. They're stars of today, and pushing for spots in this decades team. It'll be a case in 2019 that they will probably play well, but have us all thinking whether they were more last decades players, like we look at Horan and Burke now.
Wavell Wakefield
Guest
Andrew Sheridan (in propping terms), Courtney Lawes, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Delon Armitage, Fabien Barcella, Alexandre Lapandry, Guilhem Guirado, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra, Francis Trinh-Duc, Maxime Mermoz, Maxime Medard, Cian Healy, Stephen Ferris, Jon Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls... and that's just from three countries.
jools-usa
Guest
Rusty, Surprised you didn't include Giteau unless you feel he's not a comer & has already arrived? Speaking of such, whilst watching a UK game this week, I heard announcer saying Gits MIGHT be heading to France in off-season. That's not good - look what happened to Carter. If I was Gits I'd have my agent contact the England team & offer G for a paltry 5M a year assuming he has a Pom somewhere in his family tree so they can juggle his lineage & he plays for England.. They may pay it as they're going nowhere fast without a five-eighth & Wilko will be on Medicare by 2011. Jools-USA