TRU's Rugby Stock Watch - Week 9

Important wins for England and Wales over southern hemisphere opposition this weekend helped arrest slides in stock for some of their more reputable players, whilst a plethora of young players around the Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12 got another weekend to impress with most internationals either still with their national teams or rested. With the return of European rugby next weekend, it was the last opportunity for these guys to make a statement and show their teams they can be trusted in the big games.

Stock Rising

Ben Morgan and Ben Youngs, Gloucester, Leicester Tigers and England

Both players were given a chance to stake a claim for a long-term return to the starting XV in the games against Samoa and Australia, a chance they took with both hands. Morgan was in barnstorming form against Australia, marauding through their defence for two tries, whilst Youngs put on a display with his box kicking and distribution that Danny Care hasn’t been able to match in recent games.

Barring injury, both players should start when England kick off their Six Nations campaign against Wales in February, leaving Billy Vunipola and Care with it all to do over the next two months to change Stuart Lancaster’s mind. 

Josh Navidi, Cardiff Blues and Wales

The versatile back row rampaged through Treviso on Friday night, gouging their defence time after time with his powerful carrying. He finished the game with an average of just over eight metres on each of his carries, as well as making a significant defensive contribution with 13 tackles.

If Wales aren’t short of one thing, it’s quality back rowers, but Navidi will continue to rise through the ranks with more performances like this one. His ability to play all over the back row, as well as experience with captaincy at U20 level are other factors worth taking into consideration.

 

Stuart McCloskey, Ulster and Ireland

Admittedly, cutting open the Munster midfield may not be the challenge it once was, but McCloskey put in a fine display in a losing cause for Ulster this weekend. The inside centre was a little more selfish in this game than he has been previously, choosing consistently to run the ball, but with his proclivity for making defenders miss, it’s probably wise not to second guess his decisions.

His 16 tackles were an example of how well and how quickly he led the defensive line, something which Joe Schmidt may want to keep his eye on over the next couple of months. In Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne, Schmidt has options for the 13 jersey, but with no one staking a significant claim for the inside centre spot, McCloskey could be a wild card worth taking a risk on.

Other Risers – Jordi Murphy, Jack Conan, Bryan Byrne, Sam Davies, Lloyd Williams, Robin Copeland, Henry Thomas, Luke Wallace, Owen Williams,

Stock Falling

Billy Twelvetrees, Gloucester and England

Aside from one nicely floated pass early in the first half, Twelvetrees was quiet in his return to the England jersey. He was certainly outshone defensively by his centre partner, Brad Barritt, whilst he did little to trouble the Australian defensive line with ball in hand. The lack of possession by England certainly mitigates this fact, but if he was looking to lay down a marker at Twickenham, he certainly missed his opportunity.

With the gargantuan presence of Sam Burgess now hanging over the England midfield, as well as the prospect of a fit Manu Tuilagi, Twelvetrees could find himself in an uphill battle to retain his inside centre berth come the Six Nations.

Duncan Casey, Munster and Ireland

The young hooker has been pressing his case for higher honours over the last couple of months, especially with some errant displays from Rory Best, but those expectations may have been tempered somewhat by a tough outing against Ulster on Friday night. He struggled to hit his jumpers with the regularity that he had been showing in recent weeks and was fairly anonymous with ball in hand, something that cannot be said of Best or Sean Cronin.

Casey undoubtedly has a good future ahead of him, but games like this one show that patience may be a virtue in regards to him taking the next step.

Important wins for England and Wales over southern hemisphere opposition this weekend helped arrest slides in stock for some of their more reputable players, whilst a plethora of young players around the Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12 got another weekend to impress with most internationals either still with their national teams or rested. With the return of European rugby next weekend, it was the last opportunity for these guys to make a statement and show their teams they can be trusted in the big games.

Other Fallers – Stephen Archer, Tom Court, Rory Sutherland. Billy Vunipola.