U20s World Cup: Players to Watch

Following on from our preview of the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship earlier this week, we have picked our ‘XV to Watch’ in this year’s tournament.

The championship kicks off on June 2^nd in Italy, giving you just enough time to swot up on the players involved and get excited for a tournament which has become a real highlight of the rugby calendar.

1. Thomas du Toit, South Africa

The loosehead, who plays for the Sharks, was a force at last year’s Junior World Championships and should help anchor the powerful South African scrum. There has been informal talk of du Toit moving over to tighthead, which would possibly see him go to head-to-head with the other standout loosehead at this year’s tournament, Bristol and England’s Ellis Genge.

2. Liam Polwart, New Zealand

There is plenty of competition at this position from Wales’ Liam Belcher and England’s Jack Walker, but Polwart is a fine prospect. Hooker was a position of weakness for the Baby All Blacks last year, with their set-piece, the lineout in particular, proving to be extremely inconsistent. Polwart will hope to reverse that trend this year and give New Zealand’s backs the platform they crave.

3. Paul Hill, England

Welsh tighthead Leon Brown and New Zealand captain Atunaisa Moli are two players to keep an eye on, but Hill is arguably the best age-grade tighthead since the U19 and U21 competitions were restructured into U20 rugby. Fresh from signing with Northampton Saints for the 2015/16 season, Hill is out to win his second championship and there should be a fair amount of sympathy for any loosehead that tries to stop him.

4. Geoffrey Cridge, New Zealand

Don’t sleep on the captains of England (Charlie Ewels) and Wales (Rory Thornton), but Cridge has all the hallmarks of a Hurricanes forward and that should serve him well in the WRC. A talented lineout forward, Cridge also has the soft hands that the All Blacks crave in their forwards and should push for playing time with the ‘Canes next season, following Jeremy Thrush’s move to Gloucester.

5. RG Snyman, South Africa

A monstrous lock, Snyman is currently omitted from the South African side touring Argentina due to an ankle injury, but if all goes to plan, he should be fighting fit for the beginning of the RWC. A 6’ 9”, 18st 6lb behemoth from the Highveld, Snyman will bring physicality to the South African pack that few other nations can match.

6. Sékou Macalou, France

The back row talent on show this year is set to surpass anything we’ve seen so far, with players of the calibre of Dan du Preez and Charlie Beckett just missing out on this spot. Macalou was a force for France in the U20 Six Nations, helping them to a second-placed finish, as well as catching the eye for RC Massy in Pro D2. Of all the forwards at WRC, he may be the most ready for high-level, senior rugby. 

7. Ollie Griffiths, Wales

Wales’ production line of outstanding fetching opensides is unmatched in the northern hemisphere and Griffiths is the latest talent to roll off it. Wales inflicted England’s sole loss of the U20 Six Nations and much of that was due to Griffiths’ brilliant work at the breakdown, earning his side penalty after penalty.

8. Hanro Liebenberg, South Africa

France’s Fabien Sanconnie and England’s James Chisholm are both deserving of honourable mentions, but in reality, Liebenberg is in a class of his own at the position. At just 19 years of age, the versatile back rower has Super Rugby experience under his belt, was the standout performer in the Bulls’ preseason friendly with Saracens and like many of his teammates, plays with a physical edge at age-grade level that few outside of England and New Zealand can match.

9. Stuart Townsend, England

Townsend is not guaranteed to start come the WRC, with England seemingly favouring James Mitchell during the U20 Six Nations, but he is an exceptionally gifted scrum-half, more than capable of making the nine jersey his own. The Exeter Chief is as balanced a scrum-half as you’re likely to find at the tournament, but also make sure to watch out for France’s Anthony Meric.

10. Ross Byrne, Ireland

Arguably the standout fly-half last year in a tournament which also included Handré Pollard and Simon Hickey, Byrne didn’t enjoy the best U20 Six Nations, but has the ability to bounce back next month. Byrne has the composure, distribution skills and kicking game to be a huge success and with Damien McKenzie busy with the Chiefs, has a great opportunity to be the standout fly-half for another year.

11. Andrew Kellaway, Australia

Watch out for the French duo of Arthur Bonneval and Alexandre Pilati, but it is impossible to leave out the man who broke JWC try scoring records last year. Kellaway has been playing at outside centre for Australia of late but he is a natural winger, very much in the mould of Adam Ashley-Cooper with the Wallabies. The similarities to Ashley-Cooper don’t end there however, as his eye for a line and finishing prowess make him one of the more dangerous prospects at the tournament.

12. Daniel du Plessis, South Africa

If rugby matches were decided by the skills of your locks and inside centres, South Africa would be the best side in the world, and du Plessis is the latest talent to emerge in that production line of inside centres. The Western Province man has scored tries for fun through the South African age-grades and will now look to help fill the playmaking void left by Pollard. Ireland’s Sam Arnold should also catch the eye in a very gifted Irish midfield.

13. Joe Marchant, England

Marchant narrowly edges out 2014 Junior Player of the Year nominee Garry Ringrose, thanks to a barnstorming U20 Six Nations, where he cut opposition defences to shreds on more than one occasion. He is a centre built in the mould of Elliot Daly; fast, elusive and though slight of build, possesses deceptive strength, particularly when breaking out of tackles.

14. Tevita Li, New Zealand

Almost certainly the most physically dominant winger at age-grade level since Julian Savea featured at the 2010 JWC, Li returns for his second championship. His potent combination of pace and power is difficult for senior internationals to deal with in Super Rugby, let alone age-grade players, and his game-breaking ability will be key if New Zealand want to win their first title since 2011.

15. Thomas Ramos, France

Ramos’ pool opponents Piers O’Conor and Billy Dardis have solid claims on this spot, but the Frenchman’s unerring boot gives him a slight advantage. Ramos will likely line up alongside Bonneval and Pilati in France’s back three and as a unit, represent everything French rugby used to embody, with guile, incision and speed abounding amongst the trio.