Wolfpuppies Show Their Potential
The 2012 Junior World Championship has been in full flow over the last week and Ireland's shock win over hosts South Africa has been one of the standout results of the tournament so far. The Wolfpuppies followed that up with a 20-15 loss to England. Mike Ruddock's team led for most of the game but the huge physical effort of two games in four days caught up as the English finished strongly. However, the performance was impressive and Ireland go into Tuesday's game against Italy with a chance of topping Pool B. Here, we take a look at four of the young players who have stood out for Ireland so far:
JJ Hanrahan
The Kerryman has been marked out as a player of potential for some time now. Munster fans have been excited about the young outhalf for the last year and now everyone else is starting to see why. Ulster's decision to withdraw Paddy Jackson from the JWC has meant a move to outhalf for Hanrahan and he has thrived. The 19-year-old has displayed a well-rounded skill set in the opening two games. He has plenty of experience playing in the centre and his eye for a gap is evidence of that. His playmaking skills are sharp and Hanrahan has also shown a good tactical kicking game.
There is a general air of calm about most of Hanrahan's play. His intelligent drop goal against South Africa showed his understanding of the flow of the game. Against England, his strong finish for the opening try of the game showed the value of having played at 12. Hanrahan looks to have all the skills to step up to senior rugby. He will expect to feature for Munster next season. Obviously the outhalf/centre is not the finished article just yet, but the potential is certainly there.
Tadhg Furlong
England's demolition of the Irish scrum at Twickenham this year led to plenty of talk of a 'tighthead crisis'. Declan Fitzpatrick's impressive showing for the senior side against the All Blacks on Saturday was encouraging. Furlong's powerful displays for the U20s offer further hope. The Leinster Academy tighthead is a massive unit. At 118kg, he's already heavier than Mike Ross, while the fact that Furlong is 3 inches shorter than Ross is also an advantage. Physically, Furlong is something of a freak for someone who has another 5 months before turning 20.
His scrummaging ability has been promising, particularly against South Africa. Opposite him that day was Steven Kitshoff, already first choice loosehead for the Stormers in Super Rugby. Furlong was more than up to the challenge, locking out the Irish scrum effectively. Some of the Wexford prop's defensive hits have stood out too. He has real power and gets around the pitch well. One potential problem for Furlong's development is the depth at tighthead in Leinster. Ross, Michael Bent and Jamie Hagan will all start next season ahead of him. Hopefully, the IRFU figure out a way for Furlong to get game time sooner rather than later.
Iain Henderson
Ulster man Henderson burst onto the scene early last month when he scored a superb try on his debut against Munster in the PRO12. That day he lined out at blindside, but he has featured for Ireland U20s in the second-row. The change of position hasn't altered Henderson's impact. He has been a hugely physical presence for the Irish, muscling his way over for a try against the Baby Boks and generally throwing his body into every collision he can. At 116kg, and 6'5 the Armagh native is very well developed for a 20 year-old. He is already on par with his Southern Hemisphere peers in that regard.
Henderson has a big engine and simply hasn't let up in the two games so far in terms of work-rate. New Ulster coach Mark Anscombe will have been greatly impressed by what he's seen of Henderson. With Pedrie Wannenburg having left Ulster, and Stephen Ferris and Chris Henry presumably being away on international duty for some time, the hope is that Henderson can continue his rise at Ulster next season. Whether he ends up in the second-row or at blindside, he is hugely promising.
Jordan Coghlan
The Leinster back-row trio of Jack Conan, Conor Gilsenan and Coghlan have all stood out, with Coghlan just about leading the way. The 19-year-old has lined out at blindside in both games so far. Again, his work-rate has been huge, typified by his try after Gilsenan's block down against South Africa. Coghlan has carried powerfully throughout both games and gotten through a mountain of work in defence. His dedication to the cause has been highlighted by the fact that he sat his Leaving Cert. maths exam the day of the South Africa clash in a South African school.
It will be interesting to follow the progress of Coghlan, Conan and Gilsenan after this tournament. All three have shown talent, but with such depth in the back-row at Leinster currently, how long will they have to wait to see PRO12 action for their province? It's a real problem for Irish rugby, compounded by the way in which the IRFU treats players who move abroad. Would some of these young players benefit from a full season of first-team action in the English Championship or French Pro D2? It's an issue for another time. For now, let's enjoy the efforts of this talented Ireland U20s team.
