WE’RE HITTING THE midpoint of Rugby World Cup 2015, and bit by bit we’re getting an idea of which sides are best placed to take a stab at dethroning champions New Zealand.
One thing becoming clear in the tournament so far is the abundance of you talent that has been gracing the pitches.
And with a strict cut-off point of under 24-years-old (sorry Nehe Milner Skudder and Jonathan Joseph), we’ve picked out our seven favourite youngsters who have already left a big impression on this tournament.
Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia)
The scrum-half became the youngest ever player in the tournament when he started his country’s famous win against Tonga on the opening weekend, setting a new record of 18 years and 340 days.
It was far from a novelty selection either, Lobzhanidze played 78 minutes of that opening win, as well as the first hour of the defeat to Argentina six days later.
It’s unlikely that Georgia will be making it past the pool stage in 2015, but their 18-year-old scrum-half has already written his name into the history books.
Iain Henderson (Ireland)
Looking in ominous form coming into the tournament, the destructive Ulsterman went at Canada like a man possessed in Ireland’s 50-7 win, deservedly bagging the second try of the game, as well as making 12 carries and an astronomical 19 tackles.
Without doing anything wrong, Devin Toner looks to have lost his place in the line-up to Henderson and after sitting out the win against Romania, it looks like the versatile 23-year-old has nailed down his position alongside Paul O’Connell in the second row.
Henderson has already announced his presence on the world stage, but with bigger games to come in the next two weeks, he may well have a lot more to say.
Tomás Lavanini (Argentina)
A 22-year-old giant, Lavanini is already a huge part of the Pumas’ pack.
A silly sin-bin blotted his copybook against the All Blacks on the first day, but he’s put in a dominant performance against Georgia five days later, scoring the opening try of the game.
Lavanini went on to make 11 carries for 22 metres, and topped the tackle count with 13. If Ireland top Pool D it’s likely they’ll face the Pumas in the quarter finals, and Lavanini will be a real physical presence.
He isn’t used much in the lineout, but is an exceptional physical presence around the pitch. Looks far older than his date of birth would suggest.
Lood de Jager (South Africa)
Another supremely talented second row, de Jager was one of the few Springboks that came out of the defeat to Japan with his reputation not just intact, but heightened.
De Jager was a presence in the lineout, defensively and especially in attack, with this powerful run from outside the 22 for a try nudging South Africa ahead.
Substituted with 13 minutes left, and South Africa winning by seven, de Jager put in a great performance, before getting another impressive 35 minutes off the bench against Samoa.
With Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield looking like being the first choice pairing, it shows just how much depth this Springbok side have at lock.
Handre Pollard (South Africa)
Considering they lost to Japan, it may seem strange for two Springboks to make this list, but 21-year-old Pollard has been a mature head on young shoulders at out-half.
Endured a difficult spell as substitute in the defeat to Japan, but hit back against Samoa a week later to take the man of the math award, despite JP Pieterson claiming a hattrick.
Finn Russell (Scotland)
Pollard’s potential opposite number this weekend in the Pool B clash has nailed down the 10 shirt for Vern Cotter side, and he’s still just 22.
Glasgow Warriors out-half Finn Russell has really got the Scottish backline moving in the opening two games, as they started the tournament with back-to-back bonus point wins.
With Greig Laidlaw mainly on kicking duty, it’s allowed Russell to concentrate on getting the Socottish backline firing, and he;s certainly done that, getting a try of his own in the hammering of Japan.
However, it was his offload to Sean Maitland in the defeat of USA on Sunday that showcased both his strength and skill.
Michael Hooper (Australia)
Yeah, he’s still just 23.
Now that the Hooper/Pocock debate has ended with both of them playing – and playing well – Hooper has been able to get back to his duties as a world class blindside flanker.
Against Fiji he topped the defensive charts with a whopping 19 tackles and after getting a rest in the Aussies’ second game of the tournament against Uruguay, he’s going to be nice and fresh for the crucial games against England and Wales in the coming weeks.
Are there any other players you would add to our list?
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