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The Crowd
Do you smell that? Freshly painted field lines, Dencorub burning flesh, and what can only be described as the scent of fear wafting from our southern hemisphere neighbours. It’s Super Rugby season.
This is my favourite time of year. The formalisation of squads, the trial matches held in towns and cities that don’t have the luxury of regular home games, and the unearthing of fresh new Australian talent.
Looking to the experts, I have been seeking insider information on the new talent that we might see this year. Who will be a Wallabies bolter? Who is the best foreign buy? Who is the hot tip for a cheap Fantasy rugby purchase? To date, none of my questions have been answered. All the players I have been told to keep an eye on this season have been in the Wallabies program for a few years.
So I have decided to put together my XV of 2012′s biggest movers and hot new talent. With the Waratahs and Reds maintaining a steady line-up of starting players, most of my up and comers are from the Rebels, Force and Brumbies. These three are the teams that need new talent to shine if they hope to get a finals berth in 2012.
1. Jeremy Tilse
Waratahs
1.90m
120kgs
With the retirement of Al Baxter, a Stalwart of the Tahs frontrow, Tilse will need to step up and fill his role as the strong and unyielding frontrower. Tilse is an imposing figure, and in his sixth season, should be ready to put his stamp on the competition. I suspect he will spend most his time off the bench, but he has the potential to be a starting player and make life very tough for opposition props.
2. Silvia Silvia
Brumbies
1.77m
112 Kgs
Moving to the Brumbies will prove a master stroke for this young rake. Not only having the opportunity to work under Australia’s best hooker in Steven Moore, Silvia will also get plenty of game time for the Brumbies this year. Silvia was impressive at the Junior World Championships in Italy and will only get better with more elite-level game time. I suspect he will lock into a three way battle for a Wallabies jersey with Moore and Poluta Nau.
3. Paul Alo-Emile
Rebels
1.80m
120kgs
Another member of the Junior Wallabies, Alo Emile is the youngest member of the Melbourne Rebels squad. He has exceptional strength for a 20 year old and his athleticism for his size has been noted. His game time may be limited this year, but I am sure he will play a major part in the Rebels’ and potentially the Wallabies’ fortunes in the coming years.
4. Luke Jones
Rebels
1.97m
111kgs
The youngest forward to sign a professional contact when the Force recruited him while still at school. Moving to the Rebels for their inaugural season, he got his chance last year playing blindside flanker and put in a strong performance. Predominantly a lock, Luke is a gifted athlete and will be expected to get much more game time with the Rebels this season. He fits the mould of an aggressive lock that loves contact and will not disappoint when given the opportunity.
5. Leon Power
Brumbies
2.00m
116kgs
Leon is a towering lock who comes with big raps from his new coach Jake White. He is a line-out specialist and has a tremendous work rate across the park. Power has played most of his rugby in New Zealand, but was born in Sydney and is eligible to play for the Wallabies. I suspect that he may not be a run-on initially for the Brumbies, but he will certainly push for a single digit jersey as the season rolls on.
6. Lachlan McCaffrey
Force
1.94m
108kgs
Predominantly a Number 8, McCaffrey is a young talented back row with the size to be a real menace in coming seasons. Sitting behind one of the most congested back rows, with Pocock, Brown, Hodgson and McCalman all vying for three spots, McCaffrey’s chances this year will come down to injury. However, if given the chance McCaffrey will show his worth.
7. Chris Alcock
Waratahs
1.82m
103kgs
With the departure of Phil Waugh, the Waratahs 7 spot is now vacant and ready to be claimed. I believe Alcock is the right man for this job. While I like McCutcheon’s enthusiasm around the park, Alcock has the whole package that the Waratahs will need to complement their imposing back row. He is fantastic at the breakdown and has a surprisingly good running game. If Foley goes with raw talent and not reputation, Alcock will spend the year buried in rucks repaying his faith.
8. Fotu Auelua
Brumbies
1.89m
115kgs
In a country brimming with back row talent, no one individual has managed to claim ownership of the number 8 jersey. Palu and McCalman are our current solutions, however I suspect Auelua will be right up there at the end of this season pushing for selection. A relatively unknown entity in Australia, Auelua is a damaging ball runner, who will fit well into the Super Rugby mould of play. He will bring needed experience to a young Brumbies team and will challenge the opposition with every touch of the ball.
9. Justin Turner
Force
1.80m
87kgs
I have been pushing this young kid’s name for a few seasons now and without injury, I expect he would have already shown his worth. I am hoping this year Turner will repay my faith in him and claim ownership of the number 9 jersey. With Ripia moving on and Stannard more than likely to fit the 10 role, Turner is primed to get plenty of bench time under Sheenan and even take the starting position. Justin is exceptionally quick and surprisingly strong for his smaller stature. It will be interesting if he can make the step up.
10. Ulupano Seuteni
Reds (EPS)
1.85m
90kgs
Recently 18, Seuteni is a gifted up-and-coming flyhalf who was contracted into the extended playing squad while still in school. In an elite squad with Cooper, Harris, Lance, Lucas, Tapuai and Murphy, who are all capable 10s, I don’t expect Seuteni will get his chance this season. However, local fans should keep an eye out for this dynamic playmaker in shadow games.
11. Napolioni Nalaga
Force
1.91m
105kgs
The flying Fijian winger comes to the Force with some great credentials. Top 14 player of the year two seasons ago, top try-scorer in the French competition, and a Fijian international, Nalaga will take up where David Smith left off, tearing down the wing and wreaking havoc in defence. Despite the Waratahs picking up Sarel Pretorius, Nalaga is my pick for foreign player of the year.
12. Lloyd Johansson
Rebels
1.81m
108kgs
Despite previously playing for the Wallabies, I would still consider Johansson a fairly unknown quantity. Playing for Queensland and having a rapid rise into the Wallabies in 2005, Johansson was gone as quickly as he came, spending time playing abroad. I am expecting big things from Johansson upon his return and am hoping to see more of the bone-crunching defence that he is known for. His new team captain can attest to it. I suspect he will play more time at 13, coming off the bench for Mortlock, but he is traditionally a 12 and a very handy asset for the Rebels.
13. Will Tupou
Force
1.89m
104kgs
A previous member of the Australian Rugby Schoolboys, Tupou has been honing his skills in league for the past few seasons. I expect Tupou to pick up where he left off in union and lock down the outside centre position for the Force. He has some tough opposition for the 13 jersey in Dellit, Sidey and Cummings, but I expect Tupou to make a real mark on the midfield and potentially push for a Wallabies berth.
14. Kimani Sitauti
Brumbies
1.83m
95kgs
A smart off season buy, Sitauti is an electrifying winger with speed to burn. Having had experience in the national 7′s side and for the Junior Wallabies, Sitauti will push for a starting position in a young and inexperienced backline. If given the opportunity, I suspect Sitauti will nail down a starting wing spot at the Brumbies, opposite Henry Speight.
15. Cam Crawford
Brumbies
1.93m
98kgs
Another young Brumby I am predicting big things from, should he get the opportunity. Crawford is a big back, with a big boot to match. He has shown his talent in the Shute Shield and will need to go up another notch, if he wants to be a force at this level. He has the natural talent that Jake White will be looking to mould and has great fullback instincts to hit an attacking backline at the right time and in the right place.
*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of the ARU or rugby.com.au