The 6 Nations Under 25 XV

This season a lot of talent has come through the 6 Nations, and so we at RBP thought we’d have a go at naming our under 25 XV. This turned out to be difficult, because in some places there is a lot of depth. Still this team bodes really well for the 2017 Lions tour and the 2019 World Cup, as there are some really exciting names on this list!

1. Rob Evans: Jack McGrath and Joe Marler just age out in this one, but Evans is a quality player who has definitely earned his role on this list. A hardworking loosehead who loves to get his hands on the ball, Evans burst onto the scene for Wales this season and hasn’t looked back since. Currently keeping Gethin Jenkins on the bench, so you know he is a quality operator.

2. Jamie George: The England and Saracens hooker has been one of the premiership’s biggest stars over the last two seasons, but is stuck behind England captain Dylan Hartley in the national side. George loves to get involved with ball in hand, and is a dynamic carrier. His set piece work is as solid as it gets, and a few years in the setup should be enough to make him a real star.

3. Samson Lee: Paul Hill may usurp Lee in the near future, and there is a case to make for Tadhg Furlong, but no candidate is as established as Lee. It was Lee who saw Adam Jones forced into international retirement, and his massive bulk and scrummaging nous causes huge problems for all of Wales’ opponents.

4. Iain Henderson: Forget about him? Don’t, because when he returns from his hamstring injury, Henderson will remind us all what he is capable of. His immense physicality is going to give Ireland a second row pairing to be feared, something they haven’t had since the days of O’Callahan and O’Connell. When Henderson and Ultan Dillane are the second rows for Ireland Joe Schmidt will have a serious physical edge.

5. Jonny Gray: It’s hard to believe that Gray is only 21 given that he has become a mainstay of the side and has already captained Glasgow on several occasions. Gray goes through an immense amount of work during every game and gives Scotland a lot of physicality on the gainline. Like his brother, he is a smart player, and reads the game extremely well for a player his age.

6. Maro Itoje: Usually a second row, Itoje has plenty of experience at flanker, so that is where I have played him on this occasion. Itoje is a lot like Gray: he’s only 21, has already captained his club on several occasions, and has a great motor. Itoje however, seems to have more explosive power, and shows no hesitance to use it, often bumping off defenders or making huge tackles. Long touted as a future England captain, we will watch Itoje’s development closely.

7. Josh Van Der Flier: Tempting though it was to go for Yacuba Camera, momentum is on the side of Van Der Flier at the moment. The 22 year old Leinster flanker is not a physical freak, and he is not a vocal leader, but he is an inspirational figure on the pitch. He outplayed Delon Armitage in his first European start, and totally outclassed Chris Robshaw and James Haskell in his first Ireland cap. Very much a long term replacement for Sean O’Brien going forward.

8. Billy Vunipola: At this point you’re wondering why Jack Clifford has been left out. Well, we felt that Clifford was most at home in the 8 shirt, where he will be behind Billy Vunipola, who is in fact the same age as Clifford. Vunipola has been England’s best player through the 6 Nations so far, and his dominant carrying and powerful tackling will be the difference if England are to claim a grand slam.

9. Sebastien Bezy: Kieran Marmion and Aled Davies, as well as Luke McGrath are both exciting prospects for the future, but aren’t receiving enough playing time to be considered on this list. Bezy was a really exciting option for France at 9, and while he has been ousted by Maxime Machenaud of late, the Toulouse stars devastating footwork and quick decision making will see him return to this side.

10. Owen Farrell: Farrell is only 24 years old and is likely to be England’s favorite at 10 for a long time. Unless George Ford can make some major improvements in the next few weeks, his form dictates that he be dropped to give the more experienced Farrell another shot. Farrell seems to kick with the ball on a string, and this season his attacking play has improved exponentially, a fact which will appeal to Jones.

11. George North: I’m staggered North is only 23. I mean, most 23 year olds nowadays are walking into busses because they’re so distracted by those ipad-gamecube things. North has found his scoring groove in 2016, and that is a worry for England and Italy, as a try hungry George North is nearly unstoppable. Few players can match his acceleration, size, and agility, and there are certainly none who play in the 6 Nations, which is what makes him such a threat.

12. Robbie Henshaw: Hard to believe the Athlone man is only 22, but that is indeed the case. I certainly feel that Ireland should look to the McCloskey-Henshaw pairing going forward, but for the purpose of this list, Henshaw will stay at 12. The Leinster bound center is a big presence at 6’4” 227 lbs, but he still has a great sense of magic about him at all times. In the Irish center tradition, Henshaw picks great lines and works his tail off in defense, two attributes that will serve him well in the future.

13. Jonathan Joseph: This was a nightmarish call to make, with Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly, Michele Campagnaro, Mark Bennett, and Gael Fickou all capable of staking a claim. In the end, Joseph won out due to his recent success in the 6 Nations, while many others on the above list struggled. Joseph has been an electrifying presence for England since first claiming the 13 shirt in last years tournament. Often their primary source of attacking rugby, England have come to love Joseph, who will be around for some time.

14. Anthony Watson: Watson is easily England’s most explosive weapon, and he has given them a unique attacking spark. Watson’s athleticism makes him a great asset under the high ball, while his pace, vision, and step make him a constant threat to his opposition. You only have to look back at his work over the last year to see why we are all so excited about this 22 year old prospect.

15. Stuart Hogg: Born in Melrose, the birthplace of rugby 7’s, Hogg seems to be ideally set up for the 7 a side game. His pace and agility make him an enigma that few teams can solve before it’s too late. in 2013, Hogg was the youngest player on the Lions tour, going at just 20 years old, and he has not looked back since. Hogg is one of the quickest players in the tournament, and has shown this, as well as his excellent step and vision on multiple occasions.