The Rugby Championship Under 25 XV

You might remember last week we made a XV of the best players in the 6 Nations that are under 25. Many of you wanted a comparison article to see how they stood up against their Southern Hemisphere rivals, so here it is!

1. Scott Sio: If there is one position where southern hemisphere sides tend to lean on the conservative side, it is in the front row. Scott Sio has made waves in his relatively short time on the international circuit, and the 24 year old Wallaby has played a major role in the transformation of their scrum.

2. Codie Taylor: The All Black hooker is unlikely to be the starter for a few years, as the 29 year old Dane Coles is showing no signs of slowing up. Whenever Coles does begin to fade, the All Blacks will not have to wonder about his replacement, with the dynamic Taylor giving them a like for like replacement .

3. Nepo Laulala: The 24 year old Chiefs and All Blacks tighthead will miss all of 2016 with a major knee injury. This is a major loss for the All Blacks, as Laulala was rapidly rising through the ranks and making a strong case for more regular inclusion. His power and technique makes him a great weapon in the scrum, but he is also more than capable of contributing in the loose.

4. Brodie Retallick: Staggering that the All Blacks lock is only 24 years old, as he has already garnered a reputation as one of the, if not the best, lock in the world. Retallick is remarkably well rounded, offering physicality and a hard work rate, but also great vision and soft hands. So often the All Blacks attacks start with a simple pop pass from Retallick. Earmarked as a future captain for the All Blacks, Retallick has a very bright future.

5. Eben Etzebeth: At 6’8”, 271 lbs, and with 19 inch biceps, Etzebeth is a bit of a freak. He has embraced the enforcer role within the Springboks, and can often be found giving Julian Savea a cheeky slap, or perhaps taking on 5 players from the opposition at once. Like Retallick, he has emerged as one of the regulars in international rugby, and yet is only 24 years old. The Boks have found the replacement for their beloved Bakkies, and hopefully Etzebeth can carry this young Boks side forward.

6. Marcell Coetzee: Anger seems to be the first word that comes to mind while watching Coetzee play. Everything he does, he does at 100 percent, and always looks to up the physicality and pace of the game. The 24 year old Sharks flanker will be off to Ulster next season, who will welcome him as their replacement for Nick Williams. Coetzee may have missed out on the World Cup, but I suspect he will be back, and he will be better than ever.

7. Michael Hooper: Sam Cane will have wanted to claim this spot, but for now, it has to go to Hooper. The explosive Waratahs flanker brings so much physicality in defence and attack. At 22 years old he was named as the captain of the Wallabies, and now, at only 24, he has amassed an impressive 51 caps. Hooper’s pace and power make him a great weapon for Michael Cheika, and a major threat to Australia’s rivals.

8. Sean McMahon: The Rebels and Wallabies star has been a sensation since bursting onto the scene in 2014 as a 20 year old. He is more commonly used at 7, but is just as comfortable in the 8 shirt. McMahon loves to make huge tackles, but he also offers a great, dynamic presence with ball in hand. David Pocock’s absence will hurt if he goes on sabbatical, but it will provide an opportunity for young McMahon to stake a claim for a larger Wallabies role.

9. TJ Perenara: Perenara set Super Rugby on fire last season, scoring 11 tries. This left him with the second most tries of any player, and he carried that momentum into The Rugby Championship. While he may have Aaron Smith and Tawera Kerr-Barlow to contend with as he battles for the All Blacks 9 shirt, there can be no denying Perenara explosive pace and great vision.

10. Handre Pollard: The South African fly half broke onto the international rugby scene in 2014, starting against Scotland for his first cap, and then, in the final round of the competition, he scored two tries as the Springboks beat the All Blacks 27-25. Pollard has struggled with consistency from time to time, but when he is on his game, he is very hard to stop. He attacks the line at pace, and gives the Boks backline an attacking element they have not had in a long time.

11. Santiago Cordero: The Argentine wing made a huge impact at the World Cup, where he dazzled defenders with his electric footwork and frightening pace. While Cordero may be on the smaller side at just 5’10” and 183 lbs, he more than makes up for it with his ability to make plays. There is a sense of danger whenever Cordero touches the ball, and the young Puma is rapidly making a name for himself on the World Stage.

12. Damian De Allende: The Springboks could not have possibly predicted the impact De Allende would have last season. His power and physicality were already well known, but he adapted to the pace of international rugby with ease, dominating the gainline against Australia and New Zealand. Few players break more tackles than De Allende, and if his partnership with Jesse Kriel can continue its dominance, the Boks may be on the way to a dominant World Cup cycle.

13. Tevita Kuridrani: With Jesse Kriel and Malakai Fekitoa both in the reckoning for the 13 jersey, this was not an easy position to pick, but I went with Kuridrani because he has consistently produced for the Wallabies over the last 3 years. Kuridrani offers pace, power, and great footwork as well as huge hitting in defence, making him a real star for the Brumbies and the Wallabies. Should Australia make a push for the World Cup in 2019, Kuridrani will almost certainly play a major role.

14. Waisake Naholo: The leading try scorer in Super Rugby 2015, Naholo has a dominant combination of pace and power, which saw him rocket into All Blacks selection. Despite breaking his leg in his first cap against Argentina, Naholo returned for the World Cup, and was still able to have an impact, scoring a try against Georgia and starring against Tonga. With Naholo, Savea, and Nehe Milner-Skudder, the future looks very bright indeed for the All Blacks in the back three.

15. Jesse Kriel: Although Kriel is at his best at 13, Nehe Milner-Skudder just ages out, meaning that Kriel is the best option to step in. Kriel typically starts at fullback for the Bulls, where he had a major impact a year ago. Kriel has great pace and power, but it is the lines he runs that make him special. Don’t forget, this is the young man that carved Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith to pieces as a 21 year old, so there is no telling what the future may hold for him.