Who could be a Bok, a Wallaby and an All Black?

Wynona Louw

Wynona Louw

Published Feb 22, 2017

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Who needs one big Super Rugby season to become a Springbok, Wallaby or All Black?

If you want to see the true quality of a player, you just have to watch some Super Rugby. This is even more so for younger players, who are still looking to crack into a national team. And what better competition than arguably the toughest one in world rugby to show what they can do?

Wynona Louw looks at three players who need one big Super Rugby season to become a Springbok, Wallaby or All Black.

Curwin Bosch

Having been the best junior player in South Africa for the past two years should say enough about the firecracker that is Curwin Bosch.

And a statement like that isn’t unjustified at all.

He excelled for the Junior Springboks during last year’s Under-20 World Championship in England, where he was nominated for Player of the Tournament, and his eye-catching abilities proved early on just why he is such a massive prospect.

The Port Elizabeth-born Bosch started at fullback in the Junior Boks’ opening win against Japan, where they came from behind to beat the Japanese 59-19, with Bosch converting all eight of SA’s tries and kicking a penalty to boot. Talk about a good start to the tournament, right?

And as the main kicker for the team, Bosch was the top scorer for his side with 63 points.

Yes, he’s represented SA at U18 and U20 level (to great success, I should add), but one of his biggest milestones was at Kings Park last year, where he made his Super Rugby debut for the Sharks – who won a battle-of-the-contracts to pen Bosch – against the Cheetahs.

In every competition he’s played in, the Sharks Academy product has impressed with his passing game, his clever feet paired with a body that can dodge and swerve through defenders and, of course, his astounding kicking abilities from hand or tee. And let’s not forget the fact that he is a match-winner who also brings his part on defence.

Bosch is the kind of player who simply has to be in the Springbok squad in future. And who knows, give him one big Super season and that future might just come sooner than expected.

Jordie Barrett

Jordie Barrett is a fascinating young man.

I mean, this season, he will become the third member of the Barrett family to play for the Hurricanes, after his father Kevin and older brother Beauden.

And then there’s also the fact that he looks very, and I do mean very, similar to the World Player of the Year. But while he might bear an eerily resemblance to Beauden, he doesn’t share the exact same abilities with his brother.

Well, there’s just one really – that electrifying pace, Beauden’s electrifying pace. Yeah, Jordie doesn’t quite have that.

But given the fact that he makes up for that with a shockingly good skillset of his own, the fact that he lacks Beauden’s pace is no biggy (please note, by this I mean he doesn’t have Beauden’s pace, not he doesn’t have pace at all. There’s a big difference).

Jordie has a physical sting on both attack and defence, and his cool-headed temperament in any situation is one of his biggest assets (just like his brother).

And the youngster also possesses something that is so valuable in rugby, but that can also lead to players who have this quality sometimes ending up in some kind of wilderness if they aren’t managed properly – versatility.

The utility back can play at flyhalf, fullback and inside centre, and his potential has been spotted by the All Blacks as well, as they last year included him as a non-playing "apprentice" for their end-of-year tour, just like they did with flank Ardie Savea back in 2013.

And it’s not hard to see why the Hurricanes have also scooped up Jordie for their Super Rugby title defence this year.

He showcased his very wide array of skills in June last year for the New Zealand U20s, before racking up 123 points to help Canterbury to yet another Premiership title.

Then he also went on to bagging the junior and Mitre 10 Cup Player of the Year awards. So I don’t think anyone is allowed to doubt this young man’s talent.

Like Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said last year, the kid’s got a bit of “physical growing” to do before he can confidently slot into that combative midfield position. But he can confidently do his thing at fullback and flyhalf.

And if he replicates his performances of last season, I don’t see why his stint with the All Blacks would be just an apprenticeship for much longer.

Sione Tuipulotu

Sione Tuipulotu made history last in 2015 when he and Rob Leota became the first-ever Victorian players to play Super Rugby without having to leave their home state, when they were signed by the Rebels.

And that feat in itself should make it clear that Tuipulotu is a talent to watch.

The combative centre, who played in every game for the Melbourne Rising in the 2015 National Rugby Championship, made his record even greater when he contributed to the Rebels’ 25-23 win over the Reds at AAMI Park in March last year during his Super Rugby debut.

The Frankston-born and raised midfielder had a good bow against the Reds, as he ran hard and made his physical presence known with bulldozing power and a strong defensive outing in the victory.

He also represented Australia at both Schoolboys and U20 level, and captained St Kevin’s College to the Victorian Schools Rugby Union Premiership.

But all that Wikipedia-like stats aside, Tuipulotu at only 20 still has a lot of time to show just what he can do.

So far he’s had five matches with the Rebels to do so, but there’s no telling what more he can reveal this season.

Cape Times

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