Young players I’d like to see more of next season ...

[Puja]

This is a pretty good article covering in a bit more depth the up coming u20's squad.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/many-bel ... assembled/

Thanks for that - looks like an okay squad. I'm just excited to finally have an U20 squad with a decent scrum-half for once.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

This is a pretty good article covering in a bit more depth the up coming u20's squad.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/many-bel ... assembled/

Thanks for that - looks like an okay squad. I'm just excited to finally have an U20 squad with a decent scrum-half for once.

Puja

Ditto

[Scrumhead]

Not sure I’d hype that up as our best crop ever ...

A couple of years ago we had Boyce, Singleton and Stuart in the front row and Willis, Evans and Mercer/Chick in the back row. In the backs we had Malins, Mallinder, Williams and Ibitoye. Looks much better to me.

[fivepointer]

Its a bit of hype from Shaw, but in his defence he does follow this level of rugby closely and does have a good insight into the players.
There are some obvious stars in the making - Smith, Redpath, Lawrence, Hill, Kpoku, Heyes, Willis - plus a number of lads who have real potential.
I doubt we'll see anything like our best team in the 6N's so might have to wait until the JWC to really see what this group can do.

[Stom]

Not sure I’d hype that up as our best crop ever ...

A couple of years ago we had Boyce, Singleton and Stuart in the front row and Willis, Evans and Mercer/Chick in the back row. In the backs we had Malins, Mallinder, Williams and Ibitoye. Looks much better to me.

While that's true, how many of those players had had decent exposure to senior rugby at that stage? We can look back and say how good Singleton, Stuart, etc. are, but at that stage...potential.

Whereas this time, Maunder jr., Smith, Redpath, Lawrence, Hill, Heyes...they all have senior experience and some of them have a lot of senior experience.

[jimKRFC]

On the subject of Cam Redpath, Smiths Industeries have just had a lad start playing for them that was always more highly rated than Redpath. He's had a few years out but will be interesting to see if he catch back up.

[Raggs]

Not sure I’d hype that up as our best crop ever ...

A couple of years ago we had Boyce, Singleton and Stuart in the front row and Willis, Evans and Mercer/Chick in the back row. In the backs we had Malins, Mallinder, Williams and Ibitoye. Looks much better to me.

While that's true, how many of those players had had decent exposure to senior rugby at that stage? We can look back and say how good Singleton, Stuart, etc. are, but at that stage...potential.

Whereas this time, Maunder jr., Smith, Redpath, Lawrence, Hill, Heyes...they all have senior experience and some of them have a lot of senior experience.

There's a lot of decent guys there. Streeter obviously, Barbaery is hugely rated, Willis Jr (Willis snr didn't do much at u20s), Kpoku, Smith, Lawrence, etcetc

[Timbo]

Looks a bloody good crop to me. Any u20 pack that has Heyes, Kpoku, Willis and Hil in it will dominate at that level. Haven’t seen a lot of Redpath, but supposedly a generational type talent. Smith-Redpath-Lawrence could be a ridiculous midfield.

I do wonder though, knowing Eddie, if a few of these guys will be in the World Cup camp instead of with the 20’s.

[Tigersman]

Thought Smith would dominate at U20’s last year but he was pretty disappointing I thought.

Hard to predict how players will perform at this age group, especially when it’s a step down from the Prem.

[Raggs]

Smith probably doesn't get to spend much time with the u20s though, and 10 is a position where familiarity really counts.

[Timbo]

Got to keep it in context, though. Smith had an iffy final while England were getting beaten up in the scrum, but overall was still one of the best 10’s in the competition. And he was a year young last season.

[Tigersman]

Every year seems to be best crop ever wonder what is the current best crop suspect a lot of that is down to more tv exposure etc? 2010 and 2011 would be tough to beat as a group.

[twitchy]

I wouldn't get hung up on the headline. I just posted it because of the actual extra info on each player.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Every year seems to be best crop ever wonder what is the current best crop suspect a lot of that is down to more tv exposure etc? 2010 and 2011 would be tough to beat as a group.

2011 is the year to beat, which has been shown by the number of internationals to come out of that year group. That was an exceptional year. This group does look bloody good and could well push them close. The nice thing this year is the whole squad looks strong, or rather options available, as do peripheral players, and there are a number of true standouts talent wise.

[Raggs]

It took a fair few years for all the likely internationals to come through though.

[Epaminondas Pules]

It took a fair few years for all the likely internationals to come through though.

Depends which ones really. Some took longer to break in (Daly) others very early (Farrell, Mako, Ford, JJ etc.).And you have to factor in additions like Manu and Billy who both played in the 2011 team throughout age groups. Billy two years early, but played 16/18/20 with this age group and then again with his own age group.

[Scrumhead]

After a pretty miserable summer for English rugby, I’m looking forward to a new Premiership season.

I’m looking forward to seeing more of these guys making a breakthrough or building on some early promise from last season.

1. Lewis Boyce - Harlequins

Auterac’s arrival might push Boyce down the pecking order at Quins, but he showed more than enough last season to suggest he could be Marler’s successor in the medium to long term.

2. Jack Walker - Bath

Walker has been rated very highly through the age grades and while injury curtailed his debut season in the Premiership, but I’d expect to see him kick on in 18/19 and challenge Tom Dunn for the 2 shirt at Bath.

3. Will Stuart - Wasps

Completing a front row of U20 World Cup winners, I think this could be the year for Stuart to make his breakthrough. He looked decent when given the chance last season and while Kieran Brookes’ arrival provides more competition at tighthead, I’m backing him to see more first team action in 18/19.

4. Joel Kpoku - Saracens

After an impressive U20 World Cup, Kpoku looks like he’s ready to follow in Itoje and Isiekwe’s footsteps. 18/19 is probably a little soon for a Premiership breakthrough but cup action is definitely a good possibility.

5. Alex Dombrandt - Harlequins

Dombrandt is a virtual unknown but starred for Wales at U20 level (qualifying by attending a Welsh uni). He’s a big, ball carrying lock who can also cover the back row and in a Quins side lacking depth, I think he has a great chance of first team action.

6. Ted Hill - Worcester

Hill has a very good chance of making a breakthrough following a very good U20 World Cup. Worcester have shown real faith in bringing through their academy products and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hill follow int the footsteps of players like Singleton and Shillcock.

7. Josh Bayliss - Bath

Arguably Bayliss had his breakthrough last season, but I’m looking forward to seeing him build on some promising performances. He’s probably more of a 6.5 than a 7, but is an industrious back rower who gets stuck-in both in defence and attack. With Louw and Underhill likely to be away on international duty (and with both being injury prone), I’d expect to see more of Bayliss in the first team.

8. Ben Earl - Saracens

Earl might have been better off captaining the U20 side, but his call up to he senior squad for the SA tour is a measure of how highly regarded he is. He’s probably more of a 7 at senior level and his pace and support play should see him make a difference to Saracens in 18/19.

9. Harry Randall - Bristol

Hard to say how much time Randall will get in what is likely to be a tough season for Bristol and his lack of size will probably count against him, but I think he has the talent to surprise people if given he chance.

10. Joe Simmonds - Exeter

Simmonds seemed to overhaul Steenson as Exeter’s first choice 10 at the end of the season and I’m excited to see what he can do with an extended run.

11. Gabriel Ibitoye - Harlequins

After a couple of seasons of looking electric at age grade level, it’s time for Ibitoye to make a breakthrough at senior level. Like Christian Wade, his size is likely to be considered a drawback, but he’s definitely bulked-up and with Quins looking relatively thin on the ground in the back three, he will definitely see more game time.

12. Cam Redpath - Sale

Good enough to interest Eddie Jones before dropping out of the SA tour through injury and has impressed on his senior appearances in the LV Cup. Good enough for a England to step in ahead of Scotland and definitely one to watch.

13. Ollie Lawrence - Worcester

Already on Eddie Jones’ radar and with LV Cup tries already under his belt, Lawrence looks like a hugely exciting player at 13. With pace, power, a good step and an offloading game, he’s got all the ingredients to be the next big thing.

14. Adam Radwan - Newcastle

After some excellent performances in the LV and Challenge Cup, 18/19 could be Radwan’s year to breakthrough in the Premiership. Unbelievable pace and great feet could see him become a successor to Newcastle’s excellent but ageing wingers.

15. Max Malins - Saracens

After some great, try-scoring cameos last season, surely this is the season for Malins to make his mark in the Premiership. He has way too much talent to be wasting away in the reserves and although he (reportedly) prefers playing at 10, the presence of Farrell and Lozowski is likely to mean that he is perhaps more likely to provide an alternative to Goode as a playmaking second receiver.

Honourable mentions:

Ehren Painter - Northampton
Josh Basham - Newcastle
Tom Willis - Wasps
Will Butler - Worcester
Luke James - Sale
Matt Worley - Northampton

This group is doing pretty well so far ... well the forwards definitely are. Dombrandt and Hill definitely look like they're going to compete for positions in England's back row in years to come and Stuart, Kpoku and Earl are looking good.

Yesterday looked as though it could have been Ibitoye's breakthrough game and I think he'll see more and more game time between now and the end of the season. Redpath and Walker should come good after their injuries.

It's a shame that Lawrence's game time will be likely limited by Worcester's relegation fight.