World Cup 2015 Players to Watch

[simonokeeffe]

Not looking for some Joe.ie bit of fluffery naming super obvious ones like POC, Savea, Folau
Looking for more interesting ones, Tier 2 players, guys who could be standout players of tournament but not expected, guys who could have an unheralded big impact

Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) we know he's good but am tipping him for one of the players of the tournament (somebody has to be second after they give it to McCaw anyway)

Scott Sio (Australia) Welsh and Poms were planning on demolishing the Aussie scrum, Sio stops that theyre in trouble (Skelton not starting will help that)

Scott Williams (Wales)

Josh Strauss (Scotlafrica)

Vavae Tuilagi (Samoa) no8 & youngest clan member, just broke into Samoa team

Ben VolaVola (Fiji) lots of talented backs outside him, he controls it from outhalf then Wales's midweek team especially could be in trouble

Juan Pablo Socino (Argentina) was superb at 12 in a fairly poor Pumas team

will come back to Boks later but leaning towards Kriel or De Allende

[hugonaut]

I did a series of pieces similar to this for the last world cup on the DM blog. Should have titled it 'Kiss of Death', most of the players I picked out ended up playing pretty bloody ordinary.

Joe Tuineau [Tonga]
Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga [Argentina]
Richie Gray [Scotland]
Joe Tekori [Samoa]
Conor Murray [Ireland]
Patrick Lambie [South Africa]
Mamuka Gorgodze [Georgia]
Naps Nalaga [Fiji]
Pat McCabe [Australia]
Manu Tuilagi [England]
Israel Dagg [New Zealand]

[source: http://dementedmole.com/category/rwc-2011/one-to-watch/ ]

[simonokeeffe]

I did a series of pieces similar to this for the last world cup on the DM blog. Should have titled it 'Kiss of Death', most of the players I picked out ended up playing pretty bloody ordinary.

Joe Tuineau [Tonga]
Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga [Argentina]
Richie Gray [Scotland]
Joe Tekori [Samoa]
Conor Murray [Ireland]
Patrick Lambie [South Africa]
Mamuka Gorgodze [Georgia]
Naps Nalaga [Fiji]
Pat McCabe [Australia]
Manu Tuilagi [England]
Israel Dagg [New Zealand]

[source: http://dementedmole.com/category/rwc-2011/one-to-watch/ ]

Tuilagi do anything non ferry related?

[Ruckedtobits]

Not quite a direct follow-on to the tread title but having seen Kirchner selected today to follow Douglas last week, just wondering if any other Club - Province in the world will supply more players to RWC 2015. I reckon it could be as many as 19:

R Kearney, Z KIRCHNER,
D Kearney, L Fitzgerald
I Madigan
J Sexton, E Reddan, I Boss
C Healy, J McGrath, M Ross, M Moore, M Bent
S Cronin, R Strauss
D Toner, K DOUGLAS
SO'Brien, J Heaslip

I understand that strictly KD is no longer Leinster but a reasonable claim for this record.

[matt]

Not quite a direct follow-on to the tread title but having seen Kirchner selected today to follow Douglas last week, just wondering if any other Club - Province in the world will supply more players to RWC 2015. I reckon it could be as many as 19:

R Kearney, Z KIRCHNER,
D Kearney, L Fitzgerald
I Madigan
J Sexton, E Reddan, I Boss
C Healy, J McGrath, M Ross, M Moore, M Bent
S Cronin, R Strauss
D Toner, K DOUGLAS
SO'Brien, J Heaslip

I understand that strictly KD is no longer Leinster but a reasonable claim for this record.

What about Jordi Murphy. There is also a chance for Furlong & Mc Fadden & Conan is only an injury away.

[All Blacks nil]

Kane Douglas
Might vindicate the Leinster recruitment chiefs after all.
They couldn't be that wrong

[Peg Leg]

Kane Douglas
Might vindicate the Leinster recruitment chiefs after all.
They couldn't be that wrong

Yeah, hoping the rwc does the same for Conway and munster

[simonokeeffe]

Glasgow have about 24/25 going, most to Scotland but also to Fiji, USA, Tonga, and Italy

Toulon on about 17, same with Saracens

[Oldschool]

I did a series of pieces similar to this for the last world cup on the DM blog. Should have titled it 'Kiss of Death', most of the players I picked out ended up playing pretty bloody ordinary.

Joe Tuineau [Tonga]
Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga [Argentina]
Richie Gray [Scotland]
Joe Tekori [Samoa]

Patrick Lambie [South Africa]
Mamuka Gorgodze [Georgia]
Naps Nalaga [Fiji]
Pat McCabe [Australia]
Manu Tuilagi [England]
Israel Dagg [New Zealand]

[source: http://dementedmole.com/category/rwc-2011/one-to-watch/ ]

Please edit your post asap and remove the Irish player in it.

[Oldschool]

Can Joe Schmidt be regarded as a "player"?

[StrangeButBlue]

Nayacalevu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ooyU8j8Rd0

[kermischocolate]

Glasgow have about 24/25 going, most to Scotland but also to Fiji, USA, Tonga, and Italy

Toulon on about 17, same with Saracens

Favaro's not going.

Not entirely sure why it's taking the SRU so long to announce the squad.

In terms of players to watch I hope England, Wales and Australia get so caught up with themselves they take their eye off the ball and Fiji cause an upset. Helped by the FijiWeegies, naturally.

And never mind Richie the showpony, Johnny Gray is absolutely outstanding- best player Scotland have produced in a long time imo.

[wixfjord]

Milner Skudder, Nadolo, Naholo and Kriel for me. Can't wait to see Nehe in particular.