timeThere is still one final round left in the 2024 Six Nations, but a surprising trend is already evident. Across all teams, a new wave of impressive young talent is emerging. While there’s always a place for cauliflower experience at the highest level, it’s rare for so many new faces to have such a consistent impact on this grand old event.
The 21-year-old was the centerpiece of France’s clash in Cardiff on Sunday man of the match Nolann Le Garrec’s stunning reverse Hail Mary pass was deservedly Delight social media users People from outside rugby’s traditional audience. Then there’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, also 21, who impressed on his first start for England after missing training the previous week to undergo a medical. If his bedside manner matches his attacking instincts, the future of the NHS is in safe hands.
In Italy it was impossible to miss the positive contributions of fellow 21-year-olds Tommaso Menoncello and Ross Vintcent. Menoncello has returned from injury to prove himself one of the continent’s most promising young defenders; Vincent was delivering pizzas at Exeter a few weeks ago and was named for Saturday’s famous game against Scotland key people.
Ireland’s 22-year-old Joe McCarthy was sweeping everything until he bumped into England’s George Martin, also 22, at Twickenham. France haven’t had the smoothest tournament, but in addition to Le Garec, they have a group of fast-rising prospects including center Nicolas de Portel and second-row Posolo Toui. Raj. Wales’ Cameron Winnett has made a very positive start to his Test career, Dafydd Jenkins captains the country at 21 and Mason Grady (Mason Grady) has the potential to be a long-term Test regular.
We haven’t even mentioned Leo Barre, Louis Biale-Biare, Wales’ Alex Mann, England’s Chandler Cunningham-South or Scotland’s Harry Patterson. The Six Nations after the World Cup is always a potential opportunity to retire one or two of the older players and potential replacements who are no longer holding tackle bags or spending nervous minutes on the bench.
Part of this is a product of rugby’s growth: academy players now train more regularly with their seniors at club level, age-group World Cups fast-track their development, and increased game time makes them physically fitter and younger. body of. It is also helpful to lead a professional life from mid to late adolescence when they need to deal with the highest levels of spiritual needs.
So, if this year’s Shooting Star Award was given out to contestants under the age of 23, who would be on the podium? It’s Le Garec, of course, who will face England in Lyon this Saturday, but he has enough talent to cope. Even Antoine Dupont, who is now dazzling the rugby sevens scene, would have loved that big pass against Wales, delivered by a man who clearly had no fear of failure. And the players who were inhibited passed on.
Legarec was equally astonishing when he scooped the ball off the deck with one hand while running at full speed, demonstrating the hand-eye coordination of a polo player. He was also quick enough to fake out on crucial attempts, and the biggest threat to his health came from his teammates on the bench, who took turns slapping him on the head, fully aware that the television cameras were watching, following the announcement of his Man of the match award.
Dupont will return once his Olympic adventure is over but Le Garrec, who grew up in Brittany, will form the club’s centre-back partnership with Owen Farrell next season for Racing 92 , is clearly a major talent on the rise. His lightning-quick aim for the try, scoring a hat-trick in the last 14 against Oyonax just before Christmas, has drawn comparisons to a young Dupont for some time.
It’s no coincidence that Italy’s form has improved since Menoncello returned to fitness. He missed the World Cup last August after injuring his biceps in a warm-up game against Ireland, but he has re-emerged this spring as a player with huge potential who can play as a center forward or winger. Two years ago, aged just 19, he made his debut against France in Paris and became the youngest World Cup goalscorer in 55 years.
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This weekend’s wooden spoon decider against Wales provides him with another opportunity to showcase his ability, just as France’s clash with England will further test the pedigree of Martin and Fay Waboso. The latter’s late try against Scotland and his threat with the ball against Ireland highlighted his ability, convincing Steve Borthwick to select him first, much to the dismay of Wales supporters who had hoped for this The Cardiff-born winger will eventually don the red shirt. jersey instead.
If England do manage to beat France this weekend, though, Martin could become the player most envied by all the other European nations. The Leicester star has all the physical tools to be the “new Martin Johnson”, or at least something close to that improbable description, and England’s two best recent performances (against Ireland at the weekend and South Africa at the World Cup) have surpassed It feels more and more meaningful. In the semi-finals, both sides coincided with the giant Martin starting in the second row. Roaring like a British lion again in Lyon on Saturday night, Boy George will truly become a big star.
