Age 23 (19.11.95) Position Scrum-half
The word ‘livewire’ perfectly describes
this rising star, who played a pivotal role
in Samoa securing a spot at RWC 2019
with four tries in the two-legged play-off
against Germany. He brings real tempo
to Samoa’s attack and has progressed
from local rugby in Samoa to earning a
pro contract with Otago last year. Look
out for this bright spark at the World Cup.Age 29 (7.2.90) Position Scrum-half
King of the interception, he finished the
Premiership’s regular season joint-top of
the try chart with 12. “The way we defend
gives me a lot of time at the back of the
lineout to go for it,” says the Saints No 9.
Once he’s picked off a pass, don’t
bother chasing – he is lightning. Three
Test starts is scant reward for his talent.
Inside the Mind: P29Age 22 (13.2.97) Position Wing
The Fijian has made the most of his
rugby lifeline at the Crusaders after
his Connacht deal was torn up due
to a court appearance for domestic
assault. His superb finishing has set
Super Rugby alight this year, rapidly
propelling him into the All Blacks
frame. Loves a chip-and-chase.Age 25 (15.3.94) Position Lock
You get the feeling Lambey could get
the Dalai Lama to snap. The Lyon
lock insinuates himself in physical
confrontations, perhaps because so
much attention in France falls on the
fact he is not enormous. What he
does also possess, though, are some
sublime hands. A very modern lock.Age 28 (8.5.91) Position Back-row
So rough had his injury history been that
some may have forgotten that Coetzee
was at Ulster. But last term he was at his
confrontational best, thundering into
collisions with trademark ferocity and
getting Ulster’s Pro14 play-off hopes on
the front foot. Such has been his form
that many will be surprised if he doesn’t
earn a Springboks recall for RWC 2019.Age 30 (22.6.88) Position Back-row
The only player from the Ireland XV that
beat NZ at the 2014 Women’s World Cup
who was a regular Six Nations starter in- Yet the Wasps openside’s longevity
isn’t her greatest strength; she’s the best
in the game at getting over the ball, a
tough defender and brilliant link player.
On top of her rugby commitments, she
has a high-pressure job as a doctor.
Age 37 (21.5.82) Position Centre
In the first half of the Blues versus
Highlanders Super Rugby clash this
year, Nonu caught a ball going right to
left, flashed a dummy, turned on the
burners for an outside break, drew a
two-on-one and put away flanker Tom
Robinson for a try. At the age of 36.
Much has been made of how
ineffectual the centre was during his
time at Toulon. But since his return to
New Zealand this year he has caught
plenty of headlines. His jet-heeled
Blues team-mate Rieko Ioane recentlysaid: “If the All Blacks team was
picked today, based on form, he’d be
in. He just brings so much experience,
and different skill-sets than what
we’re used to. His game would
only lift being in that black jersey.”
When Nonu was winning his second
World Cup in 2015, we came to realise
that he has skills we never gave him
credit for when he was younger: long
passes, deft kicks, vision. In the winter
of his career you have to marvel at
how much these abilities still stand
out amongst far younger athletes.100 MELANI MATAVAO
96 COBUS REINACH
99 SEVU REECE
95 FÉLIX LAMBEY
98 MARCELL COETZEE
94 CLAIRE MOLLOY
91007286797 MA’A NONU
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