International Rugby is now just one test match away from the curtain call on the 2024 season.
What did we learn in this post-World Cup year? Well, first and foremost, Rugby is in about as healthy a position as it has ever been. Scanning through the World Rankings, just about any team inside the top eight could beat each other on a given day. Behind this group, the action is equally competitive from the eighth position through to the twentieth.
Taking the sport to the next level are a new breed of athletes who are the elite of the elite, capable of excelling across a multitude of sporting codes. Adding a level of intrigue to this group is their age profile, with many of the top names in the game under the age of twenty-five.
This wave of talent got us thinking about which players could be dominant figures over the next two World Cup cycles, including Australia in 2027 and the USA in 2031. With this in mind we have put together our squad of 33 players that would be our ultimate ‘young guns World Cup squad’.
For this exercise, we are using the following criteria:
1. Mirco Spagnolo – Italy
Italy’s loosehead sensation has long been touted as star of the world game and his form for club Benetton and the Azzurri has been exceptional. Dominant at scrum time and uber athletic around the park, Spagnolo is central to Italy’s all court attacking gameplan.
2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – South Africa
In a world of Bongis and Malcolms, Jan-Hendrik has emerged as a front-runner to be the Boks’ first choice number two over the coming years. Given both of the World Cup winners are on the wrong side of thirty, Wessels feels likely to become the chief contender to Malcolm Marx (3). Given Bongi Mbonambi (33) is in the twilight of his career, the 120kg, 23-year-old Wessels is a special prospect who covers both loosehead and hooker.
3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour – England
England’s next great tighthead, mark it down. The Sale Sharks youngster garnered headlines for all of the right reasons last season as they took the fight to several veteran front-rankers in the Premiership. Making his debut against Japan this November, Opoku-Fordjour took the first step on what has all of the makings of a long and fruitful career.
4. Joe McCarthy – Ireland
Big Joe has become a big-time operator for both Leinster and Ireland. Somehow, still only 23-years-old, McCarthy is already among the undroppable players in Andy Farrell’s squad. An absolute mongrel in the best way, McCarthy physically dominates opponents in every facet of the game, making him a true game-changing talent.
5. George Martin – England
England’s answer to McCarthy, the Leicester Tigers, is an enforcer of note. Bringing a relentless work rate, set piece excellence and a strong ball-carrying ability, the 23-year-old is a genuine contender for a spot on next year’s British and Irish Lions tour.
6. Wallace Sititi – New Zealand
2024’s Breakthrough Player Of the Year is a scarily good prospect who, despite his age and lack of experience, appears to be a fully formed test star. Linking with Ardie Savea in the All Blacks backrow, Sititi’s USP is his ability to break tackles and offload. This, combined with Savea’s pace and carrying ability, gives the All Blacks two lethal attacking options in the pack.
7. Chandler Cunningham-South – England
Shifting from six to seven for our team, the Harlequins man was one of the English players who firmly enhanced their reputation in 2024. Brilliantly physical, a line-out threat and a breakaway threat in attack, Cunningham-South has picked up where Courtney Lawes left off for the English.
8. Joaquín Oviedo – Argentina
Cementing his place in Los Pumas backrow, the number eight is eerily similar to iconic Sergio Parisse as a silky smooth playmaking number eight. Combining this with a physical edge, Oviedo has become one of Argentina’s go-to attacking weapons under Felipe Contepomi.
9. Nolann le Gerrac – France
Plying his trade behind one of the best players in the world, the French national team Antoine Dupont, the Racing 92 scrumhalf is a truly special talent in his own right. Still just 22 years old, Le Gerrac is a turn-of-pace style scrumhalf who is the perfect impact sub to expose a tiring defender. Away from this, le Gerrac is exceptionally solid in his general scrumhalf play with a pinpoint pass and long-range box-kicking game.
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu – South Africa
Taking the rugby world by storm back in July, the DHL Stormers playmaker has all the makings of an iconic Springbok. Bringing the physical edge, composure and kicking ability of Handre Pollard and the creativity and skills of Manie Libbok, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the ultimate option for the Boks in the ten shirt.
11. Canan Moodie – South Africa
Strangely, one of South Africa’s forgotten men in 2024, Moodie endured a mixed season with injuries, a slight dip in form, and some magnificent moments that reminded the world of what he was capable of. Ultimately, we feel his best position is outside centre, but he has also proven to be an exceptional winger. At 6’3″, the rangy winger fits perfectly as an aerial threat in the new World Rugby laws.
12. Tommaso Menoncello – Italy
One of Italy’s new generation of exceptional backs, the physical centre directly approaches the expansive Azzurri attack. Possessing a strong offloading and passing game, the Benetton man has become a real focal point in his team’s attack over the past twenty-four months. On the other side of the ball, he is a big-time hitter who makes momentum-stunting tackles.
13. Joseph Sua’ali’i i – Australia
Australian Rugby’s marquee signing has already proven that he is worth every penny they have spent on getting him away from Rugby League. Taking the world by storm on his debut against England, the former Sydney Rooster was exceptional as the Wallabies claimed the signature win of the Joe Schmidt era.
14. Louis Bielle-Biarrey – France
Quite possibly France’s best winger which is saying something given the quality of wide men available to Fabian Galthie. Combining blistering pace with off the charts rugby intelligence, Bielle-Biarrey has been a stand-out for Les Bleus since making his debut in 2023.
15. Jamie Osborne – Ireland
Nominated for World Breakthrough Player Of The Year, the Leinster and Ireland utility back has become a firm favourite for Andy Farrell this year. Equally adept in the centres as he is at fullback, Osborne will likely be a key starter for Ireland this time next year. The 6’4″ utility back possesses a huge left boot, a strong offloading game and exceptional aerial work, making him the perfect fit for the new World Rugby kick chase laws.
16. Ignacio Ruiz – Argentina
17. Fin Baxter – England
18. Tevita Tatafu – France
19. Max Williamson – Scotland
20. Peter Lakai – New Zealand
21. Cortez Ratima – New Zealand
22. Sam Prendergast – Ireland
23. Tommy Freeman – England
Squad players: Gus McCarthy – Ireland (hooker), Jack Boyle – Ireland (prop), Archie Griffin – Wales (prop), Mickaël Guillard – France (lock), Lorenzo Cannone – Italy (backrow), Cameron Hanekom – South Africa (backrow), Jamie Dobie – Scotland (scrumhalf), Jordan Hendrikse – South Africa (flyhalf), Léo Barré – France (utility back), Max Jorgensen – Australia (utility back)
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
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