PLAYERS WHO WE BELIEVE WILL STORM THE COMPETITION
01 Patrick Tuipulotu [Blues]
This is essentially a law of probabilities prediction. Every year since 2015 we have predicted great things from Patrick T.
And we await. But we feel we have to hang in there with this prediction as the big man is essentially playing for a place in the All Blacks World Cup squad.
He missed out on the 2015 World Cup due to injury and it has been a struggle for him ever since to recover his best form.
But he was getting there at the end of 2018 and showing real power in the way he carried the ball. The All Blacks love that side of his game and if he can deliver more evidence of it in Super Rugby they will probably opt to take him to Japan at the expense of a sixth loose forward.
That seems like ample motivation.
02 Mitch Karpik [Chiefs]
This young openside is a livewire and will impress if he can string a run of games together.
Which may happen this year as Sam Cane is unlikely to be playing much before June as he recovers from a broken neck.
Karpik is quick, brave and a useful link man and turnover expert. If the Chiefs can generate the pace and width they want, keep an eye on this guy.
03 Jordie Barrett [Hurricanes]
Let’s just call it second season syndrome for convenience sake – because there is no denying Jordie Barrett didn’t have a great time in 2018 after wowing us all in 2017.
But we forget he’s so young and also that he’s actually really quite good, too. He will have learned a lot in 2018 and developed character and resilience that should enable him to storm back in 2019 and remind us all that he is a player with a wide range of skills and the ability to thrive at a World Cup.
04 Jordan Taufua [Crusaders]
What can you say to this poor guy? He was picked by the All Blacks in June last year and would have been capped but for injury.
He would have been recalled to the squad in October but for injury and in his absence Shannon Frizell, Vaea Fiifta and Jackson Hemopo all made big strides.
So motivation won’t be lacking for the Crusaders loose forward and he’ll know the World Cup door is still open if he can show the same energy and drive with ball in hand and on defence as he did last year before he was injured.
05 Marty Banks [Highlanders]
The man who can’t stay away from the Highlanders will prove why he’s such a high value proposition.
He doesn’t seem to feel pressure and that is critical. We suspect that the Highlanders will turn to Banks more than they imagine as his brand of accurate, tactically smart football will be what they need.
He also kicks his goals and the Highlanders are a classic build the pressure team and Banks fits their needs perfectly.