Six of the best – the stars I cannot wait to watch
Tom Curry
Still only 21, Curry’s rise has been so meteoric he has become without question one of England’s most important players. Witness his performance in the semi-final of the recent World Cup. Devastating. The frightening thing is Curry (left) is still improving. His versatility is a huge positive for England; he gives head coach Eddie Jones options, which is what he needs.
Darcy Graham
Finn Russell’s absence is not the only one which Scotland are going to feel against Ireland today. Darcy Graham offers something completely different in the back line. He can set attacks off from nothing; he nearly always beats the first man; he runs incredible support lines; one on one he is brilliant. I am a huge fan of his. I hope he can return to have an impact on this tournament because I think Scotland are much better for him being in the team.
Romain Ntamack
Fabien Galthie has made some big calls with his selection; nowhere more so than at half-back. The decision to jettison Maxime Machenaud and Camille Lopez and put his faith in Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack (below) is a statement of intent. I cannot wait to see them. Ntamack is callow, still just 20, but he can do the lot; great hands, vision and has a line-break in him.
Jake Polledri
Franco Smith is going to need players to stand up and be counted with Sergio Parisse exiting stage left. Polledri has to be right at the centre of the new era. His profile is right; he is the right age at 24, he plays with Gloucester so he will be used to playing these guys every week. He is such a dynamic ball-carrier, he hits rucks, he can get over the gain line, hit shoulders. He can be Italy’s new talisman.
Louis Rees-zammit
The hype over Rees-zammit has been pretty intense, but you can understand why. The 18-year-old Gloucester wing (right) has the searing pace and finishing which gets fans off their seats. Wayne Pivac must have been tempted to throw him straight into the starting line-up against Italy in Cardiff today, but has held off for now. When he does appear, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Josh Adams should help him to settle in.
Josh van der Flier
I think Van der Flier will be a really important player for Andy Farrell’s new-look Ireland. With Dan Leavy still out injured, he is really the only specialist openside in the squad. I really like his game; he is fast, committed, and has great hands. When you look at some of Ireland’s other back-row options – Peter O’mahony, CJ Stander – they are very one-paced.