Ahead of this year’s eagerly anticipated Rugby Championship, we discuss some of the up-and-coming players who could make an impact for their nations during the tournament.
With plenty at stake, these players will be in the spotlight for various reasons and look destined to shine at the highest level.
Edwill van der Merwe (South Africa)
The Sharks-bound speedster shone on his Springboks debut against Wales last June but had to wait more than 12 months for his next appearance in the international arena after injury kept him on the sidelines for the rest of the world champions’ 2024 Test campaign. Van der Merwe made his Springboks return during their second Test against Italy in Gqeberha in July and was one of the star performers as he scored a brace of tries in that clash.
That meant he had claimed three tries in two Test appearances and he followed that up by crossing for another two tries in South Africa’s next Test, against Georgia in Nelspruit. The 29-year-old’s impressive form has resulted in him being named in the Boks’ starting line-up for their Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg on Saturday and the excitement machine will be keen to continue with his try-scoring heroics.
Asenathi Ntlabakanye (South Africa)
The behemoth tighthead prop is highly rated in South Africa and after he was called up to Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus’ squad, he delivered a solid performance in their one-sided victory over the Barbarians in Cape Town earlier this year. Following that display, it was only a matter of time before Ntlabakanye would make his Test debut and that dream was realised when he came on as a replacement against Italy in Gqeberha.
The 26-year-old caught the eye with another fine display as he shone in the execution of his core duties with his scrummaging particularly impressive. Much has been said and written about his weight but after initially topping 158 kilograms, Ntlabakanye shed 18kgs following some intensive training sessions with Springboks scrum coach Daan Human on his farm in Bloemfontein. The leaner and fitter Ntlabakanye will be keen to make an impact in the Rugby Championship.
Du’Plessis Kirifi (New Zealand)
After showing his class with several brilliant displays for the Hurricanes at Super Rugby level, the 28-year-old was eventually rewarded with a call-up to the All Blacks squad for last month’s series against France in New Zealand. The openside flanker was one of the most exciting players in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition and apart from being a menace at the breakdowns, he added several other strings to his bow which resulted in All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson adding him to his squad.
Kirifi’s defensive work was especially outstanding and it was not surprising when he finished Super Rugby Pacific’s regular season atop the charts for tackles won with 220 dominant hits made. That saw him being involved in all three Tests against France and after coming off the replacements bench in the first two encounters against Les Bleus, he made his first start in the third encounter in Hamilton and crossed for his first try as the All Blacks notched a 29-19 win. That excellent showing has been rewarded as he retained his spot in Robertson’s run-on side for New Zealand’s Rugby Championship opener with Argentina in Cordoba.
Fabian Holland (New Zealand)
The Dutch-born second-row made his mark with numerous excellent performances in a struggling Highlanders side in Super Rugby Pacific this year and his superb form was rewarded with a deserved call-up to the All Blacks side. Holland is 2.04 metres tall and weighs over 120 kilograms, which makes him an imposing figure who shines in the lineouts, as a ball carrier and on defence.
His excellence in that latter category was evident at Super Rugby Pacific level this year as he finished the season with the second most tackles won (204) in the competition. He subsequently started in all three of New Zealand’s Tests against France in July and despite making his Test debut in the first clash in Dunedin, the 22-year-old enforcer made 80-minute performances in each of those encounters against Les Bleus. All Blacks fans will be hoping he continues with his fine form in the Rugby Championship.
Max Jorgensen (Australia)
He is just 20 years old but Jorgensen is firmly entrenched in the Wallabies‘ starting line-up as their first choice right wing after several superb performances in the international arena since making his Test debut against the Springboks in last year’s Rugby Championship. Since then, the flyer has had several memorable moments for his country with the first of those being his match-winning try in Australia’s 42–37 victory over England during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Jorgensen continued with his excellent form during the Wallabies’ recent 2-1 series loss to the Lions and scored important tries for his side in the defeat to the famous touring team in Brisbane in the first Test and in their victory in the third Test in Sydney. He also caught the eye with an impressive all-round display in the second Test in Melbourne and will be a vital cog in the Wallabies machine during the Rugby Championship.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Australia)
Another player who will be crucial to the Wallabies cause is former rugby league sensation Suaalii, who has made an easy transition from the 13-a-side code since making the switch at the end of last year. A former Australia U18s representative, Suaalii made the move to the NRL when he started his senior career but returned to rugby union after signing a deal with Rugby Australia and the Waratahs.
Since then, he was included in Australia’s 2024 end-of-year touring squad in 2024 and made his debut for the Wallabies before even playing for the Waratahs. Despite that, he made an immediate impact at Test level when he was awarded the player-of-the-match award in his debut in that memorable triumph over England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. He continued to deliver impressive performances for Australia in their recent series against the Lions and will be expected to be one of his side’s leaders on attack in the Rugby Championship.
Simón Benítez Cruz (Argentina)
The Los Pumas scrum-half is an exciting prospect who has recently signed to join Premiership outfit Newcastle Red Bulls and despite only making his Test debut in Argentina’s victory over the Lions in Dublin earlier this year, he is highly rated in his country. He came off the bench in that encounter and caught the eye with is excellent attacking ability.
A former Argentina sevens representative, the 25-year-old also featured for his country in their recent two-match series against England on home soil and although Los Pumas lost both those Tests, he gave a good account of himself. Apart from shining with ball in hand, he also has an accurate passing game while his box-kicking and defensive work is also of a high standard. He will be determined to shows his class for Los Pumas in this Rugby Championship.