The fifteen best young players in Super Rugby 2014

Every year Super Rugby reveals a crop of promising players and by the halfway mark of the 2014 tournament more gems have been discovered.

Here is a list of young Super Rugby players who are on the rise. I have excluded those whose promise has already been confirmed by playing in test matches, and those over 21 years of age (excepting the props, who mature late, and the scrumhalf, because there was no younger candidate.)

The players are 21 years old, unless mentioned otherwise.

The back three

15. Tevita Li (Blues)

When the stocky 19-year-old was at Massey High School last year he played for the Blues against the touring France side in a one-off, mid-week match during the Super Rugby break. That was after the fullback/wing had played three years in the First XV and averaged two tries per game.

He has since played for North Harbour in the ITM Cup and for the NZ Sevens. This year he has started in four Super Rugby matches and got a good reward in his first starting game.

Tevita Li try – Round 3  –  Blues v. Crusaders

He is still raw, especially in custodial duties, but his ability to either power over defenders near the corner flag or to elude them with his pace, balance and all-round skills, makes him an exciting prospect in professional rugby. He is said to have a good work ethic and to be able to kick goals from halfway, also.

He will be wearing the black jersey with the silver fern this year—but for the New Zealand Under 20s. If his progress is maintained the explosive youngster should get the senior version of the jersey before too long.

14. James Lowe (Chiefs)

The big winger/fullback was dynamite for Tasman in the ITM Cup last year and made a sensational entrance in 2014 Super Rugby in Round 2 against the Crusaders.

He replaced the injured Mils Muliaina before the break and in the 79th minute he intercepted a pass which threatened to seal the win for the Crusaders, but he scooted 70 metres with the ball to the other end to win the game for the Chiefs.

James Lowe try – Round 2 – Crusaders v Chiefs

Now trimmed down to a mean 99 kgs in a professional environment the power runner is soaking everything up.

Injury has curtailed his playing time but he is back on the bench this week and the Brumbies had better beware of making dodgy passes late in the game.

11. Raymond Rhule (Cheetahs)

Rhule was born in Ghana and his family moved to South Africa when he was six years old.

He was chosen in the 2012 Baby Bok Under 20s team and scored two brilliant tries against Argentina in the semi to get the home team into the final, which they won. Later in the year he played for the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup and ended up being the top try scorer and being voted best player by his team mates.

On the strength of that he was taken on the 2012 Springboks end of year tour as part of his development, but did not play in a test match.

Rhule is struggling to find full form in a stuttering 2014 Cheetahs team, and missing half the games because of an ankle injury anyway, but the flyer is too good to keep down for long.

The Midfield

13. Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders)

Fekitoa is the most exciting young player on this list yet he was at long odds to be playing Super Rugby at all.

Malakai Fekitoa – most promising player in Super Rugby

Born on a small island in Tonga he couldn’t walk for a year after seriously dislocating his hip in a childhood accident and limped when he eventually could. It took him years to convince his mum to let him play footie.

When visiting friends in New Zealand he found the courage to ask for a trial at Jonah Lomu’s old school, Wesley College in South Auckland, despite not knowing a word of English.

So I went to ask Wesley for a scholarship, they gave me five minutes to play and I played the whole game. They gave me that chance to stay so I was happy.

Being one of 15 children he missed his family but he battled through tough times and took his chances. After shining in Sevens rugby he was chosen for the 2012 Auckland ITM Cup team and he earned a Super Rugby contract with the Blues in 2013.

After being cut by them because they thought he wasn’t ready, he transferred to the Highlanders in 2014 The big centre has added a killer’s menace to the Clan’s midfield with his challenging lines, ability to swerve at speed and devastating side step.

Now he is on track to be the NZ Super Rugby Rookie of the Year.

And he is not just a dangerous ball-runner—just ask Conrad Smith of the Hurricanes.

Malakai Fekitoa tackle on Conrad Smith – Round 6 – Highlanders v. Hurricanes

12. Kyle Godwin (Force)

Godwin came with his family to Western Australia from Zimbabwe when he was six years old.

The first time I saw him was when he was aged 16 playing flyhalf for Combined States Schools with current Force team mates Adam Coleman and Ollie Hoskins. He represented Australian Schools that year and went into the Western Force system in 2010.

I saw him play next in a trial in Sydney before the 2011 season when he was my man-of-the match playing flyhalf again. But he was injured in the game and missed the whole season after the needed shoulder reconstruction.

The next year he played for the Australian Under 20s and three games off the bench for the Force.

Kyle Godwin – a matter of when

He was a contracted player in 2013 and people started to notice him, now playing in his best position of inside centre.

He has the ability to step defenders, or induce them to watch him, making his offloads lethal. He works off the ball like an old stager and sometimes beats defenders before he gets the ball. But wait; there’s more: the last time I looked he had completed more tackles than any other back in Super Rugby this year.

He is a certain future Wallaby and it’s only a matter of when if he stays healthy.

The halves

10. Fred Zeilinga (Sharks)

Called into make his Super Rugby starting debut against the Waratahs in Round 7 as a replacement for Patrick Lambie, Zeilinga showed Aussies why he is considered “the whole package” by some South African fans. The fourth-tier Vodacom Cup Player-of the Year in 2013 and nominee for the third-tier Currie Cup gong, Zeilinga calmly slotted 19 points and defended strongly.

Fred Zeilinga – the whole package

He controls the back line like an old hand and fits in with Jake White’s way of playing the game.  This is a pity, because he can be quick off the mark on the run when he wants to be.

Unfortunately he damaged a hamstring in the following game against the Bulls but he had shown enough by that time to  suggest that he would be able to direct the Sharks in the finals, if needed.

9. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes)

TJ got close to getting on the park for the All Blacks on their 2013 end-of-year tour when he was on the bench for the famous game against Ireland. But coach Steve Hansen was reluctant to send on a debutant when the All Blacks were behind in the game which they eventually won after the bell—thereby sealing their perfect record for the year.

The 22 year-old is a precocious talent. In 2010 he represented NZ Schools and later in the year played for Wellington in the ITM Cup instead of studying for exams.

He is quicksilver off the mark and a solid tackler. However, his passing and box-kicking can deteriorate under pressure as the Brumbies took advantage of in Round 4 this year at the Cake Tin.

Click on the right arrow to see the most promising forwards