Best Rugby Team Newcomers To Look Out For During The 2022 Rugby Championship
It’s Rugby Championship season and boy oh boy is it off. With just 5 games into the season, New Zealand is looking like the team to beat thus far. That being said it’s still too early to say and competition is looking tough for what could probably be one of the tightest seasons.
This year there’s also a lot of young and new talent yet to touch the field. Let’s take a look at some newcomers you ought to keep an eye on throughout this 2022 championship season.
Suliasi Vunivalu – Australia
The former NRL great is among the most promising players for the 2022 Wallabies team. International fans haven’t yet gotten a good look at Vunivalu’ s abilities since he made his debut as a substitute in the Wallabies’ 21-17 defeat to England.
At the age of 26, he already has a wealth of professional sports experience thanks to his formative years in the illustrious Melbourne Storm rugby league system. He’s no newbie to the international Rugby league either having appeared 10 times for Fiji in test bouts.
The Big Fijian scored 12 tries in 10 matches, proving he is unfazed by the spotlights of international Rugby and also great for gamers who wager at the NZ betting sites looking to make a quick buck.
In 2019, Vunivalu made the choice to return to Rugby Union. In 2021, he debuted in Union again for Queensland Reds. Although he hadn’t played rugby since the age of 18 years old, he made an immediate impact, scoring two tries in a losing effort against the Highlanders.
Evan Roos – South Africa
The fan-favourite and presumed successor to Duane Vermeulen’s number-eight jersey is experiencing a breakout campaign.
He led a formidable Stormers pack that helped the team win the United Rugby Championship and earn him the title of player of the season. At the beginning of the season, Roos would be a totally unknown player, but the moment the international transfer window rolled around, he would become a Springbok.
After graduating from Paarl Boys High, a powerhouse in the world of Rugby, the big backrower joined the Natal Sharks, where he hasn’t always had it easy. Roos’ lack of playing time in Durban was mostly because of the widespread COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the extreme difficulty of the situation, 21-year-old Roos came dangerously near to giving up on his sports career.
Roos was motivated to improve when he was cut from the Sharks’ Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams. Making the tough decision to depart the Sharks while not accomplishing what he had anticipated would be a game-changer for his career, as would a move back to Western Province and eventually the Stormers. Overall it seems to be working with Springbok ending the Australian Hoodo!
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – New Zealand
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, another one-time NRL great, was widely considered to be a top-tier Rugby League player. In 2018, he elevated his status even further by becoming the first ever player to come from the New Zealand Warriors to earn the coveted Daily M award as the NRL’s top player.
RTS is a superb ball handler, as are many New Zealand backs. His maiden Super Rugby campaign was noted by his dominant performance runs and deft offloads; he is a muscular, quick, and impactful runner. Even despite his age of 29 years, he is still one of the more promising rookies of the current season.
A benefit for RTS is that the All Blacks’ centre is in disarray for the very first time in over 20 years. With Reiko and Beauden Barrett, Ioane also on the Blues, that trio might be unstoppable if they all play together. In such a case, the All Blacks’ midfield would be among the most dangerous in international competition.
Leicester Fainga’anuku – New Zealand
After a slow start to his international rugby career, New Zealand’s next giant winger will be eager to right the ship. With his first game officiating coming against the Irish, Fainga’anuku found himself in the middle of a controversy.
Fainga’anuku recklessly collided with Ireland wing Mack Hansen as he attempted to charge down a shot. There were many onlookers and experts who thought at the time that the event merited a red card instead of the yellow that was issued.
The big issue is whether or not Fainga’anuku has what it takes to succeed in the highly competitive world of international rugby. This Championship will provide the solution to that pressing question since the current world champions will be competing at the top of the bracket. It seems, for now, he will have a lot to prove especially after the All Blacks claim victory and freedom cup.
