Rugby World Cup: Kurtley Beale, George North, Rieko Ioane among players to watch during tournament
From a veteran Irish playmaker to a freakish Kiwi winger, a former Eels superstar and one of Australia’s best, these are the very best who will be crucial pieces in how their teams fit into the World Cup puzzle.
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Every World Cup produces its star performers. Here’s seven set to make a huge impact for their teams in Japan over the next montrh.
Kurtley Beale (Australia)
Love him or loathe him, Beale will play a big part in how deep the Wallabies go into the tournament.
He’s taken over the critical fullback job from Israel Folau and while his aerial skills aren’t as good, his kicking game and improvisation are superior.
A throwback to olden days, Beale can be very hot and cold but when he plays well, the Wallabies play well so he’s a critical cog and played fantastically at the last World Cup so can rise to the occasion.
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Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Ireland’s veteran playmaker who has been at the heart of their recent resurgence, winning the Six Nations championship in 2014, 2015 and 2018.
A goalkicking five-eighth, he is already Ireland all-time second highest point scorer and likely to finish his career at the top. He played a key role in the British and Irish Lions’ series win over Australia in 2013 and Ireland’s historic win over the Wallabies in 2018 when he was named International Player of the Year, only the second Irishman to received the award.
COMPLETE POOL BY POOL PREVIEWS
POOL A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa, Russia
POOL B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Canada, Namibia
POOL C: England, Argentina, France, Tonga, USA
POOL D: Australia, Wales, Fiji, Georgia, Uruguay
Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
The latest in a long line of freakish All Black wingers. Blessed with that perfect combination of raw power and electric speed, Ioane made his Test debut as a 19-year-old in 2016, celebrating the occasion with a try.
He’s now scored 23 tries in 26 Test appearances, including a hat-trick against France last year. Was dropped for the Bledisloe Cup decider in Auckland so has his work getting back in the starting line-up but should score a truckload of tries in Japan.
Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
Towering backrower who has played a major role in turning around South Africa’s fortunes. It was only two years ago that the Springboks were thrashed 57-0 by New Zealand but the biggest margin between the sides in four matches since then is just two points.
An athletic lock or flanker with a massive workrate, Du Toit has been named South Africa’s player of the year twice in the past three seasons after emerging as the successor to World Cup winner Victor Matfield.
Semi Radradra (Fiji)
The “Semi Trailer” is no stranger to NRL fans after his incredible exploits for the Parramatta Eels but Radradra is a relative newcomer rugby union who is poised to leave a massive impression at the World Cup.
The 27-year-old winger has only played six Tests for Fiji so far but has still managed three tries, though that’s actually slow going for the try-scoring machine who scored 82 times in 94 matches for the Eels.
A dual international, he also played for Fiji at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup and a single Test for Australia in 2016.
Maro Itoje (England)
Has developed a cult following in England since Eddie Jones awarded him his first Test cap in 2016.
Still only 24, he’s become the much needed enforcer England have desperately missed since Martin Johnston retired.
Already one of the best locks in the game, he’s an unmistakeable presence on the field, a big man but with mobility and a high work rate though he has a habit of giving away a few penalties which could be critical at the World Cup.
George North (Wales)
One of the best wingers Wales has produced.
North is still carving it up nine years after he made his Test debut, with 40 tries from 88 Test appearances.
He was a big part of Wales’ long winning streak that saw them the clinch the Grand Slam and the world No. 1 ranking, if only for a week.
He’s the danger man for the Wallabies when they take on the Welsh in the crucial Pool D match that will decide Australia’s opponents for the quarterfinals.
Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Kurtley Beale, George North, Rieko Ioane among players to watch during tournament
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