Super Rugby U16s: Waratahs, Queensland Reds dangermen ahead of finale, players to watch
They are the danger men of Super Rugby - teen tyros from the Reds and Waratahs who can flip a game, intimidate and shock and awe. Players to watch in the U16s finale
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They are the danger men of Super Rugby - a handful of teens from both the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds who can turn a game on its head.
And how they perform on Sunday in the tournament finale will almost certainly help determine the winner of this years Super Rugby U16s competition.
Lineouts, the sizzling form of a try scoring whiz, accuracy with the boot and the backup of their mates will be integral in who walks off with the Super Rugby trophy.
The Waratahs U16s have been undefeated in Super Rugby since the restart of the competition post Covid and there’s good reason when you take a look at the statistics sheet and their breakout players.
The attacking flare of the Waratahs sees them enter the finale against old rivals the Reds with the biggest score lines of the season and dominating in multiple areas.
And according to their coach it’s a team effort.
“It’s a big thing with us. If I score, we all score,’’ said coach Craig Roberts.
The Waratahs have scored a whopping 311 points during the season compared to the Reds on 167.
The majority of the points have been scored between the 40th and 60th minute, also where the Reds have fired.
The Waratahs have nabbed 49 tries to the Reds 28 with both sides again excelling in the 40 to 60 minute period of the match.
Of these tries, the Waratahs have scored 15 from the lineout and the Reds 11.
The Waratahs have also scored three from the scrum and three from tap penalties.
The Reds have a good record when it comes to lineouts, winning 40 of their 50 at 80 per cent.
In contrast the Waratahs have won 32 of the 42 at 76 per cent.
The Waratahs also both the best kicking accuracy at 67 per cent with their 33 conversions and 26 misses compared to the Reds at 45 per cent with their 12 conversions and 16 misses.
A trio of point scorers have set the competition alight with Darcy Feltham the player of the tournament to date with a staggering 50 points heading into the finale against the Reds at Ballymore on Sunday.
“Darcy is simply a try scoring machine. He’s athletic and has great awareness of the body and knows how to read the defender’s body,’’ said Roberts.
“He’s been one of the standouts.
Feltham and teammates Talen Risati with 40 and Saxon Gaw with 37 head the top point scorers list with five players from the Waratahs dominating.
Samuela Sorovi is next on 25 followed by Jack Kalms on 20.
In contrast, the Red share their scoring around with Roldan Waike, on 20 points, their top gun followed by Angus Underwood 16, Aiden Luke 15 and Hemi Rakuita.
Feltham, who played three of the Waratahs lead-up games to the finale, has scored 10 tries this season with Sorovi scoring five and Kalms and Waike four.
Gaw has nailed the most conversions with his 16 from 21 from just two games followed by Risati with 15 from 23 in three games and then Reds youngster Angus Underwood with eight from 10 in four games.
Feltham also leads the list for the most meters run with 386 from Reds gun Hemi Rakuita with 375.3 and linebreaks with 10 compared to Rakuita’s eight.
Apageyos Lote-Felo leads the dominant tackles list with six in his four games with Reds teammate Taione Taka leading offloads with five from three games.
Lote-Felo has also been the busiest man for his team, playing a whopping 260 minutes this season.
Samuel Polley has been on the field most for the Waratahs with 230 minutes.
Kegan Cook from the Reds has made five steals at lineout well Jack Calleja has made 18 lineout takes.
Roberts said his frontrow will be crucial to beating the Reds on Sunday and expects the Queenslanders to come out with force.
“Our front row has been outstanding, lead by Hasani Bloomfield, Oliver Smith and Nick Kotara and we got Tyson (Burden) back from injury which gives us another weapon upfront.
“I think they are big and intimidating and will challenge us and try and throw us off our game. That’s what I think they will do.’’
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Originally published as Super Rugby U16s: Waratahs, Queensland Reds dangermen ahead of finale, players to watch
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