Rugby Union: Four to follow on the international stage in the coming weeks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.SOUTH AFRICA
THEO VAN RENSBURG
(Transvaal)
UNQUESTIONABLY the Springbok to watch. One of the few who quickly picked up the pace of international rugby, Van Rensburg, 25, is fearless under the high ball - an indispensable full-back's quality with the new laws encouraging so much kicking - and incisive when coming into the three-quarter line.
DANIE GERBER
(Western Province)
HIS lightning strikes are now a memory, but even at 34 Gerber is hardly slow, the centre's ability to break and his defensive solidity undiminished by the years. His influence on the confidence of those around him, a product partly of his physical presence and partly of long experience, will be critical.
AUSTRALIA
PAUL CAROZZA
(Queensland)
HE may be no Campese, though both wings share Italian ancestry, but Carozza, 26, has lately had as impressive a strike rate through opportunism and utilising his more limited resources to the full. In other words, he sets an example of the virtues of hard work and deserves to succeed on his first European tour.
AUSTRALIA
PETER SLATTERY
(Queensland)
THERE could be no harder act to follow than the retired Nick Farr-Jones but Slattery, 27, has spent three years understudying the great scrum-half, picking up half-a-dozen caps. He may lack his predecessor's extraordinary tactical vision but there is no sharper operator around the base of scrum.
(Photographs omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments