The player each Rugby World Cup nation cannot afford to lose
It will take a whole 33-man effort to win the upcoming Rugby World Cup, but there are players that are simply crucial to their respective side’s hopes.
For the teams to achieve their goal later this year certain individuals must stay fit, and we duly delve into who they are from the 20 nations that are competing in France.
Here are our most talismanic individuals in Pool A.
ANTOINE DUPONT (France)
The single most important player in the tournament. Les Bleus have a plethora of quality nines, but their ability still pales in comparison to the great Dupont. Everything goes through the Toulouse man, with the 26-year-old outstanding in pretty much every department on attack, but he is also an excellent defender and consistently puts his body on the line. It will be a disaster if the captain gets injured ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
ARDIE SAVEA (New Zealand)
For years, the All Blacks kept him on the bench as an impact replacement before moving him around the back-row, but he has finally settled into the number eight position. With the other two back-row slots open, Ian Foster has been fortunate to have Savea, who has been a consistently high quality performer at the base of the scrum. A brilliant ball carrier, a superb athlete and excellent at the breakdown, he has become one of the best in the game.
MICHELE LAMARO (Italy)
Sebastian Negri provides ballast few others in the team have, while Paolo Garbisi is crucial behind the scrum, but Lamaro, as well as being an outstanding player, is an inspirational leader. The loose forward has a good rapport with referees, speaks incredibly well off the field and leads by example on it. The Azzurri are gradually becoming a more competitive outfit but, without him there, you wonder whether they would resort to the rabble of previous years.
SANTIAGO ARATA (Uruguay)
Another country that is moving in the right direction, but it is fair to say that the scrum-half is undoubtedly their star. Since joining Castres in 2020, Arata has become their first choice number nine and started in the 2022 Top 14 final defeat to Montpellier. The 26-year-old controls the game beautifully from the base, but also has the pace and footwork to make him a significant threat around the fringes.
JOHAN DEYSEL (Namibia)
The captain of the Welwitschias and hard-running centre has been a key part of their squad since making his debut in 2013. Memorably scored a try against the mighty New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup and has continued to impress for Namibia following that tournament. They don’t have much high-end quality in their squad, but the Colomiers midfielder is certainly among their better performers.
– Planetrugby
For the teams to achieve their goal later this year certain individuals must stay fit, and we duly delve into who they are from the 20 nations that are competing in France.
Here are our most talismanic individuals in Pool A.
ANTOINE DUPONT (France)
The single most important player in the tournament. Les Bleus have a plethora of quality nines, but their ability still pales in comparison to the great Dupont. Everything goes through the Toulouse man, with the 26-year-old outstanding in pretty much every department on attack, but he is also an excellent defender and consistently puts his body on the line. It will be a disaster if the captain gets injured ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
ARDIE SAVEA (New Zealand)
For years, the All Blacks kept him on the bench as an impact replacement before moving him around the back-row, but he has finally settled into the number eight position. With the other two back-row slots open, Ian Foster has been fortunate to have Savea, who has been a consistently high quality performer at the base of the scrum. A brilliant ball carrier, a superb athlete and excellent at the breakdown, he has become one of the best in the game.
MICHELE LAMARO (Italy)
Sebastian Negri provides ballast few others in the team have, while Paolo Garbisi is crucial behind the scrum, but Lamaro, as well as being an outstanding player, is an inspirational leader. The loose forward has a good rapport with referees, speaks incredibly well off the field and leads by example on it. The Azzurri are gradually becoming a more competitive outfit but, without him there, you wonder whether they would resort to the rabble of previous years.
SANTIAGO ARATA (Uruguay)
Another country that is moving in the right direction, but it is fair to say that the scrum-half is undoubtedly their star. Since joining Castres in 2020, Arata has become their first choice number nine and started in the 2022 Top 14 final defeat to Montpellier. The 26-year-old controls the game beautifully from the base, but also has the pace and footwork to make him a significant threat around the fringes.
JOHAN DEYSEL (Namibia)
The captain of the Welwitschias and hard-running centre has been a key part of their squad since making his debut in 2013. Memorably scored a try against the mighty New Zealand at the 2015 World Cup and has continued to impress for Namibia following that tournament. They don’t have much high-end quality in their squad, but the Colomiers midfielder is certainly among their better performers.
– Planetrugby
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