Planet Rugby’s Newbies of the Year: Ange Capuozzo headlines thrilling back three as youngsters make their impact

Colin Newboult

Getting your shot in the first-team is part of the ongoing battle for many rugby hopefuls, but in 2022 these up-and-coming starlets made it big.

Their sterling efforts have not gone unnoticed by us here at Planet Rugby and we have consequently cobbled together a XV that although lacks in caps, it makes up for in quality.

Newbies of the Year

15 Ange Capuozzo (Italy and Toulouse): Arguably the standout player from this list having shot to prominence during the Six Nations in March. Capuozzo had been starring for Grenoble in Pro D2 when he was called up by the Azzurri for the annual international tournament. He made his debut in the penultimate round, coming off the bench to score two tries against Scotland, before he was handed his first start against Wales. Capuozzo was a threat throughout but it was in the final minute where he made headlines as he went on an outstanding run which led to Edoardo Padovani’s match-winning try. He has since signed for Toulouse in the Top 14 and has continued to impress for Italy, especially during their Autumn Nations Series triumph over Australia.

14 Henry Arundell (England and London Irish): Usually a full-back but we just had to include the lightening quick London Irish starlet. His talent was first shown in the U20 Six Nations where he ripped Scotland apart and scored a stunning try against France before he became a regular fixture in the Exiles squad. In May, Arundell touched down against Toulon for one of the great individual efforts, a try which was viewed around the world. Eddie Jones saw enough to include him on England’s tour to Australia and with his first touch in international rugby he beat three defenders to score. Injury deprived him of appearing for the Red Rose in November but he still gets in ahead of the Stormers’ Suleiman Hartzenberg and the Bulls’ Canan Moodie.

13 Henco van Wyk (Lions): It is tough on Pau’s Émilien Gailleton, who is on the fringes of the France squad, and London Irish’s Will Joseph, but we’re very excited by this young South African. Van Wyk has everything you need to be a top class outside centre. In the toughest place to defence on the field, he reads the game exceptionally well and is also a threat at the contact area. With the ball, the 21-year-old may be smaller than a lot of centres but he packs a punch and can create holes with both his footwork and power. Expect him to be in the Springbok reckoning in 2023.

12 Kalaveti Ravouvou (Fiji and Fijian Drua): Little was known of the 24-year-old before he made his Super Rugby Pacific debut, but everyone was very much aware of him by the end of the competition. Ravouvou was a standout for Fijian Drua and formed a thrilling centre partnership with Apisalome Vota in the midfield. Blessed with pace, power and superb footwork, as well as a terrific off-loading game, he terrorised defences in the southern hemisphere before making his international debut in the Pacific Nations Cup. Ravouvou then started in Fiji’s Autumn Nations Series games against Scotland and Ireland, with a stunning fourth minute score against the latter a highlight. Elsewhere, Ospreys playmaker Joe Hawkins looks a real talent for Wales and could be their long-term option at centre.

11 Davit Niniashvili (Georgia and Lyon): Another difficult choice to make with Argentina and Newcastle flyer Mateo Carreras impressing in 2022, but Niniashvili just edged it. After signing for Lyon ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, the Georgian became a fixture in the side, starring as they claimed the Challenge Cup title in May. Outstanding in attack but also equally excellent in defence, as Eben Etzebeth can attest to, the 20-year-old flyer has enjoyed an exceptional year for both club and country.

10 Sacha Mngomezulu (Stormers): Has Manie Libbok and Damian Willemse in front of him, so game time has unsurprisingly been limited, but he is surely the long-term Springbok fly-half. The Stormers coaches are easing Mngomezulu into it at the moment, generally playing him at 12 as he adapts to senior rugby, but he featured at 10 for South Africa ‘A’ in their defeat to Bristol Bears in November and will get more time in that position in 2023. Mngomezulu has the attacking talent, in terms of his passing ability, footwork and pace, but he also has maturity beyond his years in other aspects. The 20-year-old’s defence is solid while his kicking game is exceptional, which suggests he has all the traits to be a superstar.

9 Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92): What is it about scrum-halves and French rugby? The production line seems to be endless when it comes to top quality half-backs with the Racing 92 youngster the latest to come off it. Le Garrec is already a regular in his club’s first XV and looks set to put pressure on Antoine Dupont for the nine shirt at international level, given his immense talent. That may not come until after the next World Cup but it seems inevitable that the Racing starlet will be earning a significant amount of Test caps. Le Garrec controls the game beautifully, has a sharp pass and is a very sound box-kicker, which makes him a superb all-round playmaker. Although he doesn’t challenge the rearguard around the fringes as much as Dupont, he is still very quick and keeps defenders on their toes around the rucks. To top it off, he also has a deadeye boot off the tee.

8 Lorenzo Cannone (Italy and Benetton): After an excellent 2022, Cannone finally made his Test debut during the Autumn Nations Series and started in all three matches against Samoa, Australia and South Africa. Another to come through what has proven to be a very successful Italian U20 set up over the past couple of years, Cannone could well have the number eight shirt for the next decade, especially if his performances in November are anything to go by. Strong in both tackle and carry, and an absolute workhorse around the field, which makes him a nuisance at the breakdown, the back-row is a potential star. Australia’s Langi Gleeson was also in the running but he just missed out.

7 Alex Kendellen (Munster): The talented back-row has played both at number eight and on the openside, but we think that flanker will be his long-term position. He is powerful and a threat with ball in hand, but he doesn’t have the ballast of someone like Caelan Doris. However, Kendellen is excellent at the breakdown, a great athlete around the field and could well challenge Josh van der Flier for that slot at number seven in the future.

6 Theo McFarland (Samoa and Saracens): There was plenty of competition for this spot, with Fijian Drua’s Meli Derenalagi and the Crusaders’ Dominic Gardiner, who is exciting many in New Zealand, both in contention, but no one could really get close to this outstanding Samoan. McFarland is older than the rest of the players in this list at 27, but he is a relative newbie to rugby union after switching from basketball. The flanker, who can also play at lock, joined Saracens in August 2021 and, after easing his way into English rugby, absolutely shone for the Londoners in 2022. He got better and better, playing a key role in Sarries’ run to the Premiership final, before taking that form into the current campaign. McFarland has arguably been the best player in England’s top-flight this season and will only continue to improve.

5 Christ Tshiunza (Wales and Exeter Chiefs): The back five forward, who can play both lock and flanker, actually made his international debut in November 2021, but you got the feeling it was to capture him before England or even France – who he was also eligible for – tried to call him up. Tshiunza rarely played for either club or country for the rest of that campaign but became a regular at the start of the 2022/23 season. He is an outstanding talent, performing week in week out for Exeter, and will be a key player for both the Chiefs and Wales in 2023.

4 Joe McCarthy (Ireland and Leinster): Another outstanding talent off the Leinster production line who made his Ireland debut against Australia in November. A real physical presence in the middle of the pack, McCarthy looks readymade for Test rugby. He has impressed for Leo Cullen’s men in 2022 and should get more opportunities for the national team in 2023. Another Irishman, Munster’s Edwin Edogbo, is an equally exciting talent and we are looking forward to seeing him get more game time next year.

3 Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders): It’s always difficult for front-rows, and especially tightheads, to make an immediate impression early in their career but Williams managed it. One of the few modern day props that is capable of playing on both sides of the scrum, he regularly made an impact during the Crusaders’ title-winning run in 2022. He generally came off the bench for Scott Robertson’s men, but his physicality and scrummaging prowess was key in the Christchurch outfit continuing their dominance south of the equator. With Fletcher Newell developing nicely at tighthead and Oli Jager also a commanding set-piece presence, Williams’ future may well be at loosehead, but on this year alone he deserves his position in the number three jersey.

2 Ignacio Ruiz (Argentina and London Irish): Ulster’s Tom Stewart enjoyed a fine year for the Irish province and looks set to enjoy a distinguished career, but we especially like the early signs from the talented Ruiz. The 21-year-old has joined the ever-expanding Argentinian contingent at London Irish and made his debut against the Stormers in the Champions Cup, but it is with Los Pumas where he has made the biggest impact. The front-rower came off the bench in all three of their Autumn Nations Series Tests and his physical traits and skill levels were evident. Combine that with an improving set-piece game and Ruiz could be a key part of Argentinian rugby for years to come.

1 Ntuthuko Mchunu (South Africa and Sharks): Has been a consistent presence throughout 2022 for the Durban-based outfit, initially off the bench but more recently as a regular starter. His scrummaging still needs work, as you would expect from a young prop, but his impact elsewhere is pretty destructive, with Mchunu causing havoc in the loose due to his mobility and power. The Springbok coaching staff evidently like what he offers as they named him in their squad and gave him a debut against Wales in July.

READ MORE: Planet Rugby Team of the Year