Candidates For the No.1 Player in the Country. Part 1

There are a few guys that I already have listed down that I’m thinking about making the No.1 player in the country. A lot of you guys out there that have followed High School Top 200 really shouldn’t be a surprise with who I have listed down. You would know that from the past Rankings who have been consistent in being Ranked at the top when they were Year 11 and then Year 12, so it shouldn’t be a shock for you. On the other hand, for those that haven’t followed before this will be new to you but you’ll get the hang of it as we go on.

Tamaiti Williams Prop, Rivez Reihana 1st 5/8, Isaiah Punivai Center (St Kentigern College)

I’m going to put all 3 of these guys together because all 3 were in the NZSS Team last year, they will most likely be all in it again this year and they are all from the same school, so you could guess who is leading for my Top School in the country, right? St Kentigern College making it out of the Blues Region to the Top 4 have 3 NZSS players so you can see how good this team can be this year. Tamati Williams a converted No.8 into a Prop has not always been the best Prop in his own school last year but made a strong finish at the end of the season and was great at the U18 Blues Camp as well. Rivez Reihana I first saw in his first game as a Year 9 I think it was against St Andrews College and he was on there for a good 15 mins of the game and he hasn’t slowed down. He is maybe the most complete 1st 5/8 I have seen in 1st XV Rugby. Isaiah has come up from Christ College to join an already stacked St Kents team and has made them so much better in more then one way. Isaiah is very strong, runs great lines and can make you look silly if he catches you on the wrong foot and he goes on the outside because that is almost a sure 5 points. All 3 players would make for a great No.1 player in the country and wouldn’t really be worth arguing with who ever gets picked.

Taufa Funaki Half Back(Sacred Heart College) 

Lighting foot work is Taufa’s thing and he can beat two or three players with just foot work alone. Taufa is not a one trick dude not one dimensional at all. For me Taufa was very quick when he took the ball to the as a Year 11 but sometimes I thought he took it to much and got caught on his own, but as a Year 12 there was nothing like that to be seen. As I was a bit hesitant at the beginning of the year to Rank him higher I started to see him as one of the best No.9’s in the country and was the selected to the NZSS Team where he fit right in. Taufa would make for a strong No.1 player in the country and a leader at that, he makes everyone around him better and makes decision that are based around what the team needs. If that is what makes a No.1 player in the country then he’s on the right track.

Joshua Southall Open Side (St Patrick’s College – Silverstream)

When you have a pure No.7 in your team that plays that role to the fullest you are already a step up from everyone else in the country. We saw it with Blake Gibson and then Jeriah Mua last year and I think we can add Josh Southall to that list too because he ticks the boxes “No Doubt”. I like to watch game film a lot and I like to play and rewind, play and rewind and watch things develop and if you watch the U18 Hurricanes game, Josh is a highlight mixtape on his own. Scored tries that made him look like a midfielder, tackled all game, strong over the ball, would take shots from head on and the side and stayed true to his form over the ball. Josh is going to have a big year and if I was to Coach against Josh I would make a game plan around “How we keep Josh in Check”.

Saula Mau Prop (Auckland Grammar School)
Huge is the first thing you think when you see Saula run onto the field. As a Prop Saula makes things look so easy because of his size you would think he will be a one trick pony kind of deal but he offer so much more then that. Saula is a very fit player that gives you his all when he takes the field, his work rate on the field consist of cleaning out rucks, making runs and is breaking the line when he does. He tackles and defends very well and can get low to the ground around the edge of the rucks when he is defending his line. I have seen him grow in confidence and even skill wise over the last two years and think with another year of lifting his game that “Black Jersey” at the end of the season will be on his back.

Patrick Thacker Prop (Christs College)

I have written already about the amount of quality Props we have playing in 1st XV and having 3 Props in the Top 10 is not a far stretch from the truth. Patrick Thacker is the next that I think will make a name for himself even more with another big year like I think he’ll have this year. Last year I knew Patrick was a very good Prop and solid as a traditional Prop. Then seeing 5 games of his last year and seeing him lift his game every time I thought “man could he make NZSS this year?” Now Patrick and Saula played in the Barbarians and so both are in good spots right now for that “Black Jersey”. Patrick to me will make that lift again in his game and start showing us even more of how important he can be to a team owning the scrums, playing a solid tight game around the rucks, blowing out players to deliver clean ball and lights out defence. I for one really look forward to seeing that from him.