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'He's only going to get better': Former All Black names the youngster to watch out for in Super Rugby 2021

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

There are less than 24 hours until fans across New Zealand will know who exactly has been named in their Super Rugby squads for the upcoming campaign next year.

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All five franchises – the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders – will announce their playing groups for the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competitions on Thursday morning.

As is the case every year, Super Signing Day brings with it plenty of hype and anticipation surrounding the new additions each team has made to their side.

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Those new signings are soon thrust into the spotlight, with assessments made around the country as to how each team has fared in what is essentially rugby’s transfer market.

From those assessments come predictions about how well each of the new players will perform, with some considered good enough for future All Blacks selection.

However, on the eve of this year’s Super Signing Day, a former All Black has weighed in on which up-and-coming player he believes could have a standout season in 2021 – and it’s a player who has already featured for the national side this year.

Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, two-test All Blacks hooker James Parsons has projected young loose forward Cullen Grace to standout yet again for the Crusaders following his impressive debut Super Rugby season in 2020.

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The 20-year-old was impressive for the Super Rugby juggernauts in both the pre and post-COVID competitions, helping the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Aotearoa crown, their fourth consecutive title.

Capable of playing in multiple positions within the forward pack, it was at blindside flanker where Grace flourished throughout the season, shining as a strong lineout option and a hard-hitting defender.

Despite missing much of the Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign through injury, Grace’s efforts were rewarded with an All Blacks call-up in September on the basis of his test-level potential.

Sparingly used throughout the Bledisloe Cup series and Tri-Nations, Grace was handed his only All Blacks appearance of the year in a two-minute cameo off the bench during the 24-22 defeat to the Wallabies in Brisbane last month.

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Parsons said the best is yet to come from the youngster, though, noting he could still challenge for a place in New Zealand’s loose forward mix if he continues his good form for the Crusaders next year.

He’s had a really strong year,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod of Grace when asked which player to look out for in 2021.

“Couple of of injuries probably slowed him down a little bit, and he managed to slip into the ABs, but that loose forward trio spot’s becoming hot property at the moment.

“I think if he can back it up with a really good year, because he won’t be unknown going into this Super Rugby Aotearoa, and then obviously with Aussie as well, so it’s a big year for him to back it up when everyone will be watching tape and judging from what they saw last year.

“He’s definitely a raw talent and he’s only going to get better with age, but I think another season under his belt, he could be a real force in that loose forward trio.”

Having signed a contract extension through until 2023, Grace will be named in Scott Robertson’s Crusaders squad when it is announced at 7am [NZT] on Thursday, along with the squads of the other four franchises.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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