Young Player of the Tournament.

Considering the ill feeling there has been these past two days, i thought id try and look at the positives achieved from our world cup, which led me to wonder who everyone thought was the best young player on show these past few weeks. As a completely biased welshman, and for his performance yesterday, id be inclined to go with Toby Faletau. He is one of many talented, young welsh players, but he saved his two best performances during our two biggest games against SA and France, and whats even more frightening is that he is only 20 years old. So for those reasons, he'd be my pick, and i assume he could be a few others as well. But if not, who would you guys go for?

Toby is the man - hope north and the like can stay fit and in WALES playing for a WELSH region!!!

Lambie O'Connor andTuilagi, Wales arent the only country to have stunningly talented yougsters.

Lamdie O'Connor andTuilagi, Wales arent the only country to have stunningly talented yougsters

We know that - so would you put them above Toby? The post title was young player of the tournament

The guy didn't say that Wales are the only country with stunningly talented players, he just tried to dilute some of the toxicity on the board and mentioned 2 young welsh guys - give the fella a break

O'Connor's not a bad shout but it would be Toby Faletau every time for me.

I watched the game back again today, he was simply brilliant. The amount of turnovers he won, great breaks, tidying up the ball at the scrum and the sheer amount of tackles the guy gets through!

I thought he was superb.

No because they are all still learning and developing their games. what I have done throughout this tournament is just sit back and marvel at how good ALL these young guys are.
Another thing to remember is that they have different roles and responsibilities within their teams.

I don't think JOC has had a great tournament by his own standards, and Lambie didn't do enough for me to think he should be named top man. Not sure on what people are considering as young, and I am also not sure how old he is, but one fo the the best players of the tournament for me has been Dan Lydiate.

I was thinking about Danny but he did miss 2 (well 3 really) matches through injury, so just for me personally that rules him out.

1/2p is only 22 so might be a good shout, he really took his chance against Samoa and has barely put a foot wrong since.

Faletau, North or O'Connor have all been awesome.

Faletau was fantastic against France.

Would Israel Dagg count?

Toby Faletau without a doubt. He showed he was more than just a backrow with great hair.

Dagg is a great shout disney, thought he was exceptional today. broke the gainline at will and gave the AB's great go forward ball.

I was wondering about Dagg too. What classes as a 'young' player? I think he's about 23. Great under the high ball and excellent work for the NZ try today.

Having said that Faletau was immense, especially against France/SA. He must have made a heck of a lot of yards and tackles. Good lad!

According to some stats, Faletau hasn't missed a tackle all tournament. if that's true then that's just blydi incredible.

And T, he doesn't have great hair any more. I miss his fro

Dagg is a brilliant shout actually, been really, really impressed by him.

How about team of the tournement under 25

1. umm
2. umm
3. umm
4. Sam Whitelock
5. umm
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Warburton/David Pocock
8. Toby Faletau
9. Will Genia
10. Rhys Preistland
11. George North
12. Jamies Roberts
13. Manu Tuilangi
14. James O'Connor
15. Israel Dagg

Is there an actual young player award?

George north has been superb, so has crudgan at ten for the abs

I would have to go for Dagg. I would throw SOB in from an Irish POV but he wouldnt be in the running for the very top.

Im not certain about ages but would Pocock count aswell? He has been immense even in defeat today. He actually reminded me of Richie McCaw in 2003 semi final. Behind a totally beaten pack he still managed to put in a great performance as McCaw did in that game.

Obviously the welsh backrow and Jamie Roberts (is he too old?) would be there but Dagg and Pocock were the stellar two imo.

Thomond wrote:Toby Faletau without a doubt. He showed he was more than just a backrow with great hair.

Sorry I can't agree with that....he has awful hair.

Francois Hougaard, every time he came on as a replacement he made a big difference.

Good shout biltong. I would put him with SOB just under the main candidates but a good player. The next Bok SH?

I am hoping Hougaard and Lambie will be the next coaches preferred half back pairing.

They are both very young and can build a partnership that could last at least two more world cups.

Between the two of them they can herald a new era of young players both being able to step, both very able to hit the gap, both have the want to offload and distribute the ball.

If you put Frans Steyn at 12 we will indeed see a new pattern of attack from SA.

I may be unpopular for saying this but what the heck, I would like to hear some opinions and debate on this. I thought Faletau was brilliant and would love to see more from him, and I think he is a great backrower. However, wouldn't you say he is a bit small for an 8? Or lacking some sort of physicality? I think it has shown a few times but at the age of 20 I guess this is to be expected.

To the angry mob of Welshies I now face.. I still think Faletau is a very talented individual but may not be your answer to a ball carrying 8 which a lot of you were asking for..

Genia was pretty poor today tho

I dont see Felatau's height or weight as an issue, 6ft2 and 17 stone is comparable to Spies, Heaslip, Harinordoquy and Reed. Parisse is a bit taller and heavier.

The old Scott Quinnel type 8 isn't as popular since proffessionalism set in and Easter and Samo have proved that a big lump doesnt necessarily make for a stand out 8 and the anonimity they have shown at times has resulted in not being as competitive at the breakdown.

The only benefit of a bigger 8 would be in pick up and drive situations but what Felatau does in attack and defence would easily outweigh the odd extra yard or 2.

Warburton has been used well as the extra lineout option and the breakdown play from the 3 has been phenomenal. Its not like Felatau is being driven back in the tackle either so keep them as they are and hope they only get better over the next year or 2.

Dan Lydaite for me has been outstanding and does all the un noticed un glory sytle work of a No6.

I feel its always noticeable when he's not on the field, though in fairness to R Jones he has covered him well when required.

For me its North, he just keeps coming along in leaps and bounds. If he keeps this up he will become a modern legend of the game.

I don't necessarily mean his weight, apparently he is 110kg which is pretty huge especially for a 20 year old, but his strength. You can get very heavy forwards who are useless and not physical enough. A few times this campaign I saw Faletau knocked back in the tackle, or falling off tackles on some players. Again, this could be his inexperience and age showing.

I think height could be important as most 8s nowadays are tall and athletic with great lineout capabilities. The lineout could suffer without a tall 6 if you have both Warburton and Faletau in the same team, though with the 6 foot 4 Lydiate I don't think this is a problem.

I would have gone North but he had relatively quiet games against SA and France - our two toughest opponents.

Compare that to Faletau who had his best games against them.

It's a close thing, but Toby gets it for me, especially when you consider he was only first capped in June!

Rory_Gallagher wrote: A few times this campaign I saw Faletau knocked back in the tackle, or falling off tackles on some players. Again, this could be his inexperience and age showing.

Well, according to the official stats, Faletau didnt miss 1 tackle in the entire tournement so I dont know where the falling off tackles statement came from.

I think that it is testement to the Welsh youth system that so many young players are being mentioned as 'young player of the tournement'.

The development plan in Wales is doing a very good job and i expect Wales to have a very strng future.

As long as the regions utilise it properly Billy.

We're stepping into a new and fully professional era (finally!) here in Wales, and we can't afford to mess it up. The regions and the WRU need to start working together better that's for sure.

And just because I'd find it fun, can we have a Senior Player of the Tournament as well? My vote would go to Ledesma.

I believe that even though Lydiate went off after 55 minutes he was still wales top tackler that is some going

irnbrew wrote: I believe that even though Lydiate went off after 55 minutes he was still wales top tackler that is some going

I thought it might be charteris - Im sure he made about 8 tackles in 5 minutes at one point of the match.

From a Non- Welsh POV and not sure about players ages so whether they class as Young or not But

Jane and Daag have impressed me all tournamnets and both were outsatnding yesterday.

Tuilagi has huge future for England though Tom Daly needn't worry too much.

Ansbro looked good for Scotland.

wales606 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote: A few times this campaign I saw Faletau knocked back in the tackle, or falling off tackles on some players. Again, this could be his inexperience and age showing.

Well, according to the official stats, Faletau didnt miss 1 tackle in the entire tournement so I dont know where the falling off tackles statement came from.

Official stats aren't always right, and I'm certain he missed a few tackles. There was one match in particular I remember, but unfortunately I can't remember who it was against. The statement comes from my own personal watching

Both Ansbro and Grey were good for Scotland I thought.

With regards to tackle stats, I can honestly only remember Faletau missing one tackle (twas against Ireland) but that's it.

Also can I add I am not trying to criticise Faletau, I think he is a very very talented player. I am just wondering if he has the physicality to compete as an 8 internationally (keeping in mind he is only 20 years old! Plenty of time to improve there).

Rory the only citicism I would have of faletau is that he seems to make a lot of handling errors. Like you said he's not that tall so maybe he's a flanker more than a number 8?

I though his ball carrying was fantastic and along with Roberts was Wales best player against France. I don't think he lacks physicality and his work rate is amazing for a young fella.

I think Owen Franks has been unreal this tournament, he may be only 23 - but that is very young for a prop

Slightly of topic but Faletau for me is head and shoulders above Jones and Powell who would be seen as our other choices at No8.

Delve would be my choice but I doubt he will ever make it in the Welsh side now so the future is between Faletau and hopefully Morgan to battle it out and push each other.

Brad Thorn. He just keeps on getting younger.

Toby is a great shout.

Pocock got a team to the semi final almost single handedly and was immense in said semi final despite his pack offering little or no support

wales606 Dan Cole has been the corner stone of the English scrum and has done remarkebly well considering the two other players in the front row have changed quite a bit over the course of the tournament. He's only 23 as well, despite looking in his 30s and having more than a passing resemblance to Henry 8th.

Young player of the tournament?

Tuilagi for that jump. Quality.

Dan Cole is only 23?! seriously?? Genuinely surprised by that, he looks years older.

Faletau, Dagg or Warburton. All young players that have had the biggest impact in the tournament I feel. I don't think there is anyone under the age of 24 with few caps (if we're classing that as the 'young player') that has had such an impact.

I know Aaron Cruden has only played one full game this WC but he looks class & I wouldn't be surprised if he steps up in the final aswell.

I've been impressed with Cruden too. The All Blacks need to persist with him after the world cup to make sure they have a fly-half successor. Then they can look at back-up options to him.