The Brisbane Tens is all about the next generation - 2018 Predictions

This weekend’s pre-season Tens tournament is a precursor to the Super Rugby season, with many established names on show like Julian Savea, Liam Messam, Digby Ioane and Conrad Smith.

While there are also many well-known stars from the past like Carlos Spencer on the card, it will be the youngsters that will steal the show. They get the chance to prove their worth and have the talent to shine on this stage. Just like Shaun Stevenson last year, a number of next-gen stars will take this tournament by storm.

Here is our breakdown of each pool and some the unlikely breakout stars to look out for.

Pool A: Wild Knights, Rebels, Blues, Reds

Hometown hosts the Reds will be looking to put in a strong performance together to definitively put the Quade situation behind them. Fijian flyer Filipo Daugunu will be one to watch after dazzling on the club scene in Brisbane last year and NRC with Queensland Country. Young winger Izaia Perese is pound-for-pound the hardest man to tackle in Super Rugby and Taniela Tupou the ‘Tongan Thor’ will again trample over defenders.

Digby Ioane will return with his Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights. Ioane scored one of the tries of the tournament at last year’s event with the Crusaders. The 33-year-old will be hoping to reproduce the same magic. Super Rugby’s top tryscorer in 2016, Akihito Yamada of the Sunwolves, will be looking to replicate that form this weekend after missing Super Rugby last year.

The Rebels will field two young mid-fielders that possess game-breaking ability – Hunter Paisami and Semisi Tupou that could feature in Super Rugby this year. Paisami is a blockbusting midfielder that can hit like a truck, you may remember this monster hit from the Australian schoolboys test match in 2016.

The Blues have an impressive squad full of up and coming young stars. Akira Ioane, Melani Nanai and George Moala will bring experience while Caleb Clarke, Orbyn Leger, Dalton Papalii and Sam Nock are New Zealand age grade reps worth keeping an eye on. Of course, the 42-year-old Carlos Spencer is back for a run around, but he will probably look to utilise the young talent around him.

The Blues and Reds will likely be the top two teams from this pool.

Pool B: Pau, Waratahs, Chiefs, Highlanders

French club Pau looks more like an All Blacks re-union party than a Top 14 team. Seven ex-AB’s are apart of the squad headlined by Conrad Smith. While the names look good on paper, the condensed format will probably work against this squad where athleticism trumps experience. Pau will offer a good show but will be unlikely to make a deep run in the tournament.

The Waratahs have been devastated by the news on the eve of the tournament that star Kurtley Beale will miss the tournament due to injury. In his absence, Fijian bulldozer Taqele Naiyaravoro will be a key weapon the Tahs will want to use on the fringes. The shifty ex-Force winger Alex Newsome will enjoy the open spaces while young flyhalf Mack Mason will take responsibility for steering the team around. Irae Simone could a breakout star at this tournament while Curtis Rona will get his first look in NSW colours.

Last year’s champions the Chiefs have named a strong side for their defence, with MVP Shaun Stevenson back for his encore performance after picking up the award in the inaugural event. Tim Nanai-Williams and Solomon Alaimalo will bring flair and form a deadly trio with Stevenson. New Zealand under-20’s flyhalf Tiaan Falcon is a breakout candidate and will get decent game time with Damian McKenzie not available.

The Highlanders will bring a high workrate to the Tens and rely on the young first five-eighths Josh Ioane and Fletcher Smith to show their worth. The two will get the chance to build their case to become Liam Sopoaga’s replacement at the end of the year. The Barracuda Richard Buckman will be everywhere for the Landers, and young Canterbury product Josh McKay has speed to burn that they will look to utilise.

We have to back the defending champs the Chiefs to top this pool, while the Waratahs and Highlanders will battle it out for the next best side.

Pool C: Fiji, Brumbies, Hurricanes, Crusaders

The Fijian side is the wild card of this tournament. Renown for Sevens success, the Fijians could blow this pool open. The addition of the Fijian Drua into the Australian domestic competition (NRC) shocked many as they tore apart a number of sides. Many of that side will feature here and will no doubt be scouted by their opposition during the tournament.

The Brumbies side features a number of established stars in Henry Speight, Kyle Godwin and Chance Peni. One name we predict to shock at this tournament is scrumhalf Isaak Fines, who is perhaps the best non-contracted player in Australia. Fines is a raw attacking talent built for this format.

The Hurricanes highest profile player Julian Savea that will look to start 2018 on the right note, with aspirations of reclaiming the All Blacks left wing jersey. The Canes possess plenty of power running backs in Ben Lam, Malo Tuitama, Losi Filipo, Jonah Lowe and Peter Umaga-Jensen and one super prop in Alex Fidow. Fidow is the New Zealand equiviliant of Taniela Tupou – they both perform feats no props should.

The Crusaders have named a young squad lead by last year’s breakout winger George Bridge. You won’t recognise many names in this squad, but watch out for Tima Faingaanuku on the edge and Ngane Punivai. Manasa Mataele will look to carry over his try scoring feats from last season where he bagged eight tries in six matches for the Crusaders.

The Hurricanes and Fiji are our picks to top this pool.

Tournament Predications

The Chiefs and Hurricanes look good enough to make a deep run at this tournament and of the Australian sides the Reds have enough raw talent to find success. Fiji is the biggest unknown but NRC-form suggests they will do well. These are our four picks to make the semi-finals.

Our shortlist of candidates for MVP include last year’s winner Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs), Solomon Alaimalo (Chiefs), Alex Fidow (Hurricanes) and Samu Kerevi (Reds). A couple of outside chances if their teams catch fire are Melani Nanai (Blues) and Mack Mason (Waratahs).

Our heart says Fiji as winners but our head says the Chiefs or Hurricanes.