Planet Rugby Forum

This guy is just 17 ffs and has been the dominant player in all of France's games this JWC. He has another three years at this level!

Ridiculous

brunel should get half that team on a plane to nz right now

He was amazing last night, brilliant all round game his breakdown work was excellent.

Mad that England play a one dimensional bosher.

Diego wrote:This guy is just 17 ffs and has been the dominant player in all of France's games this JWC. He has another three years at this level!

Ridiculous

18 next month, so think it's only another two years.

Pretty much nailed on for player of the tournament though, even before the final.

I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a 17 year old as good. Frightening potential.

We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

JM2K6 wrote:We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

Fair point.

JM2K6 wrote:We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

It's not just his size but his athleticism with it. He also makes good decisions which is rare from Fre players, let alone ones of that age.

I've been dreaming of him and Macalou in a back row together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDO7MOj-iGw

Dreaming because we'll see the likes of Le Roux instead

Yes, his athleticism is great, but it's his size that makes it count. It'll be a different challenge at pro level.

Long way to go though, nothing to worry about yet.

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

JM2K6 wrote:We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

It's not just his size but his athleticism with it. He also makes good decisions which is rare from Fre players, let alone ones of that age.

I've been dreaming of him and Macalou in a back row together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDO7MOj-iGw

Dreaming because we'll see the likes of Le Roux instead

Say what you will about Dork Lard, but he has a very good youtube channel.

The lad has some good skills and makes good decision. He was not the biggest on the pitch yesterday so I do not quite buy the fact that it all down to size and bulk.

Lots of potential there indeed.

JM2K6 wrote:Yes, his athleticism is great, but it's his size that makes it count. It'll be a different challenge at pro level.

Long way to go though, nothing to worry about yet.

Agree. Power and pace are a serious combo. He also tackles well and offloads too.

He's also another from Sarcelles to go with Slimani, Cancoriet and Macalou. Not bad from a poor, massively under resourced banlieue.

My cousin's daughter might make the first women's cap from the club. [/globus]

The acceleration and power is scary.

How big is he, I wonder?

La soule wrote:The lad has some good skills and makes good decision. He was not the biggest on the pitch yesterday so I do not quite buy the fact that it all down to size and bulk.

Lots of potential there indeed.

He was smaller than I expected having read this thread first. Still a big unit, but not all Lomu, men against boys type scenario. What a talent at 17!

Mog The Almighty wrote:The acceleration and power is scary.

How big is he, I wonder?

I don't have up to date figures. He doesn't even figure on the Racing site but he is 6ft 2 and when he was at Massy, he is said to have been around 18 stone! A bit too heavy for me. Would like to see him down at 17.

mr bungle wrote:

La soule wrote:The lad has some good skills and makes good decision. He was not the biggest on the pitch yesterday so I do not quite buy the fact that it all down to size and bulk.

Lots of potential there indeed.

He was smaller than I expected having read this thread first. Still a big unit, but not all Lomu, men against boys type scenario. What a talent at 17!

France has been pretty parochial and pretty sh*t at resourcing places like Sarcelles, Pierrefitte and any number of impoverished, immigrant suburbs in cities around France. Instead, wasting money on "academies" to poach players from places like Fiji. There have been loads of kids who have slipped the net because there were no proper routes to professionalism. Massy has been almost a one man show in Paris to that end (Don Billy would know better and possibly disagree).

Diego wrote:I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a 17 year old as good. Frightening potential.

The kids that played against NZ schoolboys team with Lomu might disagree with you, but I can't think of anyone else.

I thought his decision making, workrate and breakdown work were excellent.

I won’t bother fapping over his ballcarrrying acceleration

Lets see how it pans out on senior rugby.

Zach Mercer was absolutely ripping it up in the u20s with his pace, power and footwork. Now in the seniors he is seen as being too lightweight for international rugby.

Mercer was never too much of a power runner in the U20s from memory. Was more the ball skills, pace and footwork. Always looked like senior rugby would be a step up on the physical side.

Joseph looks a different sort of player and is dominating at this level at a younger age. Senior rugby still a big step up when he starts running at bigger men, but he's got a pretty good starting hand.

Diego wrote:I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a 17 year old as good. Frightening potential.

Dear Mr Potential, may I introduce you to Mr Top14?

Toulon's Not Toulouse wrote:

Diego wrote:I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a 17 year old as good. Frightening potential.

Dear Mr Potential, may I introduce you to Mr RacingMetro92

Fixed

Isn't that Dork Lard's youtube channel?

Laurent wrote:

Toulon's Not Toulouse wrote:

Diego wrote:I genuinely don't think I've ever seen a 17 year old as good. Frightening potential.

Dear Mr Potential, may I introduce you to Mr RacingMetro92

Fixed

Sadly this. At least Bamba isn't playing for a boring, 1D T14 side.......

I liked what I saw of the Woki as well. Very different but very athletic, handy jumper and good tackler.

Angry_Bull wrote:Lets see how it pans out on senior rugby.

Zach Mercer was absolutely ripping it up in the u20s with his pace, power and footwork. Now in the seniors he is seen as being too lightweight for international rugby.

Clifford might be a better comparison.

Angry_Bull wrote:Lets see how it pans out on senior rugby.

Zach Mercer was absolutely ripping it up in the u20s with his pace, power and footwork. Now in the seniors he is seen as being too lightweight for international rugby.

I don't see him as to lightweight, however he is for Eddie Jones' game plan for England.

JM2K6 wrote:We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

Sorry everyone, I forgot I was logged in with my JM2K6 login there. Won't make the same mistake again.

JM2K6 wrote:We'll see. He's absolutely massive for his age, which counts for a lot at that level.

Sorry everyone, I forgot I was logged in with my JM2K6 login there. Won't make the same mistake again.

Has he played pro yet?

Andalu wrote:Has he played pro yet?

no

you cannot when under 18

he would have played D2 with Massy

Laurent wrote:

Andalu wrote:Has he played pro yet?

no

you cannot when under 18

he would have played D2 with Massy

D2 is senior though, correct?

Andalu wrote:

Laurent wrote:

Andalu wrote:Has he played pro yet?

no

you cannot when under 18

he would have played D2 with Massy

D2 is senior though, correct?

Yes he has not as it is pro

he has been robbed by Racing

Margin_Walker wrote:Mercer was never too much of a power runner in the U20s from memory. Was more the ball skills, pace and footwork. Always looked like senior rugby would be a step up on the physical side.

Joseph looks a different sort of player and is dominating at this level at a younger age. Senior rugby still a big step up when he starts running at bigger men, but he's got a pretty good starting hand.

Yeah, even when he was ripping it up at No8 in the U20s the talk was of what position Mercer might need to switch to because of his lack of bulk. He was strong for his size, but his size was unexceptional.

I don't think there is any doubt about Joseph's size being enough for top level rugby at No8.

He has more to him than just raw physical advantage over age grade players, but it will still be interesting to see him go up into the pro levels and see if he is still as effective.

eldanielfire wrote:

Angry_Bull wrote:Lets see how it pans out on senior rugby.

Zach Mercer was absolutely ripping it up in the u20s with his pace, power and footwork. Now in the seniors he is seen as being too lightweight for international rugby.

I don't see him as to lightweight, however he is for Eddie Jones' game plan for England.

I'm not sure he's any more lightweight than Sam Simmonds, Ben Earl or Ben Curry. I think Eddie likes to flirt with a few young guys and see which ones perform better in international level and it's just not Zach's turn this time. He's part of the training squads, though.

Torquemada 1420 wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

La soule wrote:The lad has some good skills and makes good decision. He was not the biggest on the pitch yesterday so I do not quite buy the fact that it all down to size and bulk.

Lots of potential there indeed.

He was smaller than I expected having read this thread first. Still a big unit, but not all Lomu, men against boys type scenario. What a talent at 17!

France has been pretty parochial and pretty sh*t at resourcing places like Sarcelles, Pierrefitte and any number of impoverished, immigrant suburbs in cities around France. Instead, wasting money on "academies" to poach players from places like Fiji. There have been loads of kids who have slipped the net because there were no proper routes to professionalism. Massy has been almost a one man show in Paris to that end (Don Billy would know better and possibly disagree).

A couple of mates play for ris orangis which isn’t far from massy

englishchief wrote:Isn't that Dork Lard's youtube channel?

yep
shame he's gone, quite liked him
hounded off the bored by the swarm for picking on their side's "athleticism"

Akkerman wrote:

englishchief wrote:Isn't that Dork Lard's youtube channel?

yep
shame he's gone, quite liked him
hounded off the bored by the swarm for picking on their side's "athleticism"

At least he posted mainly about rugby and was clearly enthusiastic about it. Just needed to change his communication style and he'd be better than some of the regular posters on here.

Andalu wrote:

Akkerman wrote:

englishchief wrote:Isn't that Dork Lard's youtube channel?

yep
shame he's gone, quite liked him
hounded off the bored by the swarm for picking on their side's "athleticism"

At least he posted mainly about rugby and was clearly enthusiastic about it. Just needed to change his communication style and he'd be better than some of the regular posters on here.

He was excellent, I hope he comes back