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When a player makes his international debut at age 21 , it’s sometimes difficult to judge how well he will fare once the other international players and teams have had time to work him out.
Year two counts most.
But , beware Bokke , the French now have someone special in their squad – and he will be coming along for the ride in June 2017.
This past season, New Zealand’s Beauden Barret received most of the accolades for a great season with the Hurricanes and the All Blacks.
The accolades were richly deserved, but what went somewhat unnoticed was that he was playing most of his rugby behind winning packs and had tons of space to play in – thanks to two truly great scrum halves in Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara
My guess is that is that even these two great scrumhalves will soon be surpassed this year .
The Les Bleus have uncovered some kind of magic in a young Bordeaux scrum half.
His name: Baptiste Serin.
Not much is known about him, but he is an integral part of a French 30-man “elite” list, made of players selected, protected and not allowed to play more than 30 games each year.
It will be wise to watch him closely in this year’s Six Nations.
It looks like he is set for super stardom – judging by when he came on as a second half substitute versus the All Blacks in November.
His remarkable out-the-back blind pass allowed Louis Picamoles to score the only French try of the game.
And the cool confidence in the way he then converted Picamole’s try with his boot – suggests he has the X-factor.
It looks like he has that Fourie du Preez kind of ability to read, control and change games.
On February 4th, he made his Six Nations debut versus England, and it will be well worth keeping an eye on what he can do – and how far he can go.
Otherwise, we could be in for a surprise with the upcoming incoming three test tour by France .
1o June: Boks vs. France at Loftus
17 June: Boks vs. France in Durban
24 June: Boks vs. France in Johannesburg
The Springboks have faced France on 39 previous occasions, winning 22 Tests and losing 11 with six matches drawn
Let’s hope they take heed of an incoming rugby sensation who looks like he has the prodigious talent to take the Les Bleus to another level
Go Great .
Let the Super RUGGA begin.
Rob Opie is a Brand Expert, Author, Speaker, and Performance Coach to Business Executives, Corporate teams, Sports teams and Individuals.
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