If your name is Damian, you are probably in high spirits at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
There have been some standout performances from backline players at the tournament, perhaps none more so than those delivered by France’s Damian Penaud, the All Blacks’ Damian McKenzie and the Springboks’ Damian Willemse.
Penaud has been at the cutting edge of France’s attack, and it is hardly surprising. Going into the last round of pool matches he had made the tournament’s cleanest breaks. His intuition, athleticism and power have made him a player very difficult to contain. Perhaps Penaud’s best gift is he makes the sublime look simple.
Much of McKenzie’s existence in the All Blacks jersey has been as a floater between fullback and flyhalf.
He continues to be a real jack-in-a-box for the All Blacks. He finished their pool stage commitments as the highest points scorer and joint highest try scorer. He delivered a sublime display for the three-time champions in their 71-0 rout of Uruguay on Thursday night. The try he helped set up for Will Jordan was the making of a man with a superior rugby intellect.
For a player of his immense attacking range, one try so far in the tournament may seem a low return for Willemse, who has become a vital cog in the Springbok machine. Willemse has brought versatility and dynamism to the Bok backline and has cemented his place in the No 15 jersey. His performances over the last 18 months have helped earn him that position.
His coach at the Stormers, John Dobson, believes Willemse, if things go well for the Springboks, should be in the running for World Rugby’s player of the year award.
Sure, he has retained the ability to sidestep a sumo wrestler in a phone booth but it is his positional sense, the ability to make smart decisions, rise under the high ball, kick and probe into space, that has helped see Willemse crack the nod ahead of veteran Willie le Roux.
Bundee Aki was in devastating form even before he ran into the Boks for Ireland in Paris two weeks ago. He was the tournament’s top try scorer for a while but even with his five-pointers dried up, Aki has got Ireland rumbling forward. He is seeking soft shoulders and breaking tackles at will.
Going into this weekend’s action his 53 runs were by far the most in the tournament. Though Ireland have their old firm centre pairing of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose at their disposal, it is Aki in concert with Ringrose that has given them an extra gear.
The man who trails Aki on the runs count, Georgia’s Davit Niniashvili, also features high in the number of clean breaks. The 21-year-old fullback and wing has been Georgia’s most influential back, and he seems right at home in France.
He, after all, plays his club rugby for Lyon and has looked the part against far more illustrious opponents. Sadly though, the tournament will bid farewell to Niniashvili after this weekend.
Typically, Scotland’s Darcy Graham has been full of dash and dare. When the winger inserts himself into the action he does so with great sense of purpose. He punches well above his weight. While Duane van der Merwe breaks tackles and creates space and opportunity for others, Scotland seem to feed off Graham’s urgency and energy.
The Springboks’ Cobus Reinach also deserves honourable mention. He has seized every opportunity that has come his way. He now boasts an incredible scoring record across two RWCs of seven tries in five matches.
