We decided from this half-season not to make a classic ranking list, but to single out ten players who, in our opinion, showed the most at a certain tournament. We must point out right away that we can only write an article like this at a tournament where we are present, because everything we write is expressly our opinion. The only thing we want to consult the coaches about is how much the player trains, whether he trains individually and how he behaves in and out of training, because we would not want to single out someone whose behavior is not in line with rugby values.
We would also like to point out a few more criteria that we were guided by. So, the list includes the players born 2006. and 2007 . The players born in 2008. also took part in the tournament but they will have opportunities to enter their U12s list. The list includes only players from domestic clubs, because RK Čelik participates outside the competition in competitions. We don’t have any pattern of decisions by positions, we are only interested in how the players played in the tournament. We also take into account the discipline of the players, as one of the primary items.
TOP 10 list
Pavle Pelva
Position: Center, Wing
YOB: 2007.
Comparison: Brian O’Driscoll
Offensively lethal, very fast player who changes direction quickly, quick hands, excellent overview of the game. A player with a high rhythm, where at the tournament we had the opportunity to see how Rad plays at a very fast pace. In defense, he is unbreakable, as far as we could see, he didn’t have a single missed tackle. He puts pressure on the defensive line, doesn’t create holes, doesn’t run out too early. A disciplined player who rarely plays offside. He is very good in the ruck, dominant contact gives him better opportunities to push the ruck or steal the ball.
Mateja Krčadinac
Position: prop, hooker
YOB: 2007.
Comparason: Jamie George
One of our most favorite players. A real modern first line player. Very penetrating, physically extremely strong, has excellent motor skills, very fast. He is confident in contact, when he carries the ball he always has a quick presentation or offers an offload to his players. Although the U16s has limited scrumage, he can win the ball with good tackling and timely pushing. Stable lifter in the lineout. He is good in defense, one of the better tacklers in Dinamo. What fascinated us the most was his hand play and participation in open play. We were simply fascinated by how he caught a very heavy ball that was going to his feet, and how he quickly passed the ball to a teammate from that situation.
Milan Vesković
Position: Flyhalf, Fullback
YOB: 2006.
Comparason: Melvyn Jaminet
Our favorite player from the spring part of the season. There aren’t many things he can’t do on the field. The Lord of the space. Always see extra space, if you don’t see it, create it. At the tournament itself, it seemed more like he was rehearsing actions from the shot, than the shot itself was necessary. A very fast player, who makes excellent decisions with that speed. We were under the impression that he could score ten essays if he wanted to. In defense, extremely good, quick closing of opponents on the defensive, excellent in contact. We didn’t find a weak spot for him in this tournament.
Vojin Simonović
Position: Scrumhalf
YOB: 2006.
Comparason: Baptist Cerin
Rad will definitely have a potential problem in the position of demi because Vojin Simonović is growing from tournament to tournament. At least as far as we can tell. He is one of the engines of Rada’s game, because he keeps a high tempo in the game with his speed. In fact, it is one of the most difficult jobs in rugby, commanding a fast pace. When you take the ball out of the crab in four seconds, it is considered an elite fast game, often he does it even faster. A player who is very combative in defense, and in great competition he is one of the best tacklers in the team. He reads the game very well, makes good decisions and when combined with a fast game, it creates a big problem for the opponent.
Aleksandar Avdiović
Position: Flyhalf
YOB: 2006.
Comparason: Christian Lealiifano
Permanent member of our lists. As we mentioned several times before, he has an exceptional shot. He has a strong leg, so he is able to respond to all kinds of shots that are asked of him In the game, he is extremely combative, penetrating in attack. He has a good technique, uses a buffer, offers offload in contact. That is exactly why we would like to see him manage in another position, specifically in another center. In defense, he is quite good, combative, he is one of the best strikers in Borac.
Vuk Simić
Position: Lock
YOB: 2006.
Comparason: Maro Itoje
A very intelligent player who we can’t decide if he plays better attack or defense. But we still decide to defend. One of the main foundations of second line players is security in tackles and defense. He is impeccable there, he didn’t have a single missed tackle. Special attention should be paid when there is an assistant in the shooting from whom he can react well and steal the ball in the ruck. He is extremely fast in attack, he is decorated with excellent accompaniment and communication skills. One of the players who impressed us the most at the tournament.
Nikola Begunić
Position: Lock, Center
YOB: 2006.
Comparason: Grégory Alldritt
Nikola is one of the most important players of Dinamo. Although his original position is in the scrum, he mostly plays in line positions at his age. This is because it is fast and penetrating for its size. He has good technique in contact, he is hard to beat. Defensively, he is excellent, but has difficulty chasing down the field with opposing backs. Still, in our opinion, he is a second-line player, and it’s a real shame that he doesn’t play more in that position in the younger categories and doesn’t practice for real challenges in the future. The first of these is the U18 national team, which is expecting them already next year. We would like to see that, how he would manage in his natural position.
Ognjen Siljanovski
Position: Lock
YOB: 2007.
Comparason: Lodewyk de Jager
In the few months since we last saw him in action, he seems to have put on a few kilograms of mass, which he obviously likes because he knows how to use it in contact in an excellent way. We dread to imagine how dominant he would be if he worked on himself individually. He is excellent in penetration, a very fast player, strong in contact. He presents the ball well in the ruck, which allows his team to play quickly. An excellent support player, he reads the game well and often picks up offloads at the right moment. One of the best tacklers in the team.
Mateja Caran
Position: Center, Wing
YOB: 2007.
Comparason: Jack Nowell
Mateja is one of the most physically fit players in the U16s competition. His natural position is in the center where he does best. He is also excellent on the wing where he can be extremely penetrating and difficult for the opponent. In defense, he is a force, a good striker, very good in the ruck and in positioning. We would like to see the offense create action just for him and how he would handle when he gets the ball in space on a full run.
Matej Petrović
Position: Lock
YOB: 2006.
Поређење: Tadhg Beirne
Leading the scorers list after the first tournament. It was not just that he scored four tries, but the manner in which he scored them that blew us away. One of the main characteristics of modern second line players is impeccable accompaniment, perfect timing to get offloads, to secure the ruck. This is exactly what Matej demonstrated to us at the tournament. Disciplined player, excellent in positioning in defense and attack. In defense, he is a good tackler, who, due to his speed, can close the linemen equally well when mismatch situations are created. A player who has a lot of perspective and whose progress we will follow closely.
Photos: Vanja Bejin
