Rugby: Top young 10s inspire hope

Teenager Gareth Anscombe is shaping as the best Auckland prospect at first five since Carlos Spencer left in 2005. Photo / Getty Images

Scepticism is rife given the false dawns of recent years but there is hope the latest crop of first fives to emerge in the ITM Cup will be good enough to have the same impact in Super 15.

Gareth Anscombe, Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga are the new breed of five-eighths being churned out by an improved schoolboy system - they are mentally tough and tactically aware in a way their predecessors never were.

The likes of Willie Ripia, Daniel Kirkpatrick and Trent Renata have all reached senior rugby with big reputations but so far none have been able to deliver the consistent form required to win a foothold in the public consciousness.

Even Robbie Robinson and Stephen Brett have not quite kicked on from early promise.

No one is overly confident, what with being once bitten and all, but the new breed might be the first graduates in some time to have what it takes to push for higher honours in the No 10 jersey.

The signs are already positive. Since breaking into the Auckland starting XV, Anscombe has shown a maturity and overall understanding of his role that hasn't been witnessed since Carlos Spencer left in 2005.

In the interim, Auckland have burned through playmakers - Tasesa Lavea, Lachie Munro, Ash Moeke and Matt Berquist have all had prolonged stints with limited success. They never lasted because there were significant flaws with each of their respective games.

Anscombe looks a different sort of player. He's not hurried on the ball, doesn't make rash decisions and appears to take note of how the contest is evolving. It's the last skill that sets him well apart - the essence of being an effective first five is moulding the game plan as events dictate.

Auckland haven't had that kind of manipulator since Spencer and nor, until Anscombe emerged, have they had a playmaker with the mental toughness to deal with his mistakes and still want to be the central figure.

That Anscombe, at just 19, has created more cause for long-term optimism in six weeks is reward for a decision taken within the region a few years back to better equip playmakers at a younger age.

There was an awareness within the greater Auckland region that the explosive nature of elite schoolboy rugby was lessening the importance and tactical input of first fives.

Rather than control the game through a range of tactical ploys, most first fives in the leading schools were playing ball in hand exclusively and chain feeding big runners who were parked on either shoulder.

That was fine in the schoolboy world but left most of the best first fives short of the skills they would need to handle the professional game.

"That was an issue a few years ago," says Auckland Grammar director of rugby Grant Hansen, who also had four years coaching the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

"We didn't necessarily have boys who could control the game and manipulate the opposition. We looked at that from a national perspective as well and identified what was needed at first five, as well as halfback and hooker.

"What we have now is a group of young players who I think have real mental toughness and all-round skills. Gareth played in the Gallaher Shield final and the player he kept out held the record number of appearances for Ponsonby so that says something about the character he is.

"The likes of Lima Sopoaga, Beauden Barrett and Matt McGahan are all mentally tough and I also think that schoolboy rugby has become more accurate this year and that teams are doing much more with the ball."

The importance of mental toughness has been highlighted this year in the challenges Aaron Cruden has had to face.

The 21-year-old was clobbered by Benson Stanley within seconds of making his Super 14 debut and then had to pick himself up and take charge of a backline where every member bar him was an All Black.

Quite how tough Cruden is will become clear next season in the way he responds to being dropped from the All Blacks.

Sopoaga could have to face a similarly tough baptism, as he has joined the Highlanders.

Jamie Joseph is a coach who knows the importance of resilience and character, and would have taken Sopoaga south only if he was convinced the 20-year-old could find himself in the middle of Loftus Versfeld having to plot a way past the Bulls.

Barrett was on the Blues' radar having impressed in his fleeting appearances with Taranaki but is said to be joining the Hurricanes' wider training squad.

If, by any chance, Anscombe doesn't make the 32, he's a certainty to be offered one of the eight wider training contracts that will keep him involved with the Blues and give him a taste of the next level.