Brian O'Driscoll's six players to watch in the Champions Cup

Top 10s/Lists

by Steven Smith

Thursday, 11 October 2018 at 16:34

bySteven Smith

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Ahead of the Champions Cup kicking off this Friday, Planet Rugby spoke to former British & Irish Lions, Ireland and Leinster legend turned BT Sport ambassador and analyst, Brian O’Driscoll.

He ran down his six players to watch:

DANNY CIPRIANI (Gloucester)

O’Driscoll:
“We’ll see what he can deliver. Left out of the initial England training squad and was then named player of the month, he just needs that consistency of high level performance and to deliver against the top sides. It’s a great opportunity for him. We’ll see some great head to heads; there’s no weak teams in this competition.”

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SIMON ZEBO (RACING 92)

O’Driscoll: “He’s flying already. He scored some great tries with lots of assists and is settling in well. He seems happy but he would fit into any environment. He just brings an energy you can’t imagine and he shows that in the way he plays the game. Racing have been allowed to express themselves and he’s really flourishing within that. Plus when you look at the back three and see they’ve got Juan Imhoff and Teddy Thomas you know they’ve got some serious toe.”

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JEROME KAINO (TOULOUSE)

O’Driscoll: “A new Kiwi addition to the European mix who wants to add a European medal to his collection. Kaino has an incredible record with New Zealand and was an integral part of much of what they did well. I think maybe for Toulouse it’s too soon, even with the addition of Kaino. I think they’re an up-and-coming team but with Leinster and the two English sides in their group it may be too challenging this year.”

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GARETH ANSCOMBE (CARDIFF BLUES)

O’Driscoll: “We saw in the Challenge Cup what he can do. We were calling the game out in Spain and that never-say-die attitude really won it for them. You thought Gloucester had it but Anscombe had some huge plays in crucial moments; be it at 10 or 15 he can have a huge impact. It’s a big ask but if they can do something in that pool he’ll be central to their chances.

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SAM ARNOLD (MUNSTER)

O’Driscoll: “He has come on really well this last year. He’s got a really nice level of aggressiveness and I like that he can be direct and physical but has a nice subtlety to his game. Another season of playing European rugby will do him good with Munster. He’s not quite there yet but soon he’ll be knocking on that international door if he can keep up his level on performance.”

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JULIAN SAVEA (TOULON)

O’Driscoll: “He seems a reasonable player doesn’t he?! You always get this calibre of player who have decided to move on from the Kiwi, South African or Australian plan and they get to play in Europe for hardly insignificant funds in great teams. That Toulon side of five or so years ago were such a joy to watch and if they want to get back there Savea is exactly the type of player who can help them do that with his pace and physicality.”