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#Post#: 127096--------------------------------------------------
Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for Harlequins...
DIR By: Adrian
Date: August 20, 2024, 1:10 am
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HTML https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/08/19/bryn-bradley-harlequins-anglo-welsh-tug-of-war/
#Post#: 127097--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: The Quin of England
Date: August 20, 2024, 1:57 am
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Paywall
#Post#: 127099--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: August 20, 2024, 2:06 am
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Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for Harlequins to
ignite any Anglo-Welsh tug-of-war
Replacing André Esterhuizen is a big task but the 21-year-old
centre has been capped 13 times for Wales U20s and fits the bill
Charlie Morgan,
SENIOR RUGBY WRITER
19 August 2024 • 11:44am
21
Bryn Bradley of Harlequins in action during the Premiership
Rugby Cup match between Harlequins and Hartpury University at
Twickenham Stoop on September 9, 2023 in London, England.
Bryn Bradley is an imposing centre CREDIT: Getty Images/Peter
Nicholls
On the eve of the last Six Nations, Steve Borthwick addressed
the inside centre situation in England. Rather deliberately, he
suggested that local products around the Premiership were being
obstructed by imports, with Harlequins among the clubs
implicated. André Esterhuizen has certainly cast a long shadow.
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Supreme in several aspects, from ball-carrying to breakdown
turnovers, the South African has been among the best Premiership
signings in history. Having returned to the Sharks at the end of
last season, though, Esterhuizen must be replaced. It is a
daunting task for Harlequins, but they possess intriguing
options.
Lennox Anyanwu, name-checked by Borthwick in January, is one
potential successor. Luke Northmore, fresh from touring Japan
and New Zealand with England this summer, could take up the
mantle. Another candidate is Bryn Bradley. And, after studying
his senior colleague over recent years, the Wales Under-20
international wants to put the theory onto the pitch.
“André’s reputation is that he’s just a massive bloke who can
carry,” explains Bradley. “But I probably learned from his
skills the most. In skills sessions, his handling and passing
were right up there.
Andre Esterhuizen of Harlequins goes past the challenge of Jack
Willis during the Investec Champions Cup Semi Final match
between Stade Toulousain and Harlequins at Le Stadium on May 05,
2024 in Toulouse, France
Andre Esterhuizen has had a huge impact at Harlequins CREDIT:
Getty Images/David Rogers
“You can pick up the detail in his carrying by watching him in
training and in games. It was unreal. I think he’s one of the
best 12s in the world… he and Damian de Allende are probably the
two best, at the same country.
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“He’s quite quiet and not a massive talker, so it was more
watching him go about things, building himself up through the
week so that on Saturday he is a different animal.”
‘There’s no point trying to do what André does’
The nuances in Esterhuizen’s game include deft footwork in heavy
traffic, in order to pierce the “seam” of a defence, and
transferring the ball from one arm to another so as to unleash
hand-offs. Bradley, who turned 21 in April, has decided to
specialise as an inside centre rather than worry about
versatility that could make it “easier to get into the team”.
“I thought I might as well stick to my super-strengths,” he
said. “That’s physicality, but I pride myself on the double
whammy, which is ball-playing as well. There’s no reason why you
can’t do both.”
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At 6ft 3in tall and weighing around 106kg [16st 10lb], Bradley
is a strapping athlete. He and Anyanwu practice the tough stuff
by teaming up for “extras”, enlisting help beyond the backs. “We
work a lot with Nathan Jibulu after sessions on tackling and
carrying because he’s strong,” Bradley says. “If we’re carrying
into brick walls, we still want to make an impact there.”
Nick Evans, the Harlequins attack coach, volunteers defensive
“reads” and “post-contact metres” as two of Bradley’s chief
assets, stressing that there is little point in attempting to
impersonate Esterhuizen.
“When you’re replacing a world-class player like André, it’s
easy to fall into the trap of trying to do what he does,” Evans
says. “I don’t think anyone can do what André does, apart from
maybe Damian de Allende. There’s no point trying to go down that
road.”
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That is not to say that Bradley cannot assume a vital role in a
glittering backline led by Marcus Smith. His first two
appearances in the Premiership, brief ones off the bench against
Bristol Bears and Newcastle Falcons, arrived last season. The
rest of the campaign was spent in the “grind” of the
Championship, training at Harlequins during the day and
travelling to London Scottish on Tuesday and Thursday evenings
to prepare for weekend fixtures.
“It’s a tough shift, but invaluable,” says Bradley, who enjoyed
eye-opening outings against Ealing Trailfinders and a former
England centre. “I came up against [Billy] Twelvetrees a couple
of times. He isn’t known as a big boy… but he is! That helped me
realise the standard of physicality I have to get to, with all
the ball-playing skills on top of that.”
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Though born in Kingston-upon-Thames, Bradley had always dreamed
of honouring his mother’s side of the family, who hail from
Newport, by representing Wales. He spent two years in the U20
squad alongside peers such as Joe Hawkins, Cam Winnett and Eddie
James, all of whom have since made Test debuts. Bradley’s older
brother, Gwilym, is a back-rower for Cardiff.
‘I need to hear Bryn’s voice in attack’
The paucity of hole-punching inside centres available to England
could lead to Bradley becoming the subject of an Anglo-Welsh
tug-of-war at some stage. Before those conversations begin, of
course, he must establish himself in the Harlequins side as an
uncompromising facilitator capable of keeping the team ticking.
Bryn Bradley of Wales U20 scores a try during the World Rugby
U20 Championship 2023, group A match between Wales and Japan at
Danie Craven Stadium on June 29, 2023 in Stellenbosch, South
Africa
Bradley had time at London Scottish in the Championship CREDIT:
Getty Images
“What I need from Bryn is for him to be assertive,” Evans says.
“I need to hear his voice in attack. He needs to be a target
when we launch off set-piece. He also needs to link our phase
play together. We attack a little differently to how other teams
attack with certain shapes that we run and he needs to fit into
that. He’s showing he certainly can.
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“Jason [Gilmore, Harlequins defence coach] will have things he
wants as well. We need him to be a defensive leader, to run our
scrum and line-out D and be an enforcer around midfield.”
Add Oscar Beard and Will Joseph to Anyanwu, Northmore and
Bradley and Harlequins have an abundance of emerging midfield
talent. Evans, himself an import from the southern hemisphere,
hopes Esterhuizen’s legacy will live on in those he has left
behind.
“I’m probably a little bit biased, having been an overseas
player as well,” says the former New Zealand fly-half. “I don’t
think we block players. Most of the time, we’re brought in when
there’s a gap in the squad or there’s a certain way a team wants
to play. One of our jobs, as it has been for André, is to
provide an opportunity for younger guys to learn from players
that have played at the top level.
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“Those 12s will have been able to pick up things to add to their
toolbelt. I think the product on the field in the Premiership is
amazing and we need overseas players to grace it to complement
the English players. Our young 12s have bided their time and now
they’ve got an opportunity to challenge for that position.
That’s exciting for the club and for the Premiership.”
Related Topics
#Post#: 127101--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: August 20, 2024, 3:01 am
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Certainly deserves a look in pre season. Surprised that Kerr
dosent really get a mention though I’d have him probably ahead
in the pecking order
#Post#: 127104--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: poorfour
Date: August 20, 2024, 3:49 am
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--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> Certainly deserves a look in pre season. Surprised that Kerr
dosent really get a mention though I’d have him probably ahead
in the pecking order
>
--- End Quote ---
Kerr may well have the higher potential but right now he's 19,
and listed as two stone lighter than Bradley and one and a half
lighter than Anyanwu. I imagine the club does not see him as
physically ready for the demands of playing centre at senior
level, and want to give him time to fully develop before
throwing him in. I would guess he is at least 2-3 years away -
so understandably not on the radar for this season.
We've seen a fair few promising English players brought into
senior sides early at 12 and then fade out following a serious
injury. I'd much rather the club prepared players properly and
they had a chance at a longer career, especially given we have a
fairly young squad and a lot of talent already coming through.
#Post#: 127105--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: Adrian
Date: August 20, 2024, 4:19 am
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We also have Hayden Hyde. So several candidates for IC without
any clear first choice.
#Post#: 127107--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: August 20, 2024, 5:41 am
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I think this is a great article and he should get the
opportunity to push his claim. I watched him through his Epsom
College years and he really looks like he could develop into a
good option at 12 but needs game time
#Post#: 127114--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: Archquin
Date: August 20, 2024, 8:28 am
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--- Quote from: AdrianB link ---
>
> We also have Hayden Hyde. So several candidates for IC without
any clear first choice.
>
--- End Quote ---
Yes surprised that HH doesn't get a mention anywhere - he is a
big powerful unit also
#Post#: 127116--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: August 20, 2024, 9:51 am
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--- Quote from: Archquin link ---
>
> Yes surprised that HH doesn't get a mention anywhere - he is
a big powerful unit also
>
--- End Quote ---
Saw him and BB play against each other a few times.....one hell
of a match up. I do worry that we'll lose players like that if
we don't throw them in
#Post#: 127118--------------------------------------------------
Re: Bryn Bradley must become ‘different animal’ for
Harlequins...
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: August 20, 2024, 10:06 am
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--- Quote from: Banstead Quin link ---
>
> Saw him and BB play against each other a few times.....one
hell of a match up. I do worry that we'll lose players like that
if we don't throw them in
>
--- End Quote ---
I certainly think with BB and the Wales connection, if he dosent
make it into our side or kick on this season one of the regional
sides will look to pick him up and groom him for Wales honours
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