Just about halfway through the Guinness PRO14 season, everything is up in the air after a weekend in which both conference leaders were beaten in derby encounters.

As we head into 2019, Leinster look comfortably clear in the battle for a Finals Series spot but the remaining five places, as well as the European play-off positions are all up for grabs.

With that in mind, we have picked out one player for each team who could play a key role in the second half of the campaign.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Benetton Rugby – Federico Ruzza

Man of the match and a try-scorer in the second derby win over Zebre, Federico Ruzza appears to be coming into his own for Kieran Crowley’s side. Capable of playing in the second row and the back row, Ruzza has long been touted as a bright prospect, making his international debut in 2017. Now 24, he seems to be thriving at Benetton after a move from Zebre 18 months ago. Benetton currently sit third in Conference B, and with just three points separating second-placed Ulster and fifth-placed Edinburgh, some good performances from Ruzza could help the Italians to a first-ever Finals Series appearance.

Cardiff Blues – Owen Lane

A victory away to the Scarlets kept Cardiff Blues right in the hunt for a top-three finish in Conference A, and John Mulvihill will be boosted by the return to fitness of Owen Lane. The powerful winger could be back as soon as this week’s clash with the Ospreys, having not featured since October. Still only 21, Lane looked like a possible international contender before his injury, having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign a year ago. Mulvihill has options in his back three but at his best, Lane has a very good case to be starting and will certainly add some size and attacking threat out wide.

Toyota Cheetahs – Junior Pokomela

After nearly a month off, the Toyota Cheetahs return to action with a trip to Zebre this weekend and will be counting on back-rower Junior Pokomela to lead from the front once more. The South Africans started the season slowly, not helped by losing skipper and Springbok back-rower Oupa Mohoje to long-term injury in a defeat to Munster. Without their most experienced option, it has fallen on others to step up, with 22-year-old Pokomela at the fore. A former Baby Bok, he looks to have taken the next step and with the Cheetahs still having two games in hand on the rest of Conference A, could help them get back into the mix for a top-three finish.

Connacht – Colby Fainga’a

Former Brumbies back-rowers are becoming very popular at Connacht where Colby Fainga’a is following in the footsteps of skipper Jarrad Butler. If the youngest Fainga’a sibling can have as big an impact as Butler, he will be doing well, but the 27-year-old is already impressing for Andy Friend’s side. The versatile Fainga’a, who also played for the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby, started the season coming off the bench but seems to have established himself as first choice for the province. And after a strong Christmas showing for Connacht – which included a man-of-the-match performance in victory over Ulster – he could be even more important in the second half of the campaign as they look to hold onto third place in Conference A.

Dragons – Harrison Keddie

For anyone who watched the 2016 Under-20s Six Nations, it felt like a case of when not if Harrison Keddie would play at the highest level. It has not quite happened for him yet, with an injury slowing his progress at the start of this season, but over the last month and a half he has been a regular for the Welsh region. His long-term future is probably at No.8, but Keddie looks versatile enough to play on the flank as well. While it has been a tough season so far for the Dragons, if Keddie and a few other youngsters can shine in the second half of the campaign, it will be a positive for them going forwards.

Edinburgh – Pierre Schoeman

If Pierre Schoeman was looking for an example to follow at Edinburgh, he does not have to look very far. WP Nel arrived from South Africa and established himself as first choice for the club and Scotland – Schoeman has already managed the former. The loosehead is dynamic around the park, a menace at the breakdown, and if Saturday’s display against Glasgow Warriors is anything to go by, very handy in the set-piece. He already looks like one of the best looseheads in the Guinness PRO14, and with so little in the race for a top three spot in Conference B, his performances could be vital.

Glasgow Warriors – Sam Johnson

Dave Rennie is not short of options in midfield, including Scottish international pair Alex Dunbar and Peter Horne. However over the last year, Sam Johnson has emerged as a serious candidate to start the biggest games with his clever lines and support play. The former Queensland Red offers something a little different for the Conference A leaders, and following Dunbar’s injury on Saturday, could take on even more importance. A knock prevented him from a Test debut in November, but Johnson could be in the Scotland frame sooner rather than later on his Glasgow form.

Leinster – Max Deegan

Leinster have spent recent seasons developing back-rower after back-rower, and there is no reason to believe that supply line is going to stop any time soon. With Dan Leavy and Jack Conan having made the step up to earn international recognition, Max Deegan may be the next player to break through. The No.8 was an Ireland Under-20s standout and has gradually earned more playing time for the champions. Expect him to play an important role over the next few months as Leinster look to retain their title.

Munster – Mike Haley

Two Sale players came to the Guinness PRO14 over the off-season, with Will Addison making an immediate impact at Ulster. Mike Haley has taken a little longer to settle in at Munster but seems to be finding his feet at Thomond Park. The former England Saxons full-back is Irish-qualified, and while he’s a little way off international honours at the moment, he could be a key figure for Munster in the second half of the season. A fine performance in the inter-pro victory over Leinster will certainly have helped his cause.

Ospreys – Keelan Giles

It’s easy to forget how big an impact Keelan Giles made when he first broke through for the Ospreys, given he has spent much of the last year on the sidelines. The speedster made his playing return in October and looks to be approaching full fitness. With Luke Morgan and George North, the Ospreys are blessed with threats out wide, a firing Giles will only add to that and could be vital when the Six Nations rolls around.

Scarlets – Johnny McNicholl

The Scarlets have found themselves headed in the wrong direction in recent weeks as back-to-back road losses against Glasgow Warriors and Ospreys were followed by their 27-month unbeaten home run in the Guinness PRO14 brought to a crashing halt by Cardiff Blues last weekend. The Welshmen appear to have lost the attacking verve they are renowned for but in Johnny McNicholl they still have a game-breaker who can turn a game at a moment’s notice. The New Zealander scored their only try against the Blues and is in the top 15 in the league when it comes to carries, offloads, defenders beaten, clean breaks and metres made this term. Equally comfortable at full-back or on the wing, the Scarlets could use McNicholl’s magic in the coming weeks to turn things round.

Southern Kings – Masixole Banda

It’s been a tough season for the Isuzu Southern Kings but they’ve been entertaining to watch and Masixole Banda has been a consistent bright spark for the South Africans. The 30-year-old has a golden boot and an eye for a gap – as demonstrated by the fact he’s the Guinness PRO14’s fourth-highest points scorer, 12th in metres made and 18th in defenders beaten, despite the Kings having played two less games than the rest of the competition barring their countrymen Toyota Cheetahs. His versatility – he’s turned out at both fly-half and full-back this term – is a boon and the Kings are worth watching for the diminutive magician’s brilliance alone.

Ulster – Angus Kernohan

From missing out in a place in Ulster’s full academy over the summer to a first-team regular – it’s been a rapid rise for Angus Kernohan. The young flyer had impressed enough to earn a spot on the bench by the Guinness PRO14 season opener, got a full academy contract shortly after, scored his first senior try against the Kings in mid-September and is now a crucial part of their back-three rotation. The Ireland Under-20s star is still slightly raw but with the likes of the now-departed Henry Speight, Louis Ludik, Stuart McCloskey and another man who knows a thing or two about a rapid rise – Jacob Stockdale – to learn from, he should continue t grow in the season’s second half.

Zebre – Maxime Mbanda

Having regularly lined up alongside one of the greatest back-rowers to ever play the game – Sergio Parisse – on international duty for Italy, Maxime Mbanda has had the perfect mentor to learn off. The Zebre flanker is still developing but he’s a tackling machine, as demonstrated by the 26 tackles he made on his Six Nations debut against Wales in 2017 – the most ever made by an Italian in a single game in the competition. The 25-year-old from a Congolese-Italian family is growing into more of an attacking threat with each passing month and his while things have been tough going at times for Zebre this term, Mbanda’s defensive solidity has been a constant.

Read more at https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/01/01/14-players-to-watch-as-guinness-pro14-season-hots-up/#iYyxJ53c6Lo6WHu7.99