Where Are 2012's Five New Faces?

England Hooker Tom Youngs

In June 2012, we  chose 5 players as 'ones to watch', after successful summer tours, autumn internationals and 6 nations campaigns we return to our 5 to see where they are one year on.

Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)

10 Caps 0 points

This London Wasp has undergone a meteoric rise in the last year. Following impressive domestic performances, he earned a call up to the England squad for the Autumn series. A start from the bench followed by 3 monstrous performances against Australia, South Africa and in a 38-21 victory over the All Blacks meant that he had made the England shirt his own by the six nations. More strong performances from Launchbury in the six nations have catapulted him to a senior position in the England team for the summer's white wash tour of Argentina. To top off what has been a magnificent year for Launchbury, he was voted England's QBE Player of the Year, all in all a magnificent year for a player destined for more accolades in the future.

Christian Wade (London Wasps)

1 Cap 0 Points

Diminutive Wade picked up the start of the season right where he left off, in his opening league game against champions Harlequins he scored two tries and gave one away to Tom Varndell when he could have taken a third. From that point on Wade terrorised defences all season long finishing joing leading try scorer for the premiership with 13 tries and 18 tries all season from 26 matches. Such was the success of Wade's season he became the first man ever to pick up the Young Player and Player's Player of the year awards at this seasons RPA awards. Such is the success of the former sevens player he finished the season with an England debut against Argentina in Salta before a Lions call up to Australia. Expect Wade to break into the England squad full time next season displacing the under performing Chris Ashton along the way.

Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)

5 Caps 0 Points

Joseph has performed somewhat less successfully this year than last. Inury blighted the start of is season with London Irish and he struggled in a team which relied on his creativity in what was a lacklustre season. Despite this he gained a call up to Stuart Lancaster's England squad for the Argentina series and performed very well setting up David Strettle in the first game quite magnificently for a try. Joseph has not been a stand out this season but expect him to be back to his best next season as part of a Bath squad that will look to be firing.

Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

9 Caps 0 Points

The hooker brother of England starter Ben, Youngs has enjoyed a fantastic season earning 9 caps for England and a starting spot for Leicester as well as an Aviva Premiership title. Youngs has pushed away Dylan Hartley from the starting England shirt and used his ball carrying dynamism and low chop tackling technique to become one of the strongest players in the England team. Domestically the ever impressive Youngs has earned the Aviva Premiership's Player of the Year award and has followed up an impressive season with a Lions call up. With the first test on Saturday Youngs is pushing Hibbard hard for a starting spot and with the season he has had the coveted Lions number 2 shirt may be what Youngs deserves.

Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)

5 Caps 5 Points

Following an impressive Summer Series in South Africa Johnson has only managed to gain to caps this year against Argentina and Fiji. As usual, Johnson has had an outstanding season with Exeter combining with Richie Baxter and James Scaysbrook to create a fantastic back row. However, with the return of Tom Wood, James Haskell and Tom Croft, Johnson has seen his stock fall over the last year. Having reached 30 years old the likelihood of seeing Johnson in an England shirt again is limited, however, he will still be in and around the squad pushing the likes of Croft and Wood hard in the next few years.