“The trouble with Welsh rugby is that Dai Jones scores a try for someone or other on a Saturday and before you know it everyone’s singing his praises and he’s down the Vale of Glamorgan and in the Wales squad.”
So said former Ospreys joint-managing director Mike Cuddy back in the day. It was a fair point then, and it’s a fair point now.
But some players do have such promise they are worth serenading with the odd hymn of praise. Theo Cabango looks to be one.
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He’s shown his potential before now, catching the eye in Cardiff's Heineken Champions Cup games against Toulouse and Harlequins earlier in the season, and even emerging from the wreckage of a 40-3 thrashing by the Stormers with his reputation intact. Despite having just two opportunities to run in that game, the 20-year-old turned one of them into a clean break and also beat four defenders.
The youngster didn’t have an abundance of ball during his home debut in the 32-28 United Rugby Championship success over Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening, but he is a player blessed with pace to burn and out of four touches he made two line-busts, beat a couple of defenders and scored two tries.
On TV he was being feted as a "baby-faced assassin", and his team-mate Willis Halaholo, official man of the match on the night, joined in the chorus of praise, saying of Cabango: "He’s a special talent. He’s rapid. We have good players that are made for the big stage and he’s one of them. He has a big future."
Cabango’s big moment against Glasgow came on 68 minutes, with Jarrod Evans buying a hint of space via a dummy before passing to the wing, who shimmied through a gap with pace and skill for the score of a born finisher.
On Premier Sports TV, Cabango’s name was even mentioned in the same sentence as Ange Capuozzo, the little Italy back-three man who ruined Wales’ Six Nations finale in Cardiff a week earlier.
Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton said: “We talk about players who have out-and-out speed. That’s where the comparison lies. You need to get the ball in his hands. Once you get that half-bit of space, most players cannot do that [what Cabango did for his second try]. It was great to see him with a smile on his face and you could see the joy of playing for his home club.”
Cabango said himself of his scores: "It's quite surreal. I was pleased with the first and to get the second is the cherry on the cake. I'm really pleased for the crowd that we could get the win. Just want to carry that on into next week."
It’s still early days — of course it is. But let’s all agree that Cabango looks a prospect. Glasgow’s defenders wouldn’t disagree.
