WORLD XV: Etzebeth, Itoje, Retallick? Who is the world’s best lock?

Tuesday, 22 August 2017 at 11:20

byRugby Rucker

Continuing on in our World XV series, this time we name our six best locks in rugby right now and get you to vote.

Second rows are considered the engine room of rugby scrums; they are traditionally the hard men of most teams and very often make great leaders, as we see from our selection below.

They need to be big, powerful men, able to lead the physical confrontations and also to offer an option in the lineout.

You can skip to the poll HERE or scroll through the contenders before making an informed decision.

Here are our nominees:

1. Eben Etzebeth - South Africa

6ft 8in and 18st 5lbs, the abrasive 25-year-old is a big scrummager and powerful ball carrier, who has a knack of making serious dents in opposition defences.

Reliable in the lineout with a big engine, Etzebeth has been compared to the Boks legendary enforcer – Bakkies Botha.

Expect the 58 times capped powerhouse to be at the heart of the South Africa boilerhouse for many years to come.

2. Sam Whitelock - New Zealand

Sam Whitelock makes up one half of the most impressive second-row combination in world rugby today.

His flourishing partnership with Brodie Rettalick has become the cornerstone of the All Blacks pack with Whitelock providing the subtlety to Rettalick’s brutality.

An impressive lineout operator, Whitelock keeps the All Blacks machine ticking over during set pieces.

3. Maro Itoje - England

Lived up to the hype against the All Blacks — athletic, dynamic, intelligent and mature way beyond his years. Tipped as the game’s next’s millionaire player. The Saracens lock has the rugby world at his feet.

4. Brodie Retallick - New Zealand

A towering presence in the opening encounter against the Lions, the 2014 world player of the year continues to set the second-row bar mightily high.

His partnership with Sam Whitelock in the second row is flourishing thanks to the pair complementing one another's skills so well.

It seems that no matter what the job Rettalick is always up for it, both in attack and defence.

5. Alun Wyn Jones - Wales

Jones has been one of the key men in the Welsh pack over the past couple of years combining his abrasive style of play with lineout skills and leadership to lead by example.