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.