As we continue with our player ranking series here at RBP, we move on the the Tighthead props. While many of these players may not be as exhilarating to watch as some of their loosehead brethren, they are just as important.
10. Martin Castrogiovanni:
Time is growing short for the Italian legend. He has endured some poor form this season, and he really is starting to show his age. That said, he remains a powerful force at scrum time, and as far as instigators go, there are few in international rugby who are better at winding people up than Castro.
9. Ben Tameifuna:
The massive New Zealander is known for his ability to find his way to the try line, and although he can be exploited from time to time in the scrum, there are not many props who find this easy with him weighing in at 140 kg. Tameifuna is a freak athlete, prone to making massive hits, and bulldozing runs. While his international future is still up in the air, the 23 year old has plenty of potential and a very bright future.
8. Martin Moore:
Another bright star for the future. Perhaps not as dangerous as Tameifuna in the loose, Moore is a massive individual, and has risen through the ranks at Leinster and Ireland remarkably quickly. The 123kg prop has been pressuring Mike Ross for his spot ever since he made his breakthrough last season, and even though he has had a difficult time with injury this time around, Moore has looked better and better every time he has played.
7. Nicolas Mas:
France have a bit of a reputation for churning out big props, and Mas is just another example of that. Short, squat, and full of power, Mas loves nothing more than to give loose heads headaches in the scrum. And then take the ball straight into the teeth of the opposition defence. Typically French, Mas left a press conference last year when questions arose about the French scrum, but Mas is nonetheless a leader in the side and a very talented player.
6. Samson Lee:
It’s a little known fact that Lee is actually a talented actor, he starred in Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark as the boulder that Jones must flee from in the Temple. Joking aside, Lee is a star to watch in the future. Anyone who can convince Warren Gatland to casually toss aside Adam Jones must be pretty good, and Lee was one of the stars of the 6 Nations, vindicating Gatland’s decision before an ankle injury put him out of commission. Lee is the future for Wales, and will be a huge part of their World Cup campaign.
5. Mike Ross:
Described by Jonathan Sexton as “The most important member of the squad”, Ross is a huge part of the setup for both Leinster and Ireland. When the injury list was mounting during the beginning of this season, the one thing the fans could count on was Ross. In a time when Ireland fans had little to count on, he went the full 80 minutes and bolstered the scrum in match after match. He may not have much to offer in the loose, but Ross is one of the best in the tight phases, and his dedication to club and country has been noteworthy.
4. Dave Wilson:
When Dan Cole was unavailable, Wilson stepped in and performed flawlessly. Standout performances against the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia cemented Wilson’s place on this list before injury interrupted his campaign. Again, Wilson’s importance was highlighted when he was not available for Bath against Leinster in the European Quarterfinal, as Cian Healy demolished the weakened Bath front row. A phenomenal scrummager, and talented player, Wilson is likely to a major piece of the puzzle for England for many years to come.
3. Dan Cole:
The Leicester prop is a throwback type of player. Big, physical, tricky at the scrum and always willing to put his body on the line for the team. He is a huge part of the England scrums dominance in this years 6 Nations, and is one of the key parts of the rebuilding Leicester Tigers. A front row with himself, Ayerza, and Tom Youngs is not a bad start and look for Tigers to call upon that group time and time again.
2. Jannie Du Plessis:
The Scrum Doctor. Like Ross, maybe not as prominent in the loose, but when it comes time to pack down, few are better at winning penalties than Du Plessis. Du Plessis gave Wyatt Crockett no end of trouble when the two met in South Africa this year, as the Springbok scrum gave Handre Pollard a match winning platform. He and his brother Bismark make for one hell of a pair in the front row, and if South Africa are to challenge for the World Cup this year, these two will play a key role.
1. Owen Franks:
The rock of the All Blacks pack. Franks has to be one of the most consistent players in the world at the moment. He seems to be in the lineup every time the All Blacks play, and rarely puts a bad foot forward. Like so many others on this list, he may not be a danger man in the loose, but he certainly can demolish an opposition scrum if they have not done their homework. He has caused plenty of trouble to plenty of scrums, and at 27 years of age, will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.