The hunt for tall timber
We make the move into the tight five and call on the readers to pick the best No.5 lock to pack down in the scrum and win line-out ball for the rugby365.com Team of the Year from 2011.
A well balanced lock pairing is an important part of any successful pack and at No.5 we have some top contenders from this year for you to choose from.
The four powerful men starred in various tournaments throughout the year and were picked by rugby365.com to represent the best of the best from 2011.
The first candidate is Wallaby skipper James Horwill, who was the best from the Tri-Nations, and following on from his great form in Super Rugby took the captain’s armband off Rocky Elsom.
Horwill leads from the front and has set a good example as Australia’s skipper, becoming a top class international lock this season and relishing the added responsibility of leading the young Wallaby outfit.
The 26-year-old has grown in stature in 2011 and is now a permanent fixture in Australia’s second row.
From Super Rugby the best of the bunch was comeback king Ali Williams, who finally shook off his history of long-term injuries to compete from the Blues.
Williams’ form was so good that he returned to the All Blacks fold for the World Cup and was always easily noticeable during passionate renditions of the Haka with his wild eyes and sideways tongue.
Agility and strength rolled into one make Williams a top quality lock, with an x-factor that helps him find himself in the right place at the right time more often than not.
The outstanding lock from the Six Nations was England’s Tom Palmer, who forced his way into Martin Johnson’s side, and was one of the stars in their campaign.
Palmer had previously been on the fringes of the side, and playing in France hadn’t helped his cause, but consistent good performances made his a crucial part of the tight five.
Finally the legend himself Victor Matfield, who redefined the role of the perfect lock over the past decade.
Matfield made the rugby365.com World Cup team of the tournament and came through for the Boks when it counted.
The line-out king was at his best in the quarterfinal loss to Australia, where he dominated all the aerial battles and stamped his authority on the tournament as the best No.5 lock.
He will be missed by the Springboks, for his all round game from leadership, to defence, ability to read the game and most notably his line-out dominance.
When one of these tall units gets your vote?
There is still time to cast your vote for the best:
15: Fullback – (Israel Dagg, Kurtley Beale, Andrea Masi)
14: Right wing – (James O’Connor, Chris Ashton, Rod Davies)
13: Outside centre – (Brian O’Driscoll, Jaque Fourie, Conrad Smith)
12: Inside centre – (Sonny Bill Williams, Ma’a Nonu, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies)
11: Left wing – (Digby Ioane, Shane Williams)
10: Flyhalf – (Dan Carter, Quade Cooper, Rhys Priestland, Toby Flood)
9: Scrumhalf – (Will Genia, Mike Phillips, Morgan Parra)
8: Eighthman – (Kieran Read, Sergio Parisse, Imanol Harinordoquy, Radike Samo)
7: Flank – (Sam Warburton, David Pocock, Beau Robinson, Richie McCaw)
6: Flank – (Sean O’Brien, Scott Higginbotham, Heinrich Brüssow, Jerome Kaino)
