Who will anchor the scrum?
Into the front row we go and there are three burly contenders ready to pack down in the front row for the rugby365.com readers’ Team of 2011 and all have a strong pedigree to make it a tight race to win your vote.
A quality tighthead prop is worth his weight in gold and most of them aren’t small men, and while it isn’t the most glamorous job in rugby, it is a crucial one for a successful scrumming unit.
The three strong men have been dominant forces in rugby this year and have made scrum time a nightmare for opposition looseheads, and have each won some tighthead scrums to the horror of their opposition and delight of their teams.
The first big man in the vote is Italian star Martin Castrogiovanni, who has turned scrumming into a form of art and is an intimidating figure in the front row.
Castro has become a folk hero for both the Azzurri and Leicester Tigers with his shaggy hair and cheeky grin whenever it’s time to pack down in another scrum.
One of the most improved front rows in recent times in All Blacks powerhouse Owen Franks, who was voted into both the rugby365.com Super Rugby and Tri-Nations teams for his excellent work this season.
Franks is a big bruiser, who will hurt you in the scrums if you don’t get your hit in, and his raw power has made some strong front rows crumble under the pressure.
He was one of the bearded wonders during Super Rugby, but it was his rugby, not his facial features, that impressed this year.
The final star is French scrumming machine Nicolas Mas, who has top quality technique to dismantle much large men in the scrums.
His true value was felt when he was ruled out with a hamstring injury for the World Cup pool clash against the All Blacks. His return in the restored France’s dominance in the scrums, as he so aptly demonstrated in the final.
Who will pack down at No.3 in your team?
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)
5: Lock – (James Horwill, Ali Williams, Victor Matfield, Tom Palmer)
4: Lock – (Brad Thorn, Richie Gray)
