Best Lock combo's in Super Rugby

[Amobokoboko]

Had some days off this week, so enjoyed some old games.

These are the lock combo's that did it for me

2008: Thorn and Williams ( Crusaders)
2009: Botha & Matfield ( Bulls)
2010: Botha & Matfield (Bulls)
2011: Thorn and Whitelock (Crusaders)

Any thoughts? Everything before 2008 is a bit blur atm ^_^

 

[Darwin]

Will be interesting to see who the dominant combo's are this season with Thorn, Botha, and Matfield all gone this season. For me there is certainly no standout combinations as there have been in previous years. In terms of New Zealand teams, I think Boric & Williams at the Blues looks like the top combo, though Donnelly & Whitelock have the potential to form a strong combination at the Crusaders, and I think the Hoeata & Bekhuis combination at the Highlanders is very under-rated.

For me the best combination may come from the Reds, as I thought Horwill & Simmons made a great combination last year. The Wykes & Sharpe combo at the Force is pretty good too (though both play a bit too loose for my liking). None of the South African combinations really stand-out to me like the Botha & Matfield combo did for many years. I think the Bekker & Elstadt combination looks promising though, and I do expect the Bulls to form a pretty good combination out of van der Merwe, Kruger, Steenkamp, and Mabeta (this despite losing three world class locks).

 

[Amobokoboko]

This year (edit last year , there were a lot of locks that played well: Williams, Boric, Thorn, Whitelock, Bekker, Rossouw & Steenkamp. Didn't really pay that much attention to the Australian locks but Sharpe and Horwill are also quality.

 

[nickdnz]

Romana Graham and Brodie Retallick of the Chiefs will inspire much fear, as will Alister Campbell and James King of the Melbourne Rebels...

 

[big ginger 8]

Would Pyle not start for the Rebels really impressed me last year.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Romana Graham and Brodie Retallick of the Chiefs will inspire much fear, as will Alister Campbell and James King of the Melbourne Rebels...

TBH, Graham and Messam were quiet dominant in the line outs, but Messam isn't a lock.

 

[Darwin]

Would Pyle not start for the Rebels really impressed me last year.

Yep, he will almost definitely start.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

ITO the SA teams it's the Stormers who have the best locks for me surprisingly. With Botha, Matfield and Rossouw gone Bekker is probably the biggest 'name' at lock in SA and backed up by three very promising newbies in Quinn Roux, Rynhardt Elstadt and Eben Etzebeth. Look for those guys to make a name for themselves (considering the length of the tournament and Bekker's bad back).

Flip van der Merwe and Wilhelm Steenkamp is a solid enough partnership but i'm not convinced with the depth. Kruger and Mabeta don't get me all that excited. The Sharks still have some depth but quality is somewhat of an issue in my view particularly with Gerhard Mostert and Steven Sykes gone. Cheetahs lost Wilhelm Steenkamp to the Bulls and if Francois Uys gets injured again they are looking VERY thin. Wouldn't be surprised to see Juan Smith at lock for them. The Lions are the ones that will probably be playing better than the 'names' in the squad (and at lock) might suggest. Franco van der Merwe hasn't had a look in but plays like a man possesed and so soes Wikus van Heerden. Their back-up are unknown/untested outside Currie Cup but might surprise.

 

[Darwin]

ITO the SA teams it's the Stormers who have the best locks for me surprisingly. With Botha, Matfield and Rossouw gone Bekker is probably the biggest 'name' at lock in SA and backed up by three very promising newbies in Quinn Roux, Rynhardt Elstadt and Eben Etzebeth. Look for those guys to make a name for themselves (considering the length of the tournament and Bekker's bad back).

Flip van der Merwe and Wilhelm Steenkamp is a solid enough partnership but i'm not convinced with the depth. Kruger and Mabeta don't get me all that excited. The Sharks still have some depth but quality is somewhat of an issue in my view particularly with Gerhard Mostert and Steven Sykes gone. Cheetahs lost Wilhelm Steenkamp to the Bulls and if Francois Uys gets injured again they are looking VERY thin. Wouldn't be surprised to see Juan Smith at lock for them. The Lions are the ones that will probably be playing better than the 'names' in the squad (and at lock) might suggest. Franco van der Merwe hasn't had a look in but plays like a man possesed and so soes Wikus van Heerden. Their back-up are unknown/untested outside Currie Cup but might surprise.

I was very impressed with Elstadt during last years Super Rugby season, but to me he looked better suited to being a (tall) blindside flanker rather than a lock. His defense, work-rate, and ball-running were all top-notch and he stole a lot of opposition ball at lineout time, but I just thought he played too loose for a lock. Obviously the best thing for the Stormers will be to start him at lock again this season as they don't have much experience at lock outside Bekker, and they already have a quality loosie forward trio (Vermeulen, Burger, Koster). I just wonder whether his future lies in the 7 jersey. Looking forward to seeing how Etzebeth goes if he gets a chance - I remember seeing a bit of him in the under 20's and he looked very impressive (maybe he just stood-out because he was huge!).

I was a bit surprised at the lack of depth among South African Super Rugby locks - it usually an area I consider to be a major strength of South African teams. I certainly understand why this is the case: in the last year or so South African franchises have lost at least six locks that I consider to be of international standard (Botha, Matfield, Rossouw, Mostert, Muller, Sykes), three of which are world class (Botha, Matfield, and Rossouw)! It is interesting that some teams are converting loose-forwards to locks e.g. Wikus van Heerdan and possibly the likes of Jean Deysel and Juan Smith. I've heard/seen a bit of Etzebeth and Elstadt (haven't seen anything of Quinn Roux but I will keep an eye out for him) - is there any other young South African locks from other franchises that I should watch out for?

 

[TNT88]

Best lock combo: Andries Bekker & co

 

[Seaton]

I was very impressed with Elstadt during last years Super Rugby season, but to me he looked better suited to being a (tall) blindside flanker rather than a lock. His defense, work-rate, and ball-running were all top-notch and he stole a lot of opposition ball at lineout time, but I just thought he played too loose for a lock. Obviously the best thing for the Stormers will be to start him at lock again this season as they don't have much experience at lock outside Bekker, and they already have a quality loosie forward trio (Vermeulen, Burger, Koster). I just wonder whether his future lies in the 7 jersey. Looking forward to seeing how Etzebeth goes if he gets a chance - I remember seeing a bit of him in the under 20's and he looked very impressive (maybe he just stood-out because he was huge!).

I was a bit surprised at the lack of depth among South African Super Rugby locks - it usually an area I consider to be a major strength of South African teams. I certainly understand why this is the case: in the last year or so South African franchises have lost at least six locks that I consider to be of international standard (Botha, Matfield, Rossouw, Mostert, Muller, Sykes), three of which are world class (Botha, Matfield, and Rossouw)! It is interesting that some teams are converting loose-forwards to locks e.g. Wikus van Heerdan and possibly the likes of Jean Deysel and Juan Smith. I've heard/seen a bit of Etzebeth and Elstadt (haven't seen anything of Quinn Roux but I will keep an eye out for him) - is there any other young South African locks from other franchises that I should watch out for?

Tbh, Elstadt made his appearances in the Currie Cup at flank, flitted between 6 & 7 but am not too sure.

I suppose we will have to wait and see which youngsters make it into the Superugby squads, you know may be considered not ready for that level physically and all that jazz, but at this early stage the Sharks look set to include 19 year old Pieter-Steph du Toit, who had a blinder in the u21 group last season. Would be a number 4 as well. Another is Jan-Andre Marais, who should be more likely to make the squad given he is a few years older with several senior games and seasons under his belt.

Otherwise as stormer2010 pointed out the surplus is at the Bulls and Stormers at the moment.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I was very impressed with Elstadt during last years Super Rugby season, but to me he looked better suited to being a (tall) blindside flanker rather than a lock. His defense, work-rate, and ball-running were all top-notch and he stole a lot of opposition ball at lineout time, but I just thought he played too loose for a lock. Obviously the best thing for the Stormers will be to start him at lock again this season as they don't have much experience at lock outside Bekker, and they already have a quality loosie forward trio (Vermeulen, Burger, Koster). I just wonder whether his future lies in the 7 jersey. Looking forward to seeing how Etzebeth goes if he gets a chance - I remember seeing a bit of him in the under 20's and he looked very impressive (maybe he just stood-out because he was huge!).

I was a bit surprised at the lack of depth among South African Super Rugby locks - it usually an area I consider to be a major strength of South African teams. I certainly understand why this is the case: in the last year or so South African franchises have lost at least six locks that I consider to be of international standard (Botha, Matfield, Rossouw, Mostert, Muller, Sykes), three of which are world class (Botha, Matfield, and Rossouw)! It is interesting that some teams are converting loose-forwards to locks e.g. Wikus van Heerdan and possibly the likes of Jean Deysel and Juan Smith. I've heard/seen a bit of Etzebeth and Elstadt (haven't seen anything of Quinn Roux but I will keep an eye out for him) - is there any other young South African locks from other franchises that I should watch out for?

Funny enough Elstadt played blindside most of his carreer and indeed started out at the Stormers there as well prior to Anton van Zyl getting injured. Keen eye, mate. Stormers might move him back to blindside if Burger gets rested/injured and give either Etzebeth or Roux a shot though I think Etzebeth will be cover for Bekker. We'll have to wait and see.

Yeah, SA has had the same problem at lock that you guys have with Carter; quality players don't get a look in and move abroad (Nick Evans, Luke McAllister). Now with Matfield and co moving off hopefully the likes of our Mouritz Botha's, Dewald Senekals, Gerrie Britz's etc will stay put to gight it out for a national berth. Perfect timing for a few young guys to come through and stake their claim.

ITO young guys.. well I can only think of our (WP) guys where Elstadt has allready had a year in Super rugby and like you said needs to be able to get in a bit tighter. Etzebeth and Roux have both looked very impressive and it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up in a bigger competition. The only others I can think of is Jan Andre Marais and Anton Bresler at the Sharks. I'm not really in a position to comment as the Sharks opted to rather play Jean Deysel at lock (with limited effectiveness IMO) in the Currie cup so i don't have anything to go on really. Other franchises' guys have been around and though solid enough I can't see anyone other than Bekker be world class. Maybe van der Merwe and Steenkamp but then they need to make a step up.

 

[Darwin]

Funny enough Elstadt played blindside most of his carreer and indeed started out at the Stormers there as well prior to Anton van Zyl getting injured. Keen eye, mate. Stormers might move him back to blindside if Burger gets rested/injured and give either Etzebeth or Roux a shot though I think Etzebeth will be cover for Bekker. We'll have to wait and see.

Ah, I wasn't aware that he had so much recent experience at blindside. You can tell he's had some experience as a loose-forward in the past - I just assumed it was quite a few years ago. It will be interesting to see how much time he gets at 7 this season.

Yeah, SA has had the same problem at lock that you guys have with Carter; quality players don't get a look in and move abroad (Nick Evans, Luke McAllister). Now with Matfield and co moving off hopefully the likes of our Mouritz Botha's, Dewald Senekals, Gerrie Britz's etc will stay put to gight it out for a national berth. Perfect timing for a few young guys to come through and stake their claim.

I think you've summed up the problem brilliantly there. I don't think it will be long before we see South Africa get its depth back at lock, as South Africa never seems to have any problem producing quality locks.

ITO young guys.. well I can only think of our (WP) guys where Elstadt has allready had a year in Super rugby and like you said needs to be able to get in a bit tighter. Etzebeth and Roux have both looked very impressive and it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up in a bigger competition. The only others I can think of is Jan Andre Marais and Anton Bresler at the Sharks. I'm not really in a position to comment as the Sharks opted to rather play Jean Deysel at lock (with limited effectiveness IMO) in the Currie cup so i don't have anything to go on really. Other franchises' guys have been around and though solid enough I can't see anyone other than Bekker be world class. Maybe van der Merwe and Steenkamp but then they need to make a step up.

Thanks for that - I will certainly have to keep an eye on those youngsters you have mentioned.

 

[Tomsey]

Horwill and Simonds where impressive in the Reds charge to the the ***le. they are both very good in open play as well as good line out exponents.