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Originally Posted by steve@thaib
...I still think that the English tight 5 are the best in the world at the mo...
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Very patriotic quote and whilst as another Englishman I would like to agree, I can't help feeling that NZ produces world class locks (2nd row forwards) consistently, who are not only good ball players, but nasty b*stards who get in and mix it with anyone, i.e. take no nonsense. SA, Aus (John Eales especially) and France also turn out some seriously good locks as well.
Why was Martin Johnson so good ? He spent time playing in NZ for a while and came back a much better player. Grewcock, Shaw and Borthwick are good solid international players but would never make it in to my "world 15".
As a tight 5 unit taken as one, i.e. compared to the tight 5's of other countries, then yes maybe they are tops at present.