TRU's Position Watch - Locks

With the front row done and dusted, we turned our attentions towards the engine room during the fourth week of the 2014/15 Aviva Premiership season.

The quality of locks in the tournament is as good as it has been at any point since the advent of professionalism, which has manifested itself at the international level, with England boasting arguably their most potent second row combination since Martin Johnson and Ben Kay graced the field.

Injuries have riddled the position group so far this season, but a number of eye-catching displays have seen the top three set themselves apart from the rest of the field.

8. Bradley Davies, Wasps

With great players like George Kruis, Brad Thorn, Elliot Stooke and Graham Kitchener all throwing their hat into the mix for this spot, it was no easy decision to go with the Welsh international.

Injuries have been a constant thorn in the side for Davies so far in his career, but his ability, at club or international level, has never been in doubt. His return from a hamstring injury will be welcomed by Wasps, who hope he can provide some much needed muscle in their relatively lightweight engine room.

7. Joshua Furno, Newcastle Falcons

The Italian has made a solid start to his time in the North-East, but four defeats so far for the Falcons has not added the gloss to his initial impact that many had hoped for.

The dynamism he brings to the second row position is akin to having a fourth back row on the field, and although the results haven’t come yet for Newcastle, there’s no doubt that Furno will play a pivotal role in their hopes of retaining their Premiership status this season.

6. Ed Slater, Leicester Tigers

A knee injury has already derailed Slater’s 2014/15 season, as well as possibly his hopes of featuring at next year’s Rugby World Cup, but his rise to prominence and international recognition last season was nothing short of meteoric, albeit for injury to deny him the opportunity of earning his first cap in New Zealand.

The Leicester man is a jack of all trades, not to mention a great leader, and though England caps surely do beckon for Slater, they unfortunately won’t be coming in the foreseeable future.

5. Dean Mumm, Exeter Chiefs

As a club, Exeter follow the praiseworthy blueprint of developing their own talent and sprinkling in a few seasoned foreign imports, who add quality to the first XV and prove to be valuable mentors to their young and exciting squad.

That is exactly what Mumm has done since he arrived in 2012. Like two of the locks previously mentioned, injury has prevented Mumm from impacting the 2014/15 season so far, but his return is eagerly anticipated by Exeter, who will be keen to add some fresh impetuous to their impressive start to the season.

4. Geoff Parling, Leicester Tigers

If you take Victor Matfield out of the equation, there may be no savvier lineout operator in world rugby than Parling. Such is his proficiency at the set-piece that other facets of his game often go underappreciated, but there is no doubt that the 30-year old is a complete second row.

Leicester’s now infamous injury crisis has not helped Parling make an early impact this season, but he was one of the few players to come out of the humiliating 45-0 loss to Bath with his head held high, posting a solid game of nine tackles made (none missed), three lineout takes and no penalties conceded, something which not many of his teammates could say.

3. Dave Attwood, Bath

Attwood steals a march on Parling and takes third spot, largely thanks to his performance in the aforementioned 45-0 drubbing of Leicester by Bath in Round 3.

Yes, Parling gave as good an account of himself as any Tiger on that day, but he was also comprehensively outplayed by the dynamic Attwood. The lock is second to only Guy Mercer at Bath with 31 tackles, whilst his 16 lineout takes lead the club with four rounds gone.

Attwood is pressing a case not only for England selection, but possibly a starting berth in Stuart Lancaster’s first XV.

2. Joe Launchbury, Wasps

The tireless lock went into Round 4 this week with 34 tackles to his name from his first three games and seems to be showing no signs of fatigue, despite featuring heavily for both Wasps and England over the last two years.

Though a proficient weapon at the set-piece, it’s in the loose where Launchbury has gone about making himself invaluable to both club and country. A non-stop engine has seen him make numerous important defensive plays late in England games, whilst his work at the breakdown and with ball in hand have made him England’s unofficial fourth back row forward.

1. Courtney Lawes, Northampton Saints

When fully fit and firing, a growing case can be made that Lawes is the most dynamic second row currently playing the game. Defensively, he is arguably peerless. His remarkable athleticism sees him steal opposition lineout ball regularly, whilst he doesn’t just tackle players, he hunts them down with a ferocity unseen since Serge Betsen in his prime.

Though he weighs in at 18 st 2 lb, he moves with the pace and agility of a much lighter man, whilst his hits are every bit as bone-shuddering as Eben Etzebeth’s. His attacking game is still a little unpolished in areas, including a fairly upright body position when carrying into contact, but he is certainly in the conversation for the best player at his position in the world.