Best back row in the Premiership? The top six contending depth charts
From contesting at the breakdown to leading the defensive line, and often taking on core roles as primary ball-carriers, lineout targets and providing ball-security, a lot is demanded of the modern back row forward.
They aren’t considered to have the same influence on a game that the half-backs do and when the set-piece is discussed, all eyes go to the front and second rows, but the loose forwards’ impact on a game is usually up there with the most significant of contributors to the final outcome.
After an apparent dearth of traditional opensides in previous Rugby World Cup cycles to the abundance of young talent emerging at the position currently, English rugby and the Gallagher Premiership’s back rows are seemingly always a topic of conversation.
Those aforementioned emerging talents, coupled with a summer of noteworthy recruitment, have the standout Premiership back rows looking in pretty good shape ahead of the 2019/20 season.
We’ve put together depth charts for the top six units in the competition, but which looks strongest with the new season looming?
1st string – Jean-Luc du Preez, Tom Curry, Jono Ross
2nd string – Mark Wilson, Ben Curry, Dan du Preez
3rd string – Cameron Neild, Sam Dugdale, Josh Beaumont
The arrivals of the du Preez twins and Wilson catapult an already impressive Sale unit into contention with the best in the league. The first- and second-string groups, as listed here, are interchangeable and may well look different to the club’s coaching staff, as there is clearly no lack of talent or possible combinations.
Dugdale is a bright talent in the club’s senior academy and if Neild is viewed primarily as a hooker and Beaumont as a lock – despite the signing of Lood de Jager – then Teddy Leatherbarrow, Ciaran Booth and Sam Moore come into the mix.
Bath
1st string – Zach Mercer, Sam Underhill, Taulupe Faletau
2nd string – Tom Ellis, Josh Bayliss, Francois Louw
3rd string – Mike Williams, Miles Reid, Nahum Merigan
If the award were simply for the most exciting back row, it would probably have to go to Bath. Mercer and Faletau are superb ball-carriers and in Underhill, Louw and Bayliss, Bath have three predatory breakdown threats, all of whom are capable of providing transition attack opportunities.
Ellis and Williams bring work rate to the blindside and Merigan is a name worth keeping an eye on over the next few seasons, having excelled as a ball-carrier in the U18s for the last couple of years.
1st string – Jordan Taufua, Guy Thompson, Hanro Liebenberg
2nd string – David Denton, Tommy Reffell, Sione Kalamafoni
3rd string – Sam Lewis, Henri Lavin, Jordan Coghlan
Leicester make the cut due to their impressive recruitment of Taufua and Liebenberg, which gives them a first-string group that is a match for anyone else in the competition. It’s tough to say the depth is there that both Sale and Bath boast, though.
The likes of Lewis, Reffell and Lavin will have their hearts set on making an impact this season and proving their worth, something which could help Leicester’s projected depth chart for the coming years look much more solid.
Harlequins
1st string – Chris Robshaw, Semi Kunatani, Alex Dombrandt
2nd string – Renaldo Bothma, Jack Clifford, James Chisholm
3rd string – Archie White, Will Evans, Tom Lawday
It doesn’t have some of the bigger names that the Sale and Bath groups do, but Quins have assembled a pretty solid unit of loose forwards. If Kunatani keeps acclimatising to English rugby, Robshaw continues to prosper without the demands of international rugby and Dombrandt makes another leap, that starting trio could cause plenty of problems.
Injuries have held Bothma and Clifford back, although their ability on the pitch is not questioned, and Chisholm caps a very impressive second group. Evans, who was highly thought of by Eddie Jones a couple of seasons ago, has moved down from Leicester and will be hopeful of realising his significant potential under Paul Gustard’s tutelage.
Wasps
1st string – Brad Shields, Thomas Young, Nizaam Carr
2nd string – Tom Willis, Jack Willis, Sione Vailanu
3rd string – Ben Morris, Will Wilson, Alex Rieder
Wasps’ fortunes overall may have taken a tumble last season, but even with the departure of Nathan Hughes, they can still put together three rather formidable back row groups. If the Willis brothers can stay fit and kick on next season, they’ll push for inclusion in that first-string group, too.
Wales’ plethora of opensides, South Africa’s wealth of back row options and England’s burgeoning group of young loose forwards will all be positives for Wasps in terms of the availability of Young, Carr and the Willis brothers during international windows.
Gloucester
1st string – Ruan Ackermann, Jaco Kriel, Ben Morgan
2nd string – Lewis Ludlow, Aaron Hinkley, Jake Polledri
3rd string – Freddie Clarke, Josh Gray, Jack Clement
The success of the Cherry and White group could ride on whether or not Kriel can still fit. When he is, the South African is among the best opensides in world rugby, although there’s no denying that injuries have held him back in recent seasons. The consistency of Ackermann and Morgan was key to Gloucester’s trip to the playoffs earlier this year.
Polledri brings international class, too, although the second- and third-string groups are heavy on potential, with Hinkley coming off the back of two impressive seasons with the England U20s and both Gray and Clement likely to be in that mix for 2019/20. Some teams may have slightly more established depth at the position, such as Exeter Chiefs, but Gloucester are fortunate to avoid too many international call-ups in most windows.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments