PLAYER POWER RANKINGS | 6. BLINDSIDE FLANKER

[@christoduplessis8177]

I think what is scary is that South Africa have another 3 or 4 guys that aren't a million miles off from Louw. Blindside flank is one position we don't need to worry about 😅

[@dandreehlers9817]

Ruan Venter, Dixon, Ludwig and Cairnes are my favourites

[@EggchasersRugby]

100% big units who love to smash people...SA has never had a shortage of them!

[@RossoVerdeNero]

That's the first top ten with no Irishman. But if Easterby sticks with Farrell's recent selections with McCarthy and Ryan at lock and Beirne at 6, I think your list might gain an additional tinge of green.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Fair assessment that!

[@henrybullock4514]

Ireland definitely need to have a look at Izuchukwu

[@Keeks749]

​@@henrybullock4514and dave mccann

[@SMacCuUladh]

@@henrybullock4514 Izzy will deffo be in the 6N squad.

[@henrybullock4514]

@ yeah he looks solid. Can play 6,7 and 8 too.

[@victorswart7411]

I like Louw great player. PSDT LEGEND

[@ritchiebirnie6124]

Ferguson was incredible tonight for Glasgow

[@henryburton6529]

Blindside is the spot for the best overall athlete. The top 10 is packed with physical specimens. If the top 10 in every position had a giant royal rumble one of these boys would win it

[@EggchasersRugby]

Agree totally. Animals

[@TzaboChakuze-vp7os]

Hi Tim, please do an educational piece for the casual rugby fans differentiating between blindside and openside position. Why they differ, how they differ and why some plays can play both

[@myusernameizgud1722]

wallace sititi will move up this list. wasnt even on the last list, started this year and sits behind only the best and also established players, and imo might even already be ahead of valetini and closer to kremer. give him 2 years, maybe 3 and he will be top 2 or 3 for sure, and psdt retires by then he could end up #1. as a kiwi even i gotta agree the psdt is a beast

[@EggchasersRugby]

Sititi's instant impact has been amazing to watch.

[@NicolasFernandez-tc5xp]

I like him at 8 tbh.

[@Tanner-2]

@@NicolasFernandez-tc5xp look at the amount of space that is opened up for walllace sititi at 6 and how much of an impact he's making.

[@TheContrarianMind]

Rumour has it Pieter-Steph du Toit is going to Munster later this year, should look into it.

[@joebateson1081]

The kiss of 💀 for springboks. He can find his way to Thomand Park by following a trail of 🦴

[@EggchasersRugby]

Would be an unreal coup!

[@tilmanvondelft]

Would be an unwise move, risk being overplayed, getting injured and seriously jeopardise his chances of making RWC 2027

[@luthandomondliwa8702]

@@tilmanvondelftwould definitely be a stupid move

[@SMacCuUladh]

@@tilmanvondelft why would munster play him more than any other team?

[@philcoffey5656]

Someone in an Irish jersey needs to step up here, VDF and Doris need someone to fill out that backrow Trio

[@subbie5498]

ahern Prendergast baird

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

I’m hoping to see Ahern in the 6Ns, he has a bit of dawg about him.

[@philcoffey5656]

None of them have kicked on to really call the jersey there own, love to see big tom in there but needs to calm the Munster 6 first, Jack o'D starting there tomorrow

[@subbie5498]

@@philcoffey5656 jack underrated player reckon he could be a good option

[@dragless4565]

Conan has played best at 6 so far in Ireland this season

[@DM-rp9ik]

Welcome to Munster PSDT

[@stevebuchmann9868]

It’s Pieter-Steph not Peter Steph. Otherwise, massive fan of the channel 🙂

[@zisssssou]

It's tricky to settle Ollivon at a certain position as he can play at 8 or as a lock, like psdt. His recurrent injuries let think he will be used as a bomb squad sub in 2027. Backrow starters will be Boudehent, Aldritt and a match between Cros/Jegou/Jelonch/Nouchi for the last place. Sititi to become the lad in few years.

[@dragless4565]

I hope it puts a fire under Conan/Baird/Deegan to not be on this list. Thanks for the motivation ammunition Tim!

[@EggchasersRugby]

Someone in green needs to take the opportunity which is clearly there

[@dragless4565]

@@EggchasersRugby I know your love for Tadhg Beirne but I don't think he's nearly the same level at 6 compared to 5.

[@robcrocker348]

A freakish list this, anyone of these guys will make any team

[@adamsummers6922]

Assume Juan Martin Gonzalez must have been moved to openside in your view. Although always plays 6 for Sarries

[@oldtighthead2459]

Andre Venter ,Juan Smith and now Pieter Steph Du Toit...

[@Thudsrayz]

That's a great group. Is Bobby V the forgotten man or is it just me who forgets him? Picking Louw to move up and Sititi will either move up or to the no8 list

[@michaelmartin2075]

I kind of knew this was going to happen when Beirne was chosen as an out and out 5. So, Fagerson and CCS have got their tickets on the plane to Australia for the summer and will need some big performances from Ireland and Wales to change that status quo. My feeling is that O'Mahony won't go if he is a starter at 6 because the other home unions won't allow it. I feel the same way about Henderson. I think that Beirne is the test starter 6, anyway. Conan, Izuckukwu, and Baird will have to break into the test squad at 6 before they become contenders. Or, if they make an impression from the 19 or 20 shirt.

[@BertFlashman]

To be fair I reckon either Beirne or Itoje will be played in the 6 postion to get both of them in. I also think Chessim is ahead of Cunningham South as a 6.

[@EggchasersRugby]

Agree with that! Don't forget about Courtney Lawes....curveball!

[@AllInTheGame01]

Will Sititi not end up playing more @8 with Finau @6 for Chiefs & NZ (esp as a 31yr old Ardie gets managed more carefully in the lead up to the '27 World Cup)?!

[@rodesianRogers]

Ardie, like other older players will probably endup on the bench at the WC (probably our very own bomb squad), theres just to many young ones that are like Wallace Sititi that are bigger, stronger faster and have out the gate skillsets that are coming through NZ atm

[@Thudsrayz]

Finau had a good year at SRP but disappointing for the ABs. Really struggling. It'll be telling to see how he reacts this year and if he gets selected. I'm a fan so hope so

[@HarryBattelle]

Ahern will be there soon

[@EggchasersRugby]

Ireland (and Munster) need someone in that role to step up

[@danielmacdonald721]

South Africa could have a crazy back row in the future after PSDT leaves still .Should play louw at 7, Hanekom at 6 and wiese at 8.

[@subbie5498]

and roos but no fetcher is a problem

[@deanfaasen535]

​​@subbie5498 Hanekom can be seen as a fetcher..dont forget about Ruan Venter,Franky Horn and Mpilo Gumede

[@dandreehlers9817]

​@@subbie5498clearly u haent watched louw or hanekom😅

[@subbie5498]

@@dandreehlers9817 hanekom maybe louw definitely not

[@danielmacdonald721]

@@subbie5498Hanekom could easily play 6,7 or 8. He’s a mix truly but I’d slot him at 6 since he can do the fetching more

[@dietersmit6639]

Not to worry tjom, we're breeding more of those....

[@lizzyhanahoe4197]

Sounds disgusting put like that.

[@dietersmit6639]

PSTD 2031! 😂😂😂You're funny. But maybe.

[@subbie5498]

hed be 38, 39 technically possible but obviously new players must come in maybe keep him as the schalk brits or deon fourie of the boks

[@dietersmit6639]

@subbie5498 or an OS!

[@myoung7654]

With the growth of the utility lock/blind side flanker position it may have been best to leave these players out and have separate 5/6 and perhaps utility back top 10's after the Full back rankings are done.

[@nicolasmaligner8753]

Charles Ollivon is out for the 6N 😭... Big loss for France.

[@patrickchilds2987]

Really ! Is he injured. What a shame as he is a fantastic player

[@kropotkine9640]

@@patrickchilds2987 ACL in last WE game

[@EggchasersRugby]

I know! Gutted for him

[@patrickchilds2987]

@kropotkine9640 ACL not good. He is a fantastic player and I wish him the best in his recovery

[@axxey]

Argentina i think have the best back row collectively currently in those 4. Not always the best in each slot but collectively high quality, behind a fairly rubbish tight 5. Rare to have bad games. I think PSDT should keep Louw or any other SA from being able to make this list, he's not like the other 50 people chopping and changing for SA.

[@AffectionateMountainRang-xv8gv]

We do not have a player to replace Pieter Steph. I still think if Dixson pulls finger can come closest

[@EggchasersRugby]

That succession is interesting to watch.

[@jbespitalier]

Can we talk about Jack Willis ?

[@nicolasd2953]

Charles Ollivon is definitely an open side flanker, not a blindside one though

[@nicolasd2953]

The french blindside flanker is Francois Cros. He is the tackler - jackler - rucker. Ollivon is more an aerial, runner, support lines, slotting in the backs profile

[@EggchasersRugby]

France have their flankers set up differently to most countries. It's often left-right and other times aerial versus tighter. Hence Ollivon is a 7 but Dusatoir wore 6. Flament often plays 7 for France and Toulouse. Roumat too - he was 7 for France in November. Kremer at Clermont. 7 is often the one who is the 3rd lineout jumper. The "aerial" flanker. That's even more true when it's French teams who play in a classically French style. As I say, other times it's simple left and right. Ollivon is class...we can agree on that :)

[@jameswyatt4443]

In France they have a left flank and a right flank. Ollivon is 2 metres tall, for any other country he’d be considered a blindside.

[@nicolasd2953]

@@EggchasersRugby yes, he is one of my favourite players as a french Toulon supporter flanker. What I'm saying is that his style of play fits more the open side flanker description. He is the runner chaser aerial one where Francois Cros and Anthony Jelonch are the heavy impact tacklers - ruckers. Love your analysis btw Tim

[@hugofallon3724]

i would contest Ollivons level of work , he has had moments but has he put together 10 back to back tests for france .

[@kaan._.69]

Sebastian Negri?

[@jameswyatt4443]

Cunningham South a little for me.

[@ΝΖΚ]

Sititi 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@nevillelamberti]

The blindside/openside naming of the flank position is not an absolute thing in rugby. 6 or 7 are flanks and vary in many ways but to call 6 blindside and 7 openside is not something clearly defined.

[@EggchasersRugby]

I think I spend the first minute or so saying basically this. Because there are 2 flankers, I need 2 lists. So whilst it's not a perfect description, it works in most cases. Lineout forward Vs Breakdown specialist. Defender Vs Support runner. Bigger guy Vs smaller guy. That's how it splits in most cases, hence my list.

[@nevillelamberti]

@ absolutely. South African here. Always chipping in. Great content. I always watch the rankings. Thanks

[@CharlCrowie1]

I love this channel, better than Squidge

[@Bpt8825]

How Cunningham South is anywhere near this list is mental. 1) he’s not a blindside, he’s an 8. 2) he’s overrated and knocks the ball on in close contact 90% of the time. 3) there’s at least a handful of English 6’s who are far better. Hence why he’s been dropped from Harlequins first 15

[@EggchasersRugby]

61% of his appearances, club or country, at 6. 34% at 8. 2 appearances at 8 in 2 years. All international starts at 6. He'd be a great 8, but can only judge on where he is being used.

[@ericdavison6186]

And what does he do that Ethan Roots hasn't already for England?

[@jeanlouis731]

Clearly he's shit, Willis Willis Underhill >> Currie Earl CCS

[@connorhickey6364]

Insane valentini is not top 3, he would be a start on flanker for any country