PLAYER POWER RANKINGS | 7. OPENSIDE FLANKER

Position by position, ranking the best players on Earth. Tracking how the list changes over time. Now, the openside flankers - huge engines, link men, breakdown specialists. So many quality players not even in the Top 10.

[johnkinsella]

silent assassin....full tilt all game everygame, never complains, never showboats, never any chest beating for opponent knock ons, a gentleman in interviews, id say he is a coaches dream, and looking back only for a very unfortunate Dan Leavy injury he might not have reached this level of performance, almost serendipitous

[kerrylass]

Sunny and a balmy 7C here in Is Rochelle. The weather is lovely and amongst a sea of frommage the oysters and wine here in the market are going down well. Getting some fresh air before I head to the pub and catch Toulouse Ulster and Munster matches back to back along with the other Leinster supporters. It's a hard life.

[blueboy]

I know he's been injured and has to show this form over a longer period of time, but I wouldn't be surprised if McReight is top of this list this time next year. He'll get the chance to prove it in the lions series, but for me he's shown world XV level form since the rugby championship. Has absolutely everything you could want in that position.

[rematador]

Good to see you at the Leicester v. Ulster game! I didn't recognize you at first! SUFTUM!

[Colm-wkzw]

On your point about the Irish Blindside, there's a good few that'd be in that tussle; Baird, Ahern, Izuchuckwu, McCann, Prendergast.

Only McCann and Prendergast would be your old school Bilndside's out ot them, but that Gaping hole will be filled by Jack Conan, I believe in the 6 Nations.

[timslade]

Ryan Baird was putting his hand up last year for that 6 jersey but didn't finish the season well, played okay as an impact sub in the SA tour and has made a big difference in the Leinster lineout this season so hopefully he gets a start in the 6 Nations

[Natedawg]

VDF was Irelands most important player last year and probably will be this year.

[richardholder]

Sam Underhill is the best open side England have, it’s a real shame he’s injured, hopefully he won’t be out to long because if he is fit he could feature for the Lions in the summer!!

[ritchiebirnie]

Minus 8 at final whistle in Glasgow last night...a bit of a chill

[connorhickey]

Pretty insane mcreight at six, was by far the best 7 in every game he played this year. He outperformed jvf and other top players. Wouldn’t mind you being a little less bias towards nh players and what they do at club level.

[michaelmartin]

I feel I have to continue this Lions theme. Excellent list. Well researched. One minor thing, you and I have a thing in common. We have a problem with 6 and 9. You put McReight as the 6th but the video had 9 beside his picture!

Lions, in situ, are VDF, Underhill and Darge with Morgan as first backup. Seems a big opertunity for a player to overtake Underhill but he has a lot of credit in the bank, like Sheehan.

From an Irish perspective, nobody is going to break into this list because VDF is the main man and Doris goes into 7 when hes injured. Both are 80 minute players. Conan, Izuckukwu, Baird, C Prendergast, O'Mahony and Henderson are competing for the 6, 19 and 20 shirts. All are outside the top 10 of the 6 list.

[andremaube]

Van der Flier and Cros and clearly on another level.
They bring so much confidence for their respective team

[corcaigh]

I think that is the first list with 10 countries represented. Great for rugby.

[ThomasBarthoulot]

François Cros also jumps in the lineout, and makes a lot of counters
Honestly French flankers usually are hybrids, they often do a mix of both

[jacksonsjourney]

Love the gear. Snowing in North Carolina right now. Arctic weather.

[tcr_tiagy]

Not sure it playing international is a requirement but Jack Willis is for sure on the top 3 of that list.

[lizzyhanahoe]

JvDF back where he belongs. I wish he had been in this form at the WC, will have to wait for 2027. He is like a gladiator on the field and a real ‘gentle’ man off the field. 💚

[stonemad]

Spot on with JVDF! He is back to where he was 4 years ago. Relentless.

[stephgagnoulet]

Hello Tim,
Fair review as always!
FYI the "s"at the end of François Cros' name is pronoouced in French... 😉

[AllInTheGame]

VdF for sure, Kolisi as well but interestingly has been playing @8 for Sharks & @7 for SA like Earl playing @7 for Saracens but @8 for ENG. Like the look of Tom Pearson @7 for Northampton & Deon Fourie @7 for Stormers. JM Gonzalez is a 6, plays there for Sarries!