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You are in: Rugby Union: Features |  |
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World Cup Bulldozers | |
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Around the Academy: |
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The days when international rugby forwards only saw the ball when they autographed it at the post-match banquet are long gone.
Now some of the most exciting ball-carriers in the game are found in the pack, blending raw power with sharp handling and an often unexpected turn of pace. They may not run with the grace of a winger in full flight, but there are few more stirring sights than one of the big men going on the charge.
Ryo Yamamura (Japan) Known as the rising star of Japan's pack, Yamamura is outdone by very few players on the field in terms of his sheer size.
Initially a sumo wrestler, his skill at bundling people out of his way has come equally in handy on the international rugby scene. His scrummaging ability still leaves a lot to be desired but there is no questioning either his desire or his ability to achieve. Back in Japan his celebrity status is not matched by his team-mates and he is tipped for a move to a higher profile club come the end of the World Cup.
Phil Vickery (England) The rampaging open-field play with which Gloucester's "Raging Bull" first caught the eye still marks him out from almost all his fellow front row warriors.
Vickery uses all the power and aggression he packs into his 19-stone frame to make the hard yards around the ruck and maul. But he can also shift his bulk at surprising speed when he gets a glimpse of daylight in open play. He defines the new, ball-carrying role that all modern props have to fill.
Martin Scelzo Simply put, the Argentine prop is absolutely massive.
With his height and build he dwarfs the usually monstrous Phil Vickery when the pair come head-to-head. There are few players in the world game who are stronger in the set pieces than Scelzo, who stands out in terms of his power even among a typically large Pumas pack. Despite his size, he can be mobile but the bursts are short and all too intermittent.
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