The best flankers in the world are Ardie Savea (New Zealand), Tom Curry (England), Pieter-Steph Du Toit (South Africa), Hamish Watson (Scotland), Sam Underhill (England), Pablo Matera (Argentina), CJ Stander (Ireland), Michael Hooper (Australia), Justin Tipuric (Wales) and Tom Christie (New Zealand).
Rugby is a physically demanding sport that requires strength, speed, and skill. One of the most important positions on the field is the flanker. Flankers are known for their versatility, tenacity, and their ability to turn the game around. In this article, we will be discussing the 10 best flankers in rugby in 2023, and why they are so good.
1. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Ardie Savea is not only an impressive flanker in terms of his physicality and skillset, but he also has the statistics to back it up. Here are some key stats that demonstrate his effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Savea is a ferocious tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in the game. In the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, he made a total of 123 tackles, which was the most of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 94%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Savea is a dominant force at the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he won a total of 11 turnovers, which was the second-highest in the competition. He also won 10 turnovers in the 2020 Super Rugby season, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
Carrying: Savea is a dangerous ball-carrier, and is able to make significant gains with his powerful running. In the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, he made a total of 205 meters with the ball, which was the fourth-highest of any forward in the competition. He also made 14 clean breaks and beat 26 defenders, demonstrating his ability to break through the opposition’s defensive line.
Overall impact: Savea’s impact on the game goes beyond just his individual statistics. He is a key player for the All Blacks, and is often involved in creating opportunities for his teammates. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he made a total of 94 passes and 28 offloads, demonstrating his ability to create space and set up attacking plays.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate that Ardie Savea is not only a highly skilled and physical player, but also an effective one who consistently makes a significant impact on the game.
2. Tom Curry (England)
Tom Curry is an absolute beast. These stats show you why!
Tackling: Curry is a tenacious tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 94 tackles, which was the highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 93%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Curry is a master of the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he won a total of 7 turnovers, which was the joint-highest of any player
3. Pieter-Steph Du Toit (South Africa)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Du Toit’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Du Toit is a dominant tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he made a total of 42 tackles, which was the second-highest of any forward in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 92%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Carrying: Du Toit is a strong ball-carrier, and is able to make significant gains with his powerful running. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he made a total of 169 metres with the ball, which was the third-highest of any forward in the competition. He also made 6 clean breaks and beat 9 defenders, demonstrating his ability to break through the opposition’s defensive line.
4. Hamish Watson (Scotland)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Watson’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Watson is a highly effective tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 93 tackles, which was the second-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 94%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Watson is a master of the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he won a total of 6 turnovers, which was the joint-highest of any player in the competition. He also won 6 turnovers in the 2020 Six Nations tournament, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
5. Sam Underhill (England)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Underhill’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Underhill is a ferocious tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 87 tackles, which was the joint third-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 96%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Underhill is a master of the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he won a total of 6 turnovers, which was the joint-highest of any player in the competition. He also won 8 turnovers in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
6. Pablo Matera (Argentina)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Matera’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Matera is a strong and effective tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he made a total of 41 tackles, which was the third-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 93%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Matera is a dominant force at the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2020 Rugby Championship, he won a total of 8 turnovers, which was the second-highest of any player in the competition. He also won 6 turnovers in the 2020 Super Rugby season, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
7. CJ Stander (Ireland)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Stander’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Stander is a fierce tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 77 tackles, which was the fifth-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 92%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Carrying: Stander is a strong ball-carrier, and is able to make significant gains with his powerful running. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 235 metres with the ball, which was the third-highest of any forward in the competition. He also made 9 clean breaks and beat 18 defenders, demonstrating his ability to break through the opposition’s defensive line.
8. Michael Hooper (Australia)
Michael Hooper is widely regarded as one of the best flankers in the world, and his statistics help to demonstrate why. Here are some key statistics that highlight Hooper’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Hooper is a prolific tackler, consistently ranking among the top tacklers in international rugby. In the 2021 Rugby Championship, he made a total of 56 tackles, which was the third-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 94%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Hooper is a master of the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, he won a total of 17 turnovers, which was the second-highest of any player in the competition. He also won 14 turnovers in the 2020 Rugby Championship, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
Carrying: Hooper is a powerful ball-carrier, and is able to make significant gains with his strong running. In the 2021 Super Rugby AU season, he made a total of 240 metres with the ball, which was the fifth-highest of any forward in the competition. He also made 14 clean breaks and beat 14 defenders, demonstrating his ability to break through the opposition’s defensive line.
Leadership: Hooper’s impact on the game goes beyond just his individual statistics. He is a natural leader and a key player for the Wallabies, providing guidance and inspiration to his teammates both on and off the field.
9. Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Here are some key statistics that highlight Tipuric’s effectiveness on the field:
Tackling: Tipuric is a reliable and effective tackler, and consistently ranks among the top tacklers in the game. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 87 tackles, which was the third-highest of any player in the competition. He also had a tackle success rate of 95%, demonstrating his accuracy and effectiveness in the tackle.
Breakdown work: Tipuric is a master of the breakdown, and is highly effective at winning turnovers. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he won a total of 7 turnovers, which was the second-highest of any player in the competition. He also won 11 turnovers in the 2020 Six Nations tournament, demonstrating his consistency in this area of the game.
Carrying: Tipuric is a dangerous ball-carrier, and is able to make significant gains with his strong running. In the 2021 Six Nations tournament, he made a total of 171 metres with the ball, which was the third-highest of any forward in the competition. He also made 6 clean breaks and beat 11 defenders, demonstrating his ability to break through the opposition’s defensive line.
10. Tom Christie (New Zealand)
Tom Christie is a highly talented flanker who has impressed many rugby fans and experts alike with his performances on the field. Here are some reasons why he is considered such a good flanker:
Physicality: Despite his relatively small stature for a flanker (he is 1.87m tall and weighs 97kg), Christie is a highly physical player who is not afraid to put his body on the line in the tackle and breakdown. He is strong and aggressive, and is always looking for opportunities to make tackles and turnovers.
Work rate: Christie is a tireless worker who never gives up. He has a high work rate and is constantly moving around the field, looking for opportunities to get involved in the game. He is also highly effective at getting back to his feet quickly after making a tackle, which allows him to compete for the ball at the breakdown.
Skillset: Christie is a highly skilled player who is comfortable with the ball in hand. He has good handling skills, and is also a skilled ball-carrier who is able to make breaks through the defensive line. He is also an effective lineout jumper, which adds an extra dimension to his game.
Decision-making: Christie is a smart player who makes good decisions on the field. He has a good understanding of the game and is able to read the opposition’s play well, which allows him to anticipate where the ball is going to be and make tackles and turnovers accordingly.
Attitude: Christie has a great attitude towards the game, and is always looking to improve his skills and contribute to his team’s success. He is a team player who is highly respected by his teammates and coaches, and is always willing to put in the hard work both on and off the field.
Overall, Tom Christie’s combination of physicality, work rate, skillset, decision-making, and attitude make him a highly effective and talented flanker. He is definitely a player to watch in the coming years, and is likely to continue making a significant impact on the rugby field.
In conclusion, flankers play a vital role in the success of any rugby team, and the current generation of players are some of the best we have seen. From the physicality and skillset of Ardie Savea and Pieter-Steph Du Toit to the work rate and decision-making of Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, each of the flankers discussed in this article brings something unique to their respective teams.
Pablo Matera, CJ Stander, Michael Hooper, Justin Tipuric, and Hamish Watson are all proven performers at the highest level, while Tom Christie is a young talent who has already made a big impact on the international scene.
As the sport continues to evolve and become more competitive, these players will undoubtedly be at the forefront of their teams’ success, and we can expect to see many more impressive performances from them in the years to come.
