4 & 5. 2025 TOTY LOCK

[Tordah]

Eben Etzebeth has come leaps and bounds from the overhyped Brüno-lookalike from the mid 2010s to being a powerhouse lock any team would love to have

[sparky]

Maro Itoje - England.

Unmatched work rate in the contemporary game, disruptive brilliance at the breakdown, tackles all game long, captained the Lions to their first series win in 12 years and led an England team that has only lost once this year.

[sparky]

Fabian Holland

A towering physical presence, dominant set-piece skill, and athletic impact around the park. Brodie who?

[reprobate]

Skelton probably deserves a mention for how much better the Aussies looked with than without him.
Snyman maybe?

[sparky]

@reprobate Yeah, Will Skelton's a good call. If there's an Aussie in the World XV this year, it's him.

[Bovidae]

I would nominate Tadhg Beirne as a lock. He won't get in ahead of PSDT but plays a lot at lock for Ireland. One of the best forwards for BIL.

[booboo]

@reprobate said in 4 & 5. 2025 TOTY LOCK:

Snyman maybe?

Maaaybe. Almost disqualifies himself because I can't pronounce RG.

[Catogrande]

Itoje for all the reasons given by @sparky plus he is the guy that all you lot bag all the time for trivial reasons, so he must be good. Haven't seen enough of Holland to judge so my second choice would be Skelton who has gone from being just a big presence to an influential player with a much better work rate. He makes any team he plays in that bit better.

[antipodean]

@reprobate said in 4 & 5. 2025 TOTY LOCK:

Skelton probably deserves a mention for how much better the Aussies looked with than without him.

Yes - I can't think of a lock that makes such a difference to a tier one team.

Holland may have had a marvelous breakout year, but I'd pair Skelton with Itoje. They'd complement each other brilliantly.

[booboo]

Nominations closed. Vote in the OP.