Sam Warburton

Thunderous: No.8 Billy Vunipola

Taulupe Faletau

CJ Stander

NEW Zealand have been kings of the contest for the ball in the loose for as long as anyone can remember, and even though techniques and terminology may change – ‘breakdown’ being the current buzzword – they still reign supreme.
More than ever it is now the job of every player on the field to compete for the loose ball, but while hookers, locks and centres have become surrogates ball-winners, the players who still wield the greatest influence in the biggest contest for possession are ...