2021 6 Nations.

Sorry but Ball is a far better rucker in the way he physically clears a ruck out rather than pick up, roll or twist a would be jackler. Balls momentum takes him past the ball which clears the way for quick ball for the 9. 

It's funny that we can develop a large number of quality back rowers, scrum halves etc but struggle with locks.

It’s actually largely a population effect - there are only so many people over 6ft6in (less than 1%).

Then how many of them will pick up a rugby ball, of those only a portion will have the hand-eye coordination to be quality athletes, even then fewer will then have the discipline and determination to be an international lock.

The reason South Africa and England produce so many more locks is pretty much because they have the biggest playing pools.

Scotland’s 2 best locks in the last 10 years have been from the same family! 

His physicality is as good as any other 7 - he’s just so good at other facets at the game people assume he’s not physical.

Lydiate, Faletau, Tips with Navidi coming on is the best we’ve got.

I’d agree that he does bring more physicality than people realise but what he doesn’t bring is real jackling threat (admittedly he does bring some, but not close to the level of other international 7s). Against Ireland a jackling threat is invaluable as I think we saw on Saturday what happens when you don’t slow down the ball of the Irish sides. That’s why I’d be slightly worried about that facet if he starts and Navidi doesn’t but it certainly is a tight call as Tipuric brings so much quality in so many other facets, as you say.