His former coach at Leicester has described him as one of the finest tighthead props in world rugby.

As international starts go it couldn't be any tougher against a player regarded as one of the best tighthead props in the business.

“The fact is that we have three loosehead and three tighthead props who are all at international standard.

All three of our tighthead props are a year younger and will be back next season all the better for their experience in this year's championship.

"We have two quality tighthead props.

But now all the tighthead props are either from Tonga, Romania or Georgia.

Six Nations blog: Why do Scotland post two tighthead props on the bench?

He plays at the Tighthead Prop position or at Loosehead.

He came on for Mike Beckham at Tighthead Prop.

His position is Tighthead Prop.

When this happens both front rows thrust forward with the tighthead props heads going between the opposing hooker and loosehead prop.

Saulo plays at Tighthead Prop.

Zirakashvili was also mentioned as one of the best tighthead props of the year in world rugby by the Daily Telegraph.

Takura Nyamasoka (Tighthead Prop)

Danny Porte (born 18 June 1975 in England) is an English former rugby union player who played for Glasgow Warriors at the Tighthead Prop position.

George Hunter (born 20 November 1991 in Stevenage) is a Scottish rugby union player who plays for Glasgow Warriors at the Tighthead Prop position.

We have two very good tighthead props, Phil is very fresh and in good form while Matt can potentially make an impact off the bench,' Johnson told a news conference. '

England are without four tighthead props in Phil Vickery, Julian White, Jason Hobson and Wilson - plus first-choice loosehead Andrew Sheridan.

McKenzie, who was capped 51 times and was considered one of the best tighthead props in the world at the time, is unsure if the referees know what it is they are looking for.

Argentina's tighthead props, Patricio Noriega and Christian Martin, and hooker, Federico Méndez, went to play in Australia, England and South Africa respectively after their performance.

In the past 10 months he has lost three world-class tighthead props: Matt Stevens to a two-year drug ban and, more prosaically, Phil Vickery (shoulder) and Julian White (hamstring) to injury.

In that regard he has been a great example of Scottish rugby’s ability to punch above its weight, having grown into the role and developed belief that the ‘Chunk’ from Prestonpans can compete with the world’s leading tighthead props.

Cameron Blades (born 16 April 1971 in Sydney, Australia) is a Australian international former rugby union player who played at the Loosehead Prop position, but could also cover at Tighthead Prop and Hooker.

But, while it is preposterous to talk of the tighthead props as the new glamour men of rugby, enmeshed as they are in a dark trade, they may have taken over from fly-halves as the highest-paid men on the field.

Harlequins had plucked the 26 year-old from relative obscurity when they signed him from Richmond in 2009 and head coach John Kingston had worked tirelessly to help transform the 6ft 2in 22-stone forward into one of the most feared tighthead props in the Premiership.