Nilsen has played 15 Premiership games for Leeds

Head coach Neil Back is happy to finally have selection headaches of the positive kind regarding Leeds Carnegie's front-row.

Despite the absence of England hooker Steve Thompson, Back has to decide which of eight in-form players will fill his three front-row positions.

Back told BBC Radio Leeds: "I have some tough decisions, but that's what it's about, people competing for that shirt.

"Our front-row is a massively competitive area now."

Leeds faced problems with their front three at the back end of 2010.

Thompson was on international duty, fellow England hooker Andy Titterell was out injured, and some of Leeds' props were struggling for form.

However American Mike MacDonald appears to be back to his best after a stand-out display against Gloucester in the LV Cup, and is putting pressure on Gareth Hardy. Academy products Phil Swainston and Gareth Denman have also both started to find their feet in top-flight rugby.

But Back has been particularly impressed with hooker Phil Nilsen. With Thompson and Titterell unavailable, the 25-year-old has once again become Leeds' first choice number two.

"I was really pleased with Phil Nilsen [against Gloucester in the LV Cup]. He was perfect.

"He carried the ball around the field well, was very aggressive, was very good at the contact area and lead the scrum fantastically well.

"That's exactly what we need in the absence of Steve Thompson and Andy Titterell."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version