Positional Sense: Openside Flanker
The openside is the all-rounder. He needs to be creativein attack, able to slot in to the backs comfortably and beright behind the ball carrier to secure the ball. In defencehe is the spoiler targeting the opposition ball every timethere is a tackle trying to turn it over or slow it down.A good openside will win you games.
Physical Importance
He needs to have a good engine, which means a highlevel of fitness. In terms of speed, he should at least beable to keep up with the inside backs. He should work inhis own time on repetitive sprints with only a short restbetween each maximum effort sprint. As he develops hisstamina he can add a down and up or press up at thebeginning and end of each sprint.
Key Technique
He should always be looking for opportunities to winloose ball on the ground. In defence after having putpressure on the first receiver he tracks along just behindthe defensive line.
Tactical Nous
The openside should very rarely carry the ball intocontact himself but he always needs to be nearby. Heshould avoid getting caught up in mauls and once he hasperformed his job in the ruck he should work his way outand back into position for the next phase of play. Heshould focus on “meeting” the ball carrier and hispotential tackler so he can offer the best support.
He needs good passing skills as he will often act as thelink player putting the big ball carriers into space andthen following them in to secure the ball. He will alsoneed to practise filling in for the scrum half and fly halfon occasions when they are tied up in contact. He shouldknow all the backs moves and exactly where the ball isgoing to end up with each move.He needs to understand the laws of the game especiallyat the breakdown. He has to know what he can andcan’t do when securing his own ball or stealing theopposition ball.
Mental Strength
Your openside should be one of the most competitiveplayers in your squad. He will never give up, even in alost cause, and will never settle for second place. Thisattitude is essential if he is to fulfill his role successfullyand although it doesn’t always make him the easiestplayer to coach it needs to be nurtured.
He will have limitless energy and will always preferbeing active at training rather than listening. Competitiveexercises and games will bring out the best in himwhereas repetitive drills will bore him quickly.
He needs to be brave and almost indestructible as he isgoing to have to put in body in some fairly risky placeson the pitch. You can spot a potential openside veryyoung as they are the ones who never cry when they gethurt. They get up and get on with it.
Challenging at the Tackle Contest
As soon as the ball carrier is tackled and goes toground the openside flanker is in to steal the ball.He needs to get as low as possible by bending hisknees and dropping his hips, making sure he stayson his feet. He should keep his back as straight aspossible; this makes him very difficult to knock offthe ball. He should get two hands on the ball and pullwith his arms. He needs to make it very clear to thereferee that he is trying to win the ball legally.
The key tactical running lines for the 7 at the scrum
Back row tactics are very important at the scrum. As a former back row player, including with the Maori All Blacks, I have strong opinions about the role of the 7, the openside "flanker". These are the key tactical running lines a 7 should think about.
Scrum defence - Inside the pass
Though sides can use different defensive systems (like the "rush" or "drift"), the role of the 7 remains the same from the scrum - he needs to stay "inside the pass". This means he follows the ball across the pitch as it is passed through the backs.
If the 7 catches up with the ball, he can tackle the ball carrier. However, he needs to make sure that he cannot be beaten on his inside. In this sense he is closing the "gate", preventing the attack going back the other way.
Beware the inside pass in your 22
Inside his own 22, the 7 should be aware of the opposition blindside winger running inside the opposition fly half (10) or inside centre (12).
Therefore 7 needs to balance the speed of his chase to pressurise the 10, to ensure that no opposing player can go passed him by cutting back on the angle.
A good flanker / loose forward should spend time training with the backs. In particular, when the forwards are practicing lineouts and srummaging where the flankers are not normally required.Scrum attack
Going blind - always connect
If the ball is going blind from a back row move, then the attacking 7 needs to run "clever". Instead of running back behind the scrum, he runs forward and around the back of the opposition scrum to connect with the move.
If the scrum is on the right hand side of the field, the 7 needs to make sure he legally maximises his body angle. This is to prevent the opposition scrum half (9) from getting around to pressurise the back of the scrum, particularly your number 8.
This is especially important when the scrum wheels left.
Going open - run the gainline
When the ball goes to the openside from the scrum, the 7 should "run the gainline". That is, he breaks and runs horizontally across the pitch.
Crucially he needs to anticipate the moment of contact that the ball carrier is going to make with the defence.
To anticipate and react effectively, he must go through three stages.
1. Run (scanning): Pick the best line and look ahead to what is happening and going to happen.
2. Decision make: Given the circumstances, decide what action to take, be it take a pass, drive off an opponent or bind onto the ball carrier.
3. Action: Execute the skill correctly.
He cannot miss a stage before the execution, because he is otherwise unlikely to make the optimal decision to maintain the momentum of the move.
Positional Sense: Blindside Flanker
The blindside flanker is traditionally the “enforcer” of the team. A big tackler and ball carrier, he looks to dominate the opposition in everything he does.
Physical importance
He should focus on developing explosive driving power to use in contact situations.
Key technique
He should be looking to make offensive tackles at everyopportunity, trying to dominate the ball carrier. Focus onhis front on tackle technique, making sure he gets infront of the ball carrier, hits with the shoulder, stays onhis feet and drives his legs after the hit.
Tactical nous
Although he is akey ball carrier for the team he needs tobe able to make good decisions about when to run andwhen he is needed to ruck. In open play he should standbehind the fly half and inside centre and give themoptions as a runner. If they make a break or get tackledhe is the first person there to support or secure your ballat the tackle.
Mental strength
He needs to have the confidence to dominate and crossthe gain line every time. He should be aggressive incontact. He should be aggressive in training and matches, and should be the player that no-one wants to partner incontact sessions.