Flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Each team of 15 players
includes two flankers, who play in the forwards, and are generally classified
as either blindside or openside flankers, numbers 6 and 7 respectively.
The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they 'flank' each set of
forwards. They fight for the ball– most commonly in rucks and mauls. Flankers
also assist in pushing in a scrum, but are expected to detach from the scrum as
early as possible in order to get to the play before the opposition's forwards.
Flankers also participate in line-outs, either being lifted to contest or win
possession, or to lift other players. Flankers are usually the key
participants in the tackling process. Like other forward positions, flankers
put more emphasis on strength than on speed.
Naming Flankers can be known by several
different names. Historically, they were often called wing-forwards, although
this name had a more specific meaning in New Zealand when they used a now-archaic
scrum formation. This term is rarely used any more, but the terms breakaway,
flank, and flank forward are sometimes used. Collectively, the flankers and the
number eight can also be known as the back-row forwards – referring to their
scrum positions – or as loose forwards because they are loosely bound to the
scrum. Role
Flankers are the players with the fewest set responsibilities and therefore the
position where the player should have all-round attributes: speed, strength,
fitness, tackling and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the
game, as they are the players most commonly involved in winning the ball in
open play, especially the openside flanker. Blindside flankers tend to be
bigger, but not as fast as their partners on the openside.
In open play, flankers will often stand behind the backs, supporting them. If
any ball is dropped by the backs, the flankers' job is to clear up messy ball
and start a new phase of play. Because they are always close to the ball, they
are often first to the breakdown. Flankers do less pushing in the scrum
than the tight five, but need to be fast as their task is to break quickly and
cover the opposing half-backs if the opponents win the scrum. At one time,
flankers were allowed to break away from the scrum with the ball but this is no
longer allowed and they must remain bound to the scrum until the ball is
out. Flankers also have to defend at the back of the scrum if the opposition wins
the ball and the opposing number 8 decides to pick and go.
The two flankers do not usually bind to the scrum in a fixed position. Instead,
the openside flanker will attach to the scrum on whichever side is further from
the nearer touchline, while the blind-side flanker attaches
himself/herself to the scrum on the side closer to the touchline. The openside
flanker usually protects his scrum-half during scrums from the opposing
scrum-half following around and tackling him/her.
Since most of the back play is usually on the open side, where there is more
space, it is usually the openside flanker's job to be the first to any
breakdown of play and to get his/her hands on any loose ball. At a scrum
where the ball has been won by the opposition, the openside flanker often
has the best view of when the ball is out and is able to break away and close
down the opposing ball-carrier, reducing the time available for a pass or kick.
Openside flankers are often smaller than their blindside counterparts.
The blindside flanker has the job of stopping any move by the opponents on
the blind side from a scrum. Blindside flankers are often responsible for cover
defence from set pieces and may play a more physical role at the line-out,
where they may well be used as a jumper. They can also be used for breaking their
opposition line in open play using their speed and strength to break tackles.
Most countries prefer a quicker openside flanker with the ability to get off the
scrum quickly so that he can scavenge for the ball. In South Africa, however,
it is preferred for the blindside flanker to be quicker as it is often
their duty to carry the ball, meaning they prefer the person running with the
ball being quicker rather than the person trying steal it.
Flankers are not always assigned specific roles as opensides and
blindsides. For example, Scotland flankers Finlay Calder and John Jeffrey
played left and right, rather than open and blind. French teams tend not to make
a distinction between the two roles, and their flankers also usually play left
and right rather than open and blind: thus, Serge Betsen often wore the number
6, but would pack down on either the open or blind sides of the scrum, and
will often harass the opposition fly-half in the manner of an openside;
like Calder and Jeffrey for Scotland, Betsen and Olivier Magne formed an
outstanding left-right partnership for France.
See also Rugby union positions
Scrum Playing rugby union
References External links
Brooke, Zinzan. "Position guide: blind-side flanker". BBC Sport. British
Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
Brooke, Zinzan. "Position guide: open-side flanker". BBC Sport. British
Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 December 2007.