Building the perfect rugby player: Openside flanker
Moving on from our focus on the prototype blindside flanker, our series looking at building the perfect rugby player has arrived at the openside flanker, the seemingly more glamorous of the two flank positions.
Whilst the blindside tends to be burdened with more onerous defensive duties, opensides are frequently tasked with more eye-catching roles in attack, as well as being required to create the defensive turnovers that can create moments of attack in transition.
Playing two opensides in the same back row has been an en vogue trend in recent seasons, with Australia, England and even New Zealand experimenting with loose forward compositions in that mould. Below we identify the five key attributes to the position and why having multiple players who can provide them is such an enticing option for teams.
At the core of an openside’s responsibilities is the requirement that they positively influence defensive breakdowns as a jackal and attacking breakdowns as a clearer. They, above all others in the pack, are expected to dominate in this area and provide quick, clean ball going forward, and attacking opportunities through turnovers.
Over the past decade, no one has managed to surpass Australia’s David Pocock in this facet of the game, with the veteran Wallaby having been a thorn in the side of every team he has come up against. His desire to win ball at the breakdown has left his body battered on the pitch, and none can question his commitment, physical strength or refined technique.
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Opensides are often praised as link men, too, who are able to join the back line and perform comfortably as a ball-carrier and playmaker amongst those traditionally more skilful ball-handlers. It is not uncommon to see opensides marauding down the wing and being able to make accurate passes at speed and carry through one-on-one tackles allows them to be more successful in this role.
In the modern game, few would question Fiji’s Peceli Yato in this area, with the Islander one of the most destructive ball-carriers in the game after breaking the first tackle. He employs Fiji’s trademark comfort with the offloads and combines it with an ability to drive through tackles and draw defenders and make the killer pass.
Something which goes hand in hand with both the breakdown influence and the ball-handling as a link man, is the mobility that opensides are required to have. In order to make it from breakdown to breakdown and to keep pace with the backs and support their attacks, a flank needs to have the acceleration and top-end speed that is not necessarily required elsewhere in the pack.
As mobile options go, you will struggle to find a fleeter seven than Australia’s Michael Hooper. The 28-year-old already has 99 Wallaby caps to his name and not only is that an endorsement of the special level of pace he has that has made him so integral to multiple coaches’ plans, but also his durability. In an area of behemoth forwards, Hooper has flourished as a smaller openside.
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Away from the glamour of stealing turnovers and springing attacking opportunities, opensides also tend to be among the very best tacklers in any XV. Given that they make their money at the breakdown, they tend to be very good at making dominant one-on-one tackles that allow them to spring back to their feet and be in an advantageous position to then go to work at the contact area.
As far as the modern game goes, there aren’t too many equals to England’s Sam Underhill in this area. The Bath flanker tackles with a relentless physicality that often makes people overlook his considerable ability at the breakdown. By tying him in alongside another effective breakdown operator like Tom Curry, England were able to have plenty of success as their predatory pack feasted off of the dominant tackles that Underhill made at the Rugby World Cup.
Away from all the physical and technical demands at the position, openside flankers also need to display a great awareness and ability to read the flow of a game. Making a judgement call on staying out of a tackle can lead to a prime opportunity to shoot in as a jackal, whilst a strong reading of the game will allow flankers to assess when opposition numbers will be short on a particular phase and the opportunity to disrupt or turnover ball is increased.
These cerebral opensides don’t come along every day, but Wales’ Justin Tipuric ticks all the boxes and it’s because of that component in his game that his technical and physical skills are allowed to flourish. It’s not just at the breakdown, either, with Tipuric’s decision-making in attack also excellent, something which stems back to his appreciation and reading of the game.
Breakdown – David Pocock
Ball-handling – Peceli Yato
Mobility – Michael Hooper
Tackling – Sam Underhill
Game reading – Justin Tipuric
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments