Building the perfect rugby player: Wing
Following on from our look at the outside centre position, we now come to the penultimate article in our series attempting to build the perfect rugby player, with an examination of the wing position. Certain things remain as true at the position now as they were 20 or even 30 years ago, but plenty of things have also changed and there could be yet more redefining of the position if the proposed 50-22 kicking law is taken onboard by the sport.
Below we have rounded up the five key attributes for the position and provide an example of a player who currently best exhibits that particular skill. One area where wings have always had to be proficient is in their speed. If they can get outside of a defensive blitz, they are often in a one-on-one race with a covering full-back for the try line. Even if they can’t ultimately get in for a score, chances are that the quicker they are, the more territory they will gain before they are finally tackled.
South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe leads the way here, not only with his top-end pace that has left many a defender grasping at thin air, but also his acceleration and ability to maintain speed when changing direction. It’s that manoeuvrability that makes Kolbe so elusive and why he has become one of the most feared players in international rugby.
As one of a team’s primary attacking weapons, wings need to have good finishing skills and instincts. This can range from an appreciation of when and where opportunities are going to arise, to an ability to manipulate their body and get the ball over the try line even in the smallest of spaces and battling both defenders and the touch line.
While there are wings in international rugby who will claim to have better all-round skill sets, not many can match the pure finishing skills of France’s Teddy Thomas. Just like his predecessors for Les Bleus, Thomas seems to have an uncanny knack for popping up at just the right time and in just the right positions. He’s a pure finisher.
'There were times when I was in the car with the rugby coach and players would be phoning in saying they couldn’t do anymore because it was affecting their actual work life.' @Tom_Varndell talks to @heagneyl 👨💻https://t.co/oKkSFnhHom
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 19, 2020
Combined with those speed and finishing elements, the attacking triumvirate is completed by the footwork that a wing needs to have to excel. The ability to step, spin or stutter can leave defenders’ red-faced and out of luck, whilst it also allows the attacking player to generate power going into contact, something which has long been a desired attribute for wings to be able to show.
There is no shortage of wings with adept footwork currently playing and New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane is one of the chief examples. The Blues wing is not only able to beat defenders by pulling off subtle and effective steps at speed, he is also one of the most deadly wings in rugby in small spaces, where his fast feet deliver a force that many larger wings struggle to create.
With the increase in kicking in rugby, wings have had to become more adept at dealing with aerial balls and already mentioned, that is only going to increase if the 50-22 kicking law comes to be. To be able to read the flight of a ball, position themselves well and then time their jump to be in prime position and not risk giving up penalties is one of the most desired skills any wing can have.
Key to their recent charge to the World Cup final, England’s Jonny May is arguably the most consistent international player in this area. His ability to win back kicks is second to none and he repeatedly makes tough and contested catches look easy when fielding kicks from the opposition. His speed is not to be dismissed either, but it’s in the air where he truly separates himself from the crowd.
Finally, we come to vision. With wings often having to field kicks from deep and launch counter-attacks, vision for space on the pitch is paramount. It goes beyond counter-attacks, with a rugby pitch often proving to be a congested area given the size and speed of players, so a wing who can pop up in midfield and exploit a hole in the defence is worth their weight in gold.
Although your gaze is initially drawn to his sizeable frame, Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale is one of the best going in this more subtle component of the position. He seems to have a natural feel for where space and holes in the defence are going to open up and regularly exploits them by tracking the ball in the midfield. His ability on the counter-attack is built around far more than his size and power.
Speed – Cheslin Kolbe
Finishing – Teddy Thomas
Footwork – Rieko Ioane
Aerial ability – Jonny May
Vision – Jacob Stockdale
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
3 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
3 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
3 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe 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?
13 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?
45 Go to comments