The modern-day midfielder - how rugby's most demanding position is asking for more
Never before has one position been required to do so much, or at least be capable of doing so much.
The modern-day midfielder, in particular the outside centre, has been the subject of transformation in the last decade morphing into a collection of multiple positions.
The athlete profile is demanding, it requires a specimen who can dash 40-metres in 5-seconds, but also power lift or bench press as much as a front rower. Combine the speed and acceleration of a winger, the distribution skills of a flyhalf, the strength and endurance of a loose forward not to mention the ability to diagnose and recover from disadvantageous situations in defence.
The non-negotiables for the position are growing, shaping a new breed of midfielder and pushing one-dimensional talents elsewhere as the game’s requirements change.
Consider England’s midfield mix that Eddie Jones has settled on earlier this year – Manu Tuilagi, the prototype power-running centre of the Noughties, has found a new home at 12 while the skillful, balanced playmaker Henry Slade is the preferred option at 13.
This has ignited England’s backline play and opened up far more opportunities for the outside backs like Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell and Jonny May, many of whom are also versatile multi-positional assets themselves. With the addition of Scott Wisemantel, England’s attack has been far more prolific and potent over the last 12-months.
Slade’s diverse skill set includes better ball-handling, ball-playing ability, and an attacking kicking game while being more agile, faster and fitter than Tuilagi. His game has been shaped by playing many positions in the backline earlier in his career, including fullback and flyhalf. As his body has matured in size, he is now the perfect model for this new breed of 13 whose value is only just now being fully understood.
Now more than ever midfield defence is about spacial coverage, not about forceful collisions and big hits. It is geared for ‘space eaters’ with multi-directional speed who can go sideline-to-sideline to close overlaps or rush up and bring pressure and take time away.
As long as they have good technique to close the tackle at a high completion rate, they don’t need ribcage-rattling physicality to belt the opposition. They need to be more adept at body position and understand leverage in the way NFL cornerbacks do, and then complete tackles from a wide variety of angles.
Slade and Ireland’s Garry Ringrose are some of the best examples of centres who do this. Their elite conditioning allows for high-line defence on high percentage of phases, with a deep capacity to re-load and bring heat time and time again for the full eighty. They can jockey-off and backpeddle to save situations, recover from the inside to chase down outside runners or simply put the front-on spot tackle on.
The advancement of structured phase play in attack has bought rise to the idea of multiple first receivers who play a traditional flyhalf role. It has become an interchangeable part.
Consider the Crusaders’ first receiving usage: Richie Mo’unga takes the lion share with anywhere between 30 to 40% but midfielders Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue combine for around 25% of the touches as secondary options.
Distribution skills are absolutely necessary as the midfielders are called on to relieve first receiving duties when the flyhalf is tackled or caught at the breakdown. Without an honed an accurate passing game, run-first centres won’t be able to operate in teams that play in possession-based rugby structures.
There are some tremendous physical athletes at outside centre who can make game-breaking runs – Huw Jones, Jesse Kriel, Samu Kerevi, Jonathan Davies. All are quality players but would be considered in the second tier of 13’s behind Goodhue, Crotty, Slade and Ringrose who have more accuracy in other facets.
The Reds have moved Kerevi, who played every game at 13 on the Wallabies’ end of year tour, towards 12 this year in Super Rugby, utilising his strengths as a carrier but protecting his weaknesses as a defender. Kerevi has been one of the best players in Super Rugby, flourishing in a more suited role.
The Crusaders perhaps have two of the world’s best who can play outside centres in their midfield. Crotty over the last two years has played a lot of 13 for the All Blacks but 12 with his Super Rugby team, allowing Goodhue to develop to the point where he has now the All Blacks main option. As sharp as Crotty has been this season at 30-years-old, the younger Goodhue is still probably the better-suited 13 option due to youthful athleticism.
In the Pro 14 final this weekend, Leinster’s Garry Ringrose will suit up at outside centre. In the Premiership semi-finals, Henry Slade will line up for Exeter while European champions Saracens also use the versatile Alex Lozowski who is in the same mould. The Crusaders’ are hot favourites to take home a third consecutive title, with Crotty and Goodhue.
All the world’s best clubs have them, but they are perhaps the rarest breed to find and develop, making the modern-day midfielder an important commodity and changing the dynamics of the position.
Was Glen Jackson hungover while referring the Chiefs vs Blues?:
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments