The time for specialist No.7s has come to an end

Brilliant article.

Josh van der Flier = specialist 7. World player of the year 2022/23 as Ireland hit the peak of their powers with a possession based multi-attack game.

None of it applies now. Different game.

Not sure if it’s world wide, but having a 12 that can pilfer is a bonus, we saw a lot from the likes of Tupaea, JB, TT, XTaela. With the game change that is almost the turnover point now, you get a quick one there and the backs can move it quickly.

I still think in a team where two loosies stick together, you can get that turnover ball, a lot of times it’s one ruck monkey and two wide ranging loose forwards.

The transformation of props into the No 7 role goes hand in hand with the demise of the game of rugby. I grew up with the game, loving it. It was a game for all shapes and sizes (remember Grant Batty on the wing?_ He would not survive 1 minute now.) Now I do not recognise this plodding game full of gym bunnies and out of shape gouls. Half backs who should be locks and No 10’s who once were props……

In modern rugby the jackling skillset is required by the whole team and isnt dependant on a specific body type.

The art of a classic openside popular in the previous decade is to put yourself in the right position to make the jackle by ghosting just behind the defensive line ready to pounce when the tackle is made which required high stamina and a huge engine. Some players still do this to a degree but the difference is that more often opensides find themselves a part of the defensive line making tackles because of the faster pace of the game and the increase in ball in play time and the 50:22 rule shortening the defensive line to cover the kick

This means its up to all players to have the decison making ability to know when to jackal when to slow the ball, when to counter ruck and when to simply bounce out and rejoin the defensive line.

No Duplessis Kirifi in the ABs squad this time. France haven't had a specialist classic 7 in a while.

I think having at least one guy in the middle of the park who is a threat to get over the ball really quick is important some 12s and 13s play that role pretty well.

I still think for the Wallabies even if we didn't have Mcreight we would want that specialist rather than a stronger Kolisi or Van der Flier type. A side that wants to run and play in space rather than form a lot of rucks needs it.

The idea of the dedicated jackaling 7 is, in my view, an overstated myth.

The All Blacks never really had one. Even early‑career Richie McCaw doesn’t fit the label. His game was too complete, and as his career went on he became even more rounded.

George Smith and Michael Hooper were always dangerous ball‑carriers and high‑involvement link players.

Realistically, only David Pocock, and maybe Heinrich Brussow, fit the mould of the true specialist jackal.

Those two burned so brightly for a few seasons in this role (along with a young McCaw), that the archetype stuck in people’s minds. But in reality it was a short tactical phase, not a long‑term shift in how the position works. The modern no.7 has long since returned to being a complete, high‑workrate forward rather than a single‑skill scavenger.

Any player should be able to execute a turnover, even the backs. But some players will obviously be more skilled at turnovers than others.

It a bit like money ball. Instead of relying on one power hitter to get runs. They rely on many batters getting on base.

An article and a lively discussion about specialist 7s and not one mention of JVDF anywhere 🤯

Back in the Z grade days you never toured with a full backline. Often had the spare 7 playing crash 12 with the other on the wing.

Nick b wrote some time ago that jackals had to be across many positions especially 7 2 12 and wing and the 7 needs to be able to link. Pocock improved his linking game. Tizzano is a hitter who scores tries. Waugh was mostly just a hitter but that was the day. At the end of the day the 7 is the everywhere man fast fit and tough and fast fit and tough

Great piece JF👍

Nice one Ferg. I called for a long time for Gleeson to be moved there for the Tahs and at 24 years old there is still plenty of time for him to make the transition.

Unfortunately his season never got started at Montpellier with a knee injury in his second appearance. Am hoping they help him make the shift as the French clubs do look to embrace the variety in the role.

Before Coleman had him bulk up, Langi was the fastest Tah over 40m. Then he got asked to smash the weights and he slowed down and saw his work rate drop.

It was really only in his last season for the Tahs that he seemed to make the adjustment to playing with the extra weight that DC had asked him to put on.

Gleeson’s already very good and I don’t think we have seen anywhere near his ceiling, here is hoping.

Is interesting that McKellar looks to not agree with your premise. He’s shedding Gamble who is a classic all rounder forward in the mould you describe perhaps a little undersize.

In comes Reimer a turnover specialist, I like Luke and hope he kicks on but he’s got some big improvement needed both defensively and on the carry.

Reimer is a superb pure jackler but really does look like McKellar is not seeing the trend. Don’t try to tell Dan though, he doesn’t listen to people outside the building!

Victor Matfield said something recently which I agree with. Rugby changes but it doesn’t.

Doing your role as a 7 or as part of the back row has and will never change.

I'd go back a bit further to the great Michael Jones. He would excel in every era since he has played, as a dynamic ball playing tackling jackler. He adapted as he needed to as he was such an athlete

Has the author ever watched George Smith or Richie McCaw play a test? To suggest they were only jackals is ludicrous. They were very multi-skilled dynamic athletes who were very good ball carriers (McCaw scored 27 test tries), outstanding support lines, and ferocious tacklers.

Specialist Opensides can survive. It’s just their role will adjust.

Specialist Opensides are less useful now as players have bulked up. The Opensides need also need more bulk to move those bigger players. But they lose some of their speed and mobility. The term six and a half has come into use to describe how many Opensides have bulked up to adjust; often those players can cover all three loose roles as they have more grunt, due to the extra bulk.

Where a specialist Openside can survive is the hybrid player e.g. players can play Openside and play in the backs. For instance, positions like the wing; players such as Leicester Fainga’anuku, or Michael Jones back in the day.

The hybrid Openside can be taken a step further. The Springboks have used the Openside to cover for the reserve halfback. They have very similar roles. Get to the breakdown, get your hands on the ball, run support lines. But of course they need to learn to pass and kick etc. Younger players will develop into those roles, making sure they are good enough at all those skills.

The hybrid Openside will become a combination of the current physical aspects of the Openside, but with the skill roles of a wing and of halfback etc.

It was an Australian thing . We couldn’t get enough of the so called jackals , we picked two .

Smith and Waugh then Hooper and Poccock . This wasted the best Smith and Poccock by far the best at 8 and at 6 .

George Smith was the best . He was great in defence quick , always on the ball and good in attack .

David Poccock was great in defence , slower but impossible to shift over the ball in attack and defence .

These two were worth playing at 7 .

Waugh was great in defence and always on the ball . He was just behind the other two .

Hooper was a myth . Quick in attack, alert but not hard on the ball or hard to shift . His defence was lacking.

Australia ignored David Croft the Queeslander who had it all and was tough . Matt Hodgson another in Crofts mould .

We now have another great genuine 7 in McReight.

The work of the jackal is overrated . They secure turnovers but also give penalties away .

These many players are good at gaining turnovers. Malcolm Marx !

Max Jorgenson and Tommy Freeman are good at ball stripping .

Pieter-Steph du Toit and Charles Ollivon are magnificent at 7 .

Dont see how Hooper could ever be rembered as a “Legendary Jackaller”

I think you are being unfair to Hooper amongst others John he always had great carry and excellent ball skills he was never a one trick pony imo I think it’s more of a case that all your forwards need to have some different skills look at the passes props required to do in all leagues these days they were literally non existent back in the day

Don't agree with this. England went on their 12 game winning run with between 3-5 number 7s in the 23. Don't get me wrong, I know the wheels came off massively but they still beat the ABs, France, Ireland, Australia and Argentina 3 times with side full of 7s - Curry, Curry, Earl, Underhill, Pollock. You reference Northampton, they have a 7 playing 8 for them. If sides are playing attacking rugby then having a mobile 7 who can cover the field to defend in the wide channels, be a link man and slow down opposition ball is still really valuable. Not everyone in the team needs to be an abrasive ball carrier. Ardie Savea is probably the best 8 in the world but like Pollock he's a converted 7. Michael Hooper would thrive in today's game.

I agree with the idea that you can have more hybrid type players now to give you that big dynamic pack but I don't agree there is no place for a traditional 7. Pick your best players.