Top three requirements per playing position

As I was reading the thread of Kia on Santa's wish list it seems many of us want pretty much the same things from specific positions.

I thought it would be an interesting debate to see if you were to give three key areas to each position what they would be.

Given that defensive capability is a must for every player we can take that as one key are that isn't necessary to discuss.

When you consider your own Nations strengths and weaknesses it is important to expect key areas particular to your team's requirements.

As an example New Zealand uses their nine differently to what SA does, Heyneke Meyer likes play to be controlled by the nine, whereas Steve Hansen likes the game to be controlled from 10. So you may argue the Fourie du Preez attributes of having a strong tactical kicking game is more of a requirement for our nines than for New Zealand.

Anyhow, I will kick off with what I believe our key requirements are per position.

Our forward pack relies on set pieces, so our line out, scrum and ability to secure restarts is vital. Then we demand secure ball at the breakdown, but because we don't have a specialist pilferer (Although you might want to classify Louw as a pilferer it isn't always a requirements for the number six) we tend to have a number of players who are adept at pilfering. Etzebeth, Bismarck, Vermeulen, Oosthuizen and Louw have all been rather successful at pilfering ball at the breakdown.

Our 8, 9, 10 axis is more direct than subtle, so our Nine will control as much of the game as the ten would, if not more, our ten is usually a straight forward dependable guy who can pass, kick and tackle. Our midfield runs hard and doesn't much depend on deception to create gaps or space for the outside.

So overall we will be direct in our attack, even if we do shift the point of attack wide.

Props.
Scrumming technique and power
Ball carrying
Mobility to support at the breakdown

Hooker
Pilfer
Ball carrying
Line out throws.

Locks
Aerial capability
Ball carrying
pilfering

Backrow
Pilfer
Hard men who can carry ball into contact and break tackles
offloading or linking

Scrumhalf
tactical kicking
quick service
sniping around fringes

Flyhalf
Kicking to goal and tactical
quick accurate passing
some creativity (not there with Steyn)

Centres
Organisation of outside backs
hard and fast runners
accurate passing

Wings
ability to finish
Tactical kicking
aerial capability

Fullback
Creative
Aerial capability
tactical kicking

How would you see your three main requirements?

For England this is what I think the coaches want, not me. (in order of necessity):

Props
Scrummaging
Gainline defense
Breakdown turnovers

Hooker
Throwing at lineout
Carrying in the tight
Breakdown aggression

Locks
Lineout work
Linking with backs
Mobile carrying

Flankers
Volume tackling (lots of tackles instead of big hits)
Breakdown havoc
Linking with backs

No8
Carrying
Momentum off the scrum
Secure under the high ball

No9
Tactical kicking
Passing
Game control

No10
Front on tackling
Goal kicking
Game control

Inside centre
Defensive linchpin
Hard ball carrier
Flanker at rucks

Outside centre
Solid
Quick
Good tackler

Wings
Secure under high ball
Power (note that isn't size)
Kicking game

Fullback
Secure under high ball
Kicking game
Vision (can link with the other backs to create attacks)

Props: Scrum and lifting in line out, Fringe defence, Front foot ball meaning clearing out, taking ball up, standing ground.

Hooker: Throwing and hooking, Line defence (line being anywhere on the field and including turnover if first tackler), link with backs (at least for NZ)

Locks: Lineout, restarts and grunt in scrum, frontline defence / enforcing, support play in taking ball up or linking with backs.

Backrow, Breakdown, Defensive work including offensive defence like turnovers, point of attack to create space for players around

Scrum half, quick, clean ball, cover defence kicking for territory defensively or offensively(would like to say offensive sniping but doesn't happen much with NZ)

Fly half: puppet master with boot, pass or running through awareness and summing up best point or moment of attack / consolidation, (NZ needs this player dictating play), defensive kicking or defensive tackling depending on possession, punting ability

Centres: defence and cutting off attacks by plugging holes or drifting wide, opening up gaps offensively by punching gaps or creating space on outside, relieving pressure on 9 and 10 by kicking, taking up ball and resetting or turnover or slowing down ball on defence.

Wings: Defence be it cover or front on, aerial work and returning kicked ball, finishing off opportunities when given space or close to line.

Fullback: positional play and punt, defence be it cover, aerial or front on, adding to line to create space or scoring opportunities.

Despite what you might feel about NZ, first and foremost you have to sort out your defence. Leak points and you risk losing too many games. There were times that we had the mentality in 2005 say you can score but we can score more. Defence wins you games and then and only then your ability to score when it counts. Too often teams focus on shutting down NZ and then fail to find ways to keep the scoreboard ticking over to turn the screws.

Agree, that is why I said I the OP defence is a given.

Yellow card. Sorry Mr Ref. My bad. Off to the bin...   

No worries.

Yappy, i think your pretty much spot on as to how Lancaster and his coaches think.

No time for risk or creativity etc...

Yea that's what I was trying to hint at Geordie  

It's very much do the basics well and get on with the unglamorous stuff for all 15 men. Especially depressing looking at 9 and 10.

What's funny is while writing it I was thinking how much a couple of his worse picks still don't meet the criteria laid out! Ashton doesn't have those three basics and Tomkins doesn't cover his job description either. 

As a career prop with an adolescent dabble at 6 I feel we'll qualified to comment on the 3 top requirements for a front row forward

1. Ability to skull a pint or jug in a boat race
2. Ability to mislead coach that you are sprinting by changing facial expression not actual velocity
3. Ability to mislead everyone else that the dark arts of the scrum do require some essential esoteric skills and are not a chance for a much needed rest

Full Back
"Last line of defence" is the generic term for the position, that kinda gives the clue on what is the most important aspect of the position and role. Defence and everything is built around that

Q: "Where is the full back?" A: "Fully back that's where"

• Superb defensive positional lines, and tackling ability. NOBOBY is going to go PAST you attitude.
• Great vision and ability to read the game as it evolves.
• No headless chicken runs, know when to hold back and when to join the attacking line.

When I played 6, the most important skill was to look absolutely knackered within five minutes of being on the park.

Okay, people what do you think the requirements of a blind side flanker and a openside are in the modern game?
Does a six need to be an absolute monster who can tackle all day long, and hit every ruck and does a seven first and foremost need to be good at the breakdown?

flankertye wrote:Okay, people what do you think the requirements of a blind side flanker and a openside are in the modern game?
Does a six need to be an absolute monster who can tackle all day long, and hit every ruck and does a seven first and foremost need to be good at the breakdown?

Yes..... No..... Depends on the system

Blindside / Openside then yes every time
Inside / Outside then depends on system