Position Specific – Blindside Flanker

A coach has much to do beyond a game plan if he is to provide guidance for each individual in his team. There is the physical development which as the player gets older needs to be specific to the position of the player, the technical knowledge, understanding and practical application of game aspects and the the psychological skills that help develop confidence, concentration and attitudes beneficial to the game such as aggression and mental toughness.

In this article we will consider the technical and game understanding requirements for a blindside flanker. This is done in isolation from each of the backrow positions and is based on the common assumptions of the requirements and roles of a No 6 as they are predominantly seen in today's game.

Of course the backrow needs to meet certain requirements as a cohesive unit so that they blend together to achieve the overall team requirements. As an example in the All Blacks you could say that Jerome Kaino (6) is a physical ball carrier and tackler. Richie McCaw (7) is a breakdown and link specialist and Kieran Read (8) is a great decision maker and wide runner. At this level you could say that all three of these players can carry out all of the roles mentioned but they are the lucky ones.

When you are selecting and then coaching your No 6 in isolation he will need to be evaluated on certain aspects of play.

If we look at Brad Shields from the Hurricanes and Scott Fardy from the Brumbies, with Fardy playing 150 minutes more than Shields (both had 18 games) there is a distinct difference in the roles of both players which can be based on the game plan of each team and the additional height of Fardy.

Shields at 193cm and 111kg played in a side that attacked relentlessly and were the leading try scorers. They were also 2nd in offloads, 3rd in defensive stats, 6th in ruck success but only 13th in lineout success.

The Brumbies were more about accuracy at the basic requirements being 2nd in the lineouts and 3rd in rucks, but only 14th in the offloads.  They were more about minimising mistakes which more or less is demonstrated in each individuals stats.

For example Shields carried the ball 50 more times than Fardy (153-103); made 5 line breaks as against 3; beat 10 defenders as against 3; offloaded 11 times versus Fardy's 3 times; was involved directly in 4 try assists to zero, carried for 474 metres to Fardy's 231 and made 60 passes to Fardy's 49.

These stats suggest the explosiveness of Shields was very much a strength combined with his ball skills and work rate. Fardy on the other hand was much more designated to his roles in the tight at breakdown areas.

However, Fardy had a distinct advantage at lineout time where he won 53 lineouts as against Shield's 25. Fardy also had a tackle percentage of 90 as against Shield's 87.7% with Shields missing 10 more tackles than the Brumbies man.

When you are coaching your player you should take in to consideration his size and speed and fit him in based on where he is going to be most effective. Is he a Shields or a Fardy?

Is he a constructive player creating opportunities  through aggressive running and calculated passing and excelling by running as a support player or is he a destructive player creating opportunities from his physical approach which sees him foraging for the ball, cleaning out, making big tackles and creating opportunities for his support players?

The player profile assessment criteria for a No 6 will obviously be based on the level and age of the player with consideration given to some of the following requirements for the position.

SCRUMMAGING:  As with the whole pack the coach will be looking at pre-engagement,  particularly with the binding, gripping and body position, and how he transfers that through to the hit, with timing and strength and then maintaining the pressure. The backrow certainly have a big part to play and need to be constantly reminded of this. Plenty of technical detail can be found in The Coaching Toolbox.
A really important aspect of scrummaging for the No 6 is understanding his roles on attack and defence depending on where the ball goes. Coaches will use different systems with the crucial aspect being in understanding the system and the communication on the field.

Defensively the No 6  (blindside flanker) will tackle the first runner when he is defending left and the second runner when defending right, assuming the halfback has the first man.

If the play goes to the other side of the field the blindside flanker will have decisions to make depending on a number of factors – game plan; position on field; strengths and weaknesses of his team and the opposition.

If he is in an aggressive thinking side he may well head straight to the tackle area to put added pressure on the opposition by attacking the tackle zone or he may wrap around the ruck and take his place in the next defensive phase which will allow him to execute his tackling prowess. These options will be more likely when his team are inside their 22.

Further up the field the coach may require him to take a covering role behind the backs much like the old No 8.  However, the player needs to continually assess the situation and make a choice. It is often these choices that will give him the 'edge'.

Some coaches may want the player to pretty much hold his position and defend the area where the play has just left. There is much to discuss.

As an attacker from the scrum there is a great opportunity for the blindside to be the key attacker following the first breakdown which gives him a bit more licence to pick and choose where and when he enters the line to make as much impact as possible. If you have a big, strong ball carrier in the Shields mold then the others should be creating opportunities that allow him as many 1 v 1 running situations as you can be created. Just make sure you have a runner on the shoulder.

LINEOUT: Many No 6's will be the back jumper which means they will be set up mainly as the second to last man in the line or the third to last man. The jumping roles are the same as the locks.

Defensively his first responsibility is to tackle any player coming around the end of the lineout, preferably with a big physical hit. If the ball has been passed to the first-five his role is to fill the gap between the 10 and the passer at the end of the lineout. If the ball is passed back inside or the ball carrier cuts back then the flanker will hit the ball carrier hard.

Attacking from a lineout will provide a variety of alternatives. If 6 is the jumper he will not get involved again until second or third phase so once again he needs to understand his role in the continuity and the coach should be trying to set him up with a 1 v 1 opportunity. However, he must be scanning and choosing the best spot – at a thin line, at a slow forward, at a small back, there might even be a gap.

Alternatively if he is not involved in the jumping group he may be in the cleanout group or may be an option after the first ruck. Whether he receives straight away or from another player can be planned and practiced or the player can use his initiative to see where and when he joins in.

CONTACT: The blindside flanker must relish contact. He needs to be confrontational and tough with a 'big tank' that allows him to go hard out for 80 minutes. If your flankers are not out the front at training then your team is unlikely to win a close game.

A crucial skill for the loose forward is being able to turn over opposition ball in the tackle either by being the tackler and getting quickly to his feet or being the first arriving player. The laws and skills need to be mastered and practiced at length.

Tackling in close and front on will be crucial as well as being able to fulfill the tackling role in a defensive line at phase play. This will entail being able to keep the structure in the defensive line, stay connected with his inside and outside man, and make the correct decision on whom he will tackle.  More importantly he must understand his role if he has slower players on his inside and work with that player so that they are a little unit combining together.

Then of course there are the technical requirements of front on and side on tackles to stop the man and slow the ball. The tackle is not completed until the tackler is back on his feet and recovering the ball or taking up the space or taking up a defensive role. There is much to do.

Carrying the ball in to contact, beating a defender, keeping the ball, offloading in or through the tackle are all skills that need to be mastered for the team to maintain continuity. It is seldom sufficient anymore just to set up a ruck so he needs practice situations where he has to make a decision based on what the defence are doing, how many numbers there are and what his support players are anticipating.

In particular if the 6 is a key ball carrier he needs to be able to 'read' the situations and turn up in positions that will make him effective as the penetrating attacker. “Look – think – act “ . (Pierre Villepreux)

As a support player in contact he must be able to clean out to clear the ball, or protect the ball from the opposition, pick the ball and drive or pass, or run on to the ball to receive an early pass or an offload. These decisions all require the player to be looking and thinking ahead so the coach needs to set up various scenarios in his practice sessions.

RUN & PASS: The major development in forward play has been selecting  forwards who can run and pass and get in to good support positions, so this player needs to practice the variety of passing techniques whether in close and popping or in the attack line at phase and passing to his left or right.

Plenty of game type activities will ensure he knows when to pass, whom to pass to, and when not to pass.

PERSONAL STRENGTHS: The coach needs to discover what his player is really good at that if developed will give him a skill that places him in a different category than his opposite. He may be an explosive ball carrier so situations should be set up for this to happen. He may be a big hitter in the tackle so he could practice being the third man out in the line and come in and blindside the ball carrier. He may be fast on his feet and able to beat the first defender each time so make sure he receives the ball in midfield and is coached in the offload. There is bound to be something.

A check list could be drawn up by taking a topic and researching the requirements on The Coaching Toolbox. There is a seasons work here. Start simple and keep revisiting and developing the aspect of play not only over the season but in the following seasons.

This is just a summary of what a blindside flanker needs to develop to improve. You must research each skill by viewing it on television, a video, reading and researching the detail, or talking to an appropriate person. Preferably doing all of these would be the ideal.

Good luck.