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At a scrum where the ball has been won by the opposition, the openside flanker often has the best view of when the ball is out and is able to break away and close down the opposing ball-carrier, reducing the time available for a pass or kick. Openside flankers are often smaller and quicker than their blindside counterparts.
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Since most of the back play is usually on the open side, where there is more space, it is usually the openside flanker's job to be the first to any breakdown of play and to get their hands on any loose ball (or to cause a breakdown by tackling the ball carrier or otherwise hurrying him into error).
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The two flankers do not usually bind to the scrum in a fixed position. Instead, the openside (occasionally known as the strong side, traditionally wearing number 7) flanker attaches to the scrum on whichever side is further from the nearer touchline, while the blind-side (occasionally known as weak
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Most countries prefer a quicker openside flanker with the ability to get off the scrum quickly so that he can scavenge for the ball. In South Africa, however, it is preferred for the blindside flanker to be quicker as it is often their duty to carry the ball, meaning they prefer the person running
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than the tight five, but need to be fast as their task is to break quickly and cover the opposing half-backs if the opponents win the scrum. At one time, flankers were allowed to break away from the scrum with the ball but this is no longer allowed and they must remain bound to the scrum until the
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Flankers are the position where the player should have all-round attributes: speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the players most commonly involved in winning the ball in open play, especially the openside flanker. Blindside
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In open play, flankers will often stand behind the backs, supporting them. If any ball is dropped by the backs, the flankers' job is to clear up messy ball and start a new phase of play. Because they are always close to the ball, they are often first to the breakdown.
68:, either being lifted to contest or win possession, or to lift other players. Flankers are usually the key participants in the tackling process. The flankers, especially the openside, are often the fastest forwards on the team but still relied upon for tackling.
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The blindside flanker has the job of stopping any move by the opponents on the blind (or 'narrow') side from a scrum. Blindside flankers are often responsible for cover defence from set pieces and may play a more physical role at the
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ball is out. Flankers also have to defend at the back of the scrum if the opposition wins the ball and the opposing number 8 decides to pick and go (i.e. pick up the ball from the back of the scrum and drive forward with it).
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Before it was outlawed in the 1930s, New
Zealand used a 2–3–2 scrum formation that used seven forwards and not eight. The wing-forward did not participate in the scrum and would feed the ball in the scrum instead of the
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often wore the number 6 but would pack down on either the open or blind sides of the scrum, and will often harass the opposition fly-half in the manner of an openside; like Calder and
Jeffrey for Scotland, Betsen and
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played left and right, rather than open and blind. French teams tend not to make a distinction between the two roles, and their flankers also usually play left and right rather than open and blind: thus,
64:. Flankers also assist in pushing in a scrum, but are expected to detach from the scrum as soon as the ball is out to get to the play before the opposition's forwards. Flankers also participate in
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On attack I think my primary role at first phase is to look after our ball. You attack the back line and I'm usually the first person there to make sure we secure that ball.
193:, where they may well be used as a jumper. They can also be used for breaking their opposition line in open play using their speed and strength to break tackles.
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Flankers can be known by several different names. Historically, they were often called wing-forwards, although this name had a more specific meaning in
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can also be known as the back-row forwards – referring to their scrum positions – or as loose forwards because they are loosely bound to the scrum.
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side or closed side, traditionally number 6) flanker attaches themselves to the scrum on the side closer to the touchline.
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formation, the flankers (numbered 6 and 7) are located on the 'flanks' of the two forward packs.
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when they used a now-archaic scrum formation. This term is rarely used any more, but the terms
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Flankers are not always assigned specific roles as opensides and blindsides. For example,
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in which they 'flank' each set of forwards. They compete for the ball – most commonly in
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a record eight times from 2002 to 2012, described three key roles for the flanker:
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flankers, numbers 6 and 7 respectively. The name comes from their position in a
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flankers tend to be bigger, but not as fast as their partners on the openside.
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with the ball being quicker rather than the person trying steal it.
40:. Each team of 15 players includes two flankers, who play in the
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397:. International Rugby Board. 21 November 2008. Archived from
422:"Betsen back for Biarritz with France place in his sights"
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formed an outstanding left-right partnership for France.
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are sometimes used. Collectively, the flankers and the
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371:. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 November 2004
345:. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 November 2004
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143:and make sure I disturb their ball and try to
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391:"Back & McCaw: Open side master class"
420:Fotheringham, William (21 January 2006).
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315:. Rugby Football Union. Archived from
453:"Position guide: blind-side flanker"
474:"Position guide: open-side flanker"
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480:. British Broadcasting Corporation
472:Brooke, Zinzan (5 February 2007).
459:. British Broadcasting Corporation
451:Brooke, Zinzan (5 February 2007).
275:from the original on 21 March 2016
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168:detaches from a scrum to tackle
112:Flankers do less pushing in the
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269:South African Rugby Union
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124:, who was nominated for
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153:Openside and blindside
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503:Rugby union positions
265:"Origins of the game"
232:Rugby union positions
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145:turn their ball over
365:"Blindside flanker"
319:on 19 December 2013
242:Playing rugby union
237:Scrum (rugby union)
25:In the rugby union
339:"Openside flanker"
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164:blindside flanker
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395:Total Rugby Radio
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174:Shaun Perry
162:New Zealand
141:break downs
78:New Zealand
38:rugby union
248:References
478:BBC Sport
457:BBC Sport
369:BBC Sport
343:BBC Sport
309:"Flanker"
296:half-back
204:flankers
82:breakaway
66:line-outs
46:blindside
497:Category
405:21 April
273:Archived
226:See also
202:Scotland
191:line-out
50:openside
42:forwards
313:rfu.com
170:England
34:Flanker
279:31 May
88:, and
72:Naming
114:scrum
86:flank
62:mauls
58:rucks
54:scrum
27:scrum
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