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The opening scenes of the film The Blind Side describe how, in an American football team, the offensive linesman is second only to the quarterback in terms of importance.
This had me pondering over the same theory in rugby terms. If your most important position is the first five, then what is second?
After analysing all of the Super teams in my recent best of series, and paying particular attention to the title-winning teams, the one position which stood out to me in terms of quality were the locks.
All of the championship teams boasted a high quality first five and one top-notch lock.
Consider the following combinations –
• Robin Brooke/Carlos Spencer
• Norm Maxwell/Andrew Mehrtens
• Justin Harrison/Stephen Larkham
• Chris Jack/Andrew Mehrtens
• Ali Williams/Carlos Spencer
• Mark Chisolm/Stephen Larkham
• Victor Matfield/Dereck Hougaard
• Brad Thorn/Daniel Carter
• Victor Matfield/Morne Steyn
• James Horwill/Quade Cooper
• Brodie Retallick/Aaron Cruden
Not only Super Rugby winners, all of the above were at one point or other incumbents in their respective national teams, with many considered to be the best in the world (with the exception perhaps of Hougaard who only managed eight Springbok caps but then there is an exception to every rule).
Of course there were quality players across all positions in those winning teams, but not in my view with the same consistency at lock and first five.
Why would lock be second-most important? The set piece is the short answer. Locks provide the power in your scrum, win your lineout ball and secure the kick-offs. They provide the impetus which everyone else feeds off and dominating the set piece allows your first five to dictate terms.
Look at the same positions with the world cup winners –
• Gary Whetton/Grant Fox
• John Eales/Michael Lynagh
• Mark Andrews/Joel Stransky
• John Eales/Stephen Larkham
• Martin Johnson/Johnny Wilkinson
• Victor Matfield/Morne Steyn
• Sam Whitelock/Daniel Carter, Colin Slade, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald (again, the exception to the rule)
An impressive list. An argument could be mounted for many to be the best in the world at the time.
Consider your own Super teams and in particular those that have not won a title. I’m betting all of them were unable to boast a high quality 10 and lock, certainly not playing at the same time. I think the Canes are a perfect example of this, a team chock full of quality everywhere else over the years, but not where it mattered most.
Let’s apply this theory to the Super Rugby teams this season and see if we can find a potential winner.
Before the season started, my immediate picks would have been the Reds with Horwill/Cooper, the Sharks with Pieter-Steph du Toit/Patrick Lambie and the Chiefs with Retallick/Cruden.
Where are these teams at now? The Reds have struggled this season and will be struggling to make the finals from here, while the Sharks and the Chiefs lead their respective conferences.
The Sharks have lost both Lambie and du Toit for the season. While they are still winning games, they have yet to embark on their month-long tour. They have traditionally been reasonable travellers, but I am picking they may struggle this year.
Can Willem Alberts and Fred Zielinger lead their team to a title? I have my doubts but they may be the exception to the rule.
The Chiefs too have injury concerns, with Cruden out for another five weeks. However, they possess a worthy replacement in Gareth Anscombe and are my current favourite to win from here.
Of the others I would suggest the Brumbies are the next best with Scott Fardy/Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano also forming a strong case.
I simply don’t see the same quality in both of these key positions in other teams, so if I was to pick a winner at this stage I would suggest it would be the Chiefs or the Brumbies.
The smokies in all this are the Crusaders. Carter will be available towards the back end of the season and the Whitelock/Carter combination is a powerful one. Can they get themselves into a good position before Carter’s return?
It is fair to say that if I was starting my own Super franchise, the first player I would focus on would be my first five – followed by a quality lock. I would build my team from there.
What say you Roarers? Ramblings of a bitter and twisted Canes fan or is the theory sound?
If you disagree, who would be your second-most important position and why?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.