The Role Of The Back Row In Rugby (VIDEO ESSAY)

My explanation of the role of the blindside flanker, openside flanker and the number eight in rugby...Signed NGJ

[@headintheclouds6935]

"Why do forwards even play rugby? This doesn't sound fun at all." Spoken like a true back

[@captainpoontah4888]

Thomas Vorm he is a back as well 😂

[@tristan3598]

So we can grind for 8 phases just for a back to knock on because there was too much hair gel in his hands

[@MarsFKA]

Something else that a Number 7 needs is the endurance to be able to walk off the field at the end of the game, while looking like he has survived a car crash, and the strength and will to do that season after season. One in particular springs to mind - he wasn't mentioned in this video - but his career at the top level extended to 148 Test matches.

[@joneh9483]

Mccaw?

[@yeetwchybaban]

Ok

[@BillOsano]

Mr Offside?

[@davidbolton4930]

A blindside job is to cause car crashes all season

[@EdT-hj5rp]

Great video, looking forward to the front row in rugby, interesting to see a backs point of view on our painful art.

[@michealohaodha9351]

As a 2nd row I can confirm that 'soft hands' is the last thing on my mind after hauling myself off the ground

[@ericroberts6571]

- smash ruck - take the carry nobody else wants - push like hell in the scrum - make the tackle nobody else wants - repeat ad infinitum It's a thankless job mate 😂

[@michealohaodha9351]

@@ericroberts6571 Fact :) Bah passing is for those scared of contact anyway :D

[@AutisticWombot]

@@ericroberts6571 and even if you have soft hands...you become a tackle magnet for the sole purpose of putting people into gaps

[@BirrDetonator1989]

​@@AutisticWombotnot just 2nd rows, played tight head for years, making lads look good.

[@David-cm4ok]

Just turned 45 years old. Only got into rugby when I decided for some reason to take my 5 year old son to the local club. That was two years ago. Love the sport now, but the more videos I watch about the rules etc. the less I seem to know. Bloody hell, there's a lot to this game.

[@anantsharma7955]

Any update David?

[@BirrDetonator1989]

Run forward, pass backwards, the rest follows relatively quickly.

[@dantecadiz5353]

A big thing 7s do in attack is that they are expected to be right on the shoulder of any back who makes a line break for recieving a possible offload, because they are often a bit lighter and faster than the 6 and 8.

[@mothothebe5974]

I prefer a faster blindside (to make line breaks and act as the 3rd centre) and a fitter openside ( to be a constant nuisance for 80 mins)

[@guillermodolla4776]

Great video. I specially admire 7 for their speed and CONSTANT tackling. Ive played as 7 a couple times and is absolutely exhausting

[@bleachdrinker6915]

As a number 7 whit asthma every match feels like I've been dragged through hell

[@captainpoontah4888]

Love your soothing sit back and relax lecture style!

[@MenilikHenryDyer]

I'm so curious why Richie McCaw wasn't put up there as an example of a great 7. Pocock is just as good in the breakdown but not as good at reading the game and predicting where to go.

[@fryinryan01]

Why do forwards play rugby? Because we like fighting 😂

[@lukebridgwater6288]

This video was a huge help thank you. I've been playing prop the last few years but my coach has moved me to 6 as my playstyle and body shape and fitness are more suited to be a flanker.

[@ed4pints]

2 minutes in. Already a great video. Nice work yet again man

[@ikitulisi7045]

NZ have produced the best 7s of the modern age going back to the great Michael Jones. I'm surprised none of them got a mention in this video.

[@oromis2909]

Just got moved to flanker this was a good video for me to learn how to play the position.

[@richardrobertson5128]

No mention of ardie savea who's killing it at both 6 7 and 8?

[@prof_kaos9341]

Jerry Collins.... But TBH I agree, and sit on the couche yelling Ardie, Ardie, Ardie.... Murray Mexted said of all the young players who have gone thru his rugby academy IRANZ Ardie was the one who he thought we most likely to impress. [NGJ just mentioned Jerry...]

[@hanoitripper1809]

Ardie plays all 3 the same, just high energy and no strategy

[@kingbrown5999]

Dan Cole is the Human Thumb

[@smeetsnoud1]

Which raises the question: which thumbs are not human?

[@Yabuddy650]

i wish i saw this when i was still playing rugby, cldve learned a lot from this. a great video regardless

[@dairekelly9395]

As a small 7on attack i try and find a half line breach before it happens to get an offload through a gap.

[@alfierowden9636]

This my favourite rugby channel, I hope Noah’s ok, and able to get back to uploading soon, that is if he wants to. Hope your ok Noah, thanks for your amazing vids

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Great video. Solid insights

[@9lfr.o]

great video, really informative!

[@honawikeepa5813]

As a number 9, these warriors have my utmost respect. And, I was a big aggressive number 9. These guys eat you for 80 minutes.

[@andreacortellari4753]

Great vid bro keep it up 👍

[@davidbolton4930]

A blindside is born some people are just mean to be blindside and their not to be messed with

[@ethanpeach8216]

When I played rugby our 6 and 7 were a mix of both roles. Tackled a lot and would make a nuisance of themselves at the breakdown whenever they had the chance. Our 8 was basically left to be a 3rd second row a lot of the time.

[@Gary-n]

Another great video. Who do you consider to be the GOAT 6, 7 & 8?

[@omh9309]

Are you doing a playoff series for the new season. I enjoyed the last one

[@paddyhopkins674]

The number 6 plays as a thorn in the opposition's side. He's always trying to slow the ball down like Sam Warburton or David Pocock, Peter O'mahony. The 7 does most of the dirty work like making tackles and cleaning out rucks.

[@samlewis7339]

I feel like you're under selling the importance of support play for a 7, being the first forward to an attacking ruck is a large responsibility less so for pros than amateurs however. Also runing support lines either to secure the ball, make more yards or link up with other players is another role. 7's usually being the fastest forward often fill this role

[@lizettedoddsangel8381]

this is a really good video! could you do the role of the second row next time?

[@danielmcgill29]

looking forward for the second row video

[@rivingtonpike7899]

Worth mentioning that the no.8 tends to be a big guy with good hands who is also a strong runner. Blindside traditionally was another big guy and his job was to stop the no.8 attacking the blindside channel from the back of a scrum.

[@harrybutterworth4850]

@NGJ Rugby can you do a similar video for the second row

[@dovidgoldstein2725]

Please can you make a video on the front row - especiall tighthead

[@matttttt29365]

No mention of versatile players who can play in multiple backline positions or is very all-rounded?

[@ethanjosephtier2rugbynatio379]

He will probably make a video on them..this one is about 3 positions..the 2 flankers(openside and blindside) and the No8...collectively known as "The Back Row"

[@maceyrickard6836]

ONE OF MY FAV NO6 WAS ANDREW BLOWERS!!!!

[@tumanakomichael6380]

As someone who plays 7 and 12, i can agree that 7 is more fun bc your always in the action and number 12 is only fun when you get the ball or when your opposite number has the ball

[@halion4487]

I do the same thing, I’m a little undersized for a 7 but fitness lets me shine in the last 20 minutes, amazing fun when you just go fuck it and are willing to hurt to make the opponent hurt.

[@yusefalimam130]

glad i found you

[@kuhlenkosi5862]

In SA 6 is the openside and 7 is the blindslide.

[@ice1032]

Perfect timing

[@zrayray3054]

I am stuck as a lock for my club lol. No matter what I do I do not think I will ever get a shot to move back to 8 :(

[@omh9309]

Ahhhhh yes. new video

[@charliepope9539]

Great narration, but I’d love to see you syncing it to clips that illustrate your points

[@eotuhiva9464]

Favorite 7- Nili Latu 🇹🇴

[@davebrokenshire1086]

I've been watching rugby for around 50 years, and you've just explained stuff I've never understood. So on the one hand, a huge thank you from me, on the other, please try not to sound so condescending, even if I deserve it.

[@TheCrimsonS4ge]

As a prop I’ve passed the ball probably 2-3 times a game and only to one of my offload option in a pod. I’ve played rugby for 8 years and I still don’t know how to spin pass a ball.

[@louispescheux8736]

Pump these out man

[@TheNoahJarvis]

Thanks Leroi 🤙🏽

[@dovidgoldstein2728]

please make a video on the front row

[@samdurrant7361]

I play 7 for my college and I love dump tackling the oppo 8 to scare anyone else away from my channel for the rest of the match

[@eamonlyons8318]

Played as a 6, simple job with ball in hand. Get the ball and find a way through. Defensively, tackle and disrupt ball

[@h8evil685]

The Greatest of them all was THE ICEMAN, Michael Jones... Started at #8 Revolutionized #7 then did the same as a #6, Jumped like a Basketballer before lineout lifting was introduced and He ran like a Center... He had the most amazing player IQ with Impeccable Timing and the ability to read the Oppositions play before even they knew what they were going to do. He was the JONAH of his Era, a Pure Natural Athlete & An Absolute Freak... His Son Niko Jones is 18 and is looking Promising, Captain of the NZ School Boys.

[@archielong9523]

Thank you for this video, my mate Fozzie learnt a lot

[@tomkrys3331]

Great video, very true in all cases

[@Mophead-kg6vo]

What about line outs

[@dovidgoldstein2725]

Make a video on the front row

[@willparkes5892]

Playing 7 is my shit

[@harrysatur1293]

I should have bet money on the fact David Pocock would have been on there

[@ItsjuuhsRome]

George Smith 🐐

[@robertopallaro6558]

great job, but i believe more and more in roles, than position in thge field

[@dylancridland]

Oh yh yh

[@petergarnier7345]

8.33 "share the load" Samwise gamgee lord of the rings reference anyone?

[@TheNoahJarvis]

Well spotted 💪🏽

[@rexsalisbury3646]

Richie McCaw of the All Blacks is the best there is..

[@jesseblack8485]

Why don’t American Teams utilize kicking as much in rugby union?

[@TheCrimsonS4ge]

Jesse Black, it’s not continuous play in NFL so their is a far greater chance to lose possession and thus utilizing their standard attack play often leads to more territory. Their long passes are also generally more effective than a kick.

[@shakes.dontknowwhatyergettin]

They kick just about every 4th down.

[@williebauld1007]

And how can you say anything without mentioning Hamish Watson?

[@willaust7298]

Second

[@harryhoon39]

Maybe a job for you in there

[@davidbolton4930]

Not everyone is about to understand the academics that go into playing blindside only true scholars play their

[@user-hz5zu1rb7o]

Why do backs even play rugby it’s not like they do much anyway 😂😂🤷🏼‍♂️🤷🏼‍♂️

[@PhilippSchiffer]

Why is this an explanation using videos, when the video is not connected to the narrative at all? It seems rather pointless.

[@pappagallagher2227]

Worst explanation I've ever heard

[@williamwallace2278]

Flanker? A by product in rugby. A failure. Not tough enough for the tight five and not skilled or fast enough for the 3/4s