World XV: The Sheriffs
The majority readers agreed that Richie McCaw was by far the best open side flank ever, with Schalk Burger the best Bok of all time!
Interesting that the All Blacks and Wallabies rule the No.8 and openside legends, but it is clear that the bigger Boks dominate the blindside ball carrier blindside legends.
Let's pick the best 'blindside flank' of all time.
Let AussieBoer clearly explain – as I did in picking the openside flanks last time round.
In South Africa and France the openside tend to wear the No.6 – ala Francois Pienaar, Rob Louw, Schalk van der Merwe, Corne Krige and Serge Betsen.
In NZ, England and Australia the blindside flanks wear the No.6.
As many players in the amateur days played 'left and right' flanks, mean in the one flank will always push behind the loosehead and vice-versa, the role of a specialised 'fetcher/openside' playing towards the ball is only about two decades old.
Thus some of the nominees below might suggest that some players had a No.7, which suggest they played openside.
AussieBoer, also see the blindsider as a dominant ball carrier, premier line-out option and not playing towards the tackled area, but play off the first receiver after the attacking team won the possession.
The blindside flank's job is then to cross the gainline and/or create opportunities by attacking space or offload to support players.
The blindside, on defence, is also a bone-crusher when executing a tackle.
Secondary skills is to be able to step and not just smash straight into the defenders.
Thierry Dusautoir, Theuns Stofberg, Gert Smal, Jerry Collins, Ian Kirkpatrick, Andre Venter, Oliver Magne, Owen Finnegan, Bob Skinstad, Jan Ellis, Michael Jones, Richard Hill, Mark Shaw, Ruben Kruger where great at this.
The best Bok candidates: Theuns Stofberg, Klippies Kritzinger, Bob Skinstad, Rassie Erasmus, Jan Ellis, Gert Smal, Juan Smith, Stephen Fry, Joe van Niekerk, Frik du Preez, Ruben Kruger and Andre Venter.
AussieBoer (Kevin D)
@rugby365com
Vote on Polls for your blindside options and watch some good video footage!
