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South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:07 am
by fuzzylogic
Just wondering if anyone a little more knowledgable than myself could explain the SA back row system. Just watching the Lions v Cheetahs in the super 14 and noticed that the Cheetahs back row.

The players were wearing Heinrich Brussow - 6, Juan Smith - 7 and Frans Viljoe - 8 and at scrum time Smith was packing down at the openside position, but the SA commentators kept refering to Brussow as the openside.

Also I must say, one of the most entertaining games I have seen in a long time, the 2 supposidly worst teams in the S14 played out a cracker!

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:32 am
by McPepper
In South Africa the number 6 is the openside so Juan Smith is an openside flanker even though he has the number 6 on his jersey and the number 7 is the blindside flanker....i dont know why South Africa are unique in this aspect but i hope that helps

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:41 am
by fuzzylogic
In South Africa the number 6 is the openside so Juan Smith is an openside flanker even though he has the number 6 on his jersey and the number 7 is the blindside flanker....i dont know why South Africa are unique in this aspect but i hope that helps
Did you read my original post McPepper? Smith was wearing the 7 shirt and packing down in scrums at openside flanker, but the commentators kept refering to Brussow as the openside!

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:59 am
by Snipe Watson
Mc Pepper is right and Juan Smith usually plays blindside.
Because of this, ommentators may have referred to Brussow as the openside flanker and he was wearing 6 the traditional SA open side number.

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:49 pm
by McPepper
McPepper wrote:In South Africa the number 6 is the openside so Juan Smith is an openside flanker even though he has the number 6 on his jersey and the number 7 is the blindside flanker....i dont know why South Africa are unique in this aspect but i hope that helps
:oops: whoops that should have been blindside

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:41 pm
by Snipe Watson
I knew what you meant McP :thumright:

Re: South African Back Rows

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:30 pm
by fuzzylogic
I didnt, but thinkyou for explaining!