South African Back Rows

[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!

[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

[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!

[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.

[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

whoops that should have been blindside

[Snipe Watson]

I knew what you meant McP

[fuzzylogic]

I didnt, but thinkyou for explaining!