The 'eye-opening' difference between playing 5 and 6 at Test level
Now a seasoned 5.5, England forward Courtney Lawes has revealed one of the 'eye-opening' differences between playing second row and the back row - perception.
Lawes career started in the second row, and if you asked most rugby fans, chances are that's where they'd still pigeon hole to the 6'7, 115kg Northampton Saint, despite multiple starting caps for England at six.
There's no doubt there's a mini-trend of picking more athletic second rows at six. The practice may well stem from South Africa, where Springbok Pieter Steph du Toit has become an exponent par excellence. The motivations for this fashionable selection seem rather obvious: you can add size and height to your pack and lineout respectively, provided said 5.5 is has the prerequisite physical tools to cover the more dynamic position.
Yet Lawes has a word of warning for locks heads thinking departing the comfort of their prop's back sides for the wide-open spaces of the troixume lignes.
In conversation with fellow international second row Jim Hamilton on RugbyPass Lockdown interview, Lawes was asked about his preference for playing in the back row or the second row, and initially, Lawes said he didn't have one.
He did, however, give a fascinating insight into which position was harder to play; or at least how each position is perceived.
"I find it quite interesting... quite eye-opening.
"So I could play an identical game at back row and second row and it could be considered a good game at second row and a very average or poor game at back row.
"There's a very stark difference between people's expectations of a second row and a number six, especially when you're seen as a second row and play six. You're certainly under more scrutiny when you play six.
"Having said that, especially when I'm in good form, I prefer playing six."
So sixes have more fun, even if the position comes with higher expectations.
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wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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