2021 LIONS A YEAR TO GO
NICK CAIN LOOKS AT THE CONTENDERS FOR EACH POSITION
THIS WEEK… OPENSIDES
OPENSIDE flanker is an area where the 2021 Lions will hope to steal a march on South Africa. The Springbok back row mantra has historically leaned heavily towards ‘big is beautiful’, and consequently their two flankers are often very close in terms of size, speed, and the skills they bring.
By contrast, the openside/breakaway tradition in Britain and Ireland – and also in New Zealand and Australia – is more specialist. Although there are some variations in physique...