Who Are The Leading Loosehead Locks (#5) In South Africa @ 1stXV Level?

Photo by Jorina Raath/Speedshots.co.za

Bart Schoeman and I analysed most of the available footage of 1stXV games (2020) during the "lockdown" weeks and attempted to identify our top players in each position.

The Top loosehead locks (#5) we identified were: 1. Reinhardt Ludwig (Affies), 2. Hanno Theunissen (Garsfontein), 3. Luhan Steyn (Boland Landbou), 4. Reynhardt Crous (Paarl Gim), 5. Andreas Wild (Paul Roos).

The following boys also caught our attention: Enos Ndau (SACS), Franko Bredenkamp (EG Jansen), Henre Kramer (Grey College), Aiden vd Vyfer (Kingswood), Justin Friend (Grey High)

Please keep in mind that we could only evaluate players of which we had footage available and our selections were based on the performance on that day. Furthermore, we do not claim that we know all and if you disagree you are welcome to contact me (carl@ruggas.co.za) or Bart (bart@sportscon365.com). If you feel that we missed a player please send details of where we can find the videos and/or links of videos. Coaches and parents are more than welcome to discuss the players and evaluation with the match analysis.

 

Listen to the discussion regarding the loosehead lock (#5) at 13:10 in the above RuggasTV episode

Please keep in mind that any technical and positional evaluation of a player must be reinforced by the following aspects for a player to grow in future and especially after school:

1) Strength of character. Any successful sportsman will need to apply himself in honesty, teamwork and full support of the system that he works under.
2) Work ethic and personal application to improve himself, in sport and off the field. He must be ‘coachable’
3) Lifestyle and value-driven. Being a sportsman full time, semi- or full professional, requires a dedicated lifestyle change to reach set goals and to become a better human being.

Loosehead Lock (#5) - A loosehead lock usually wears the #5 jersey and is usually be the taller but leaner of the two locks. He will normally bind behind the loosehead prop in the scrums and jump at 5 in the line-outs.

Position-specific Requirements:

General
1) He must be able to secure possession at the lineouts and restarts.
2) He must be able to do high catching (above the head) when being under pressure.
3) He must play with aggression and have a physical presence.
4) He must be able to support jumpers at line outs and restarts.
5) He must be active in the mauling, ripping of the ball.
6) He must clean and carry the ball with aggression.
7) He must defend well preferably stopping the attack from opponents in driving the ball carrier back.
8) He must hit the rucks and mauls with aggression.
9) He must have effective maul set-up and mauling skills.
Scrums
1) He normally would scrum behind the loosehead prop.
2) He must be solid in scrumming engagement and supply continuous pressure/spine in line.
3) He must bind effectively ensuring no daylight between shoulder and front row gluteus.
4) He must ensure that his hips & shoulders are at the same height during scrums.
Lineouts
5) He must be able to call the line-out.
6) He must have aerial dominance and ensure quality ball to the scrumhalf.
7) He must dominate airspace around the ball at lineout time.
8) He must attacks and disrupts the opponent’s lineout ball and must be able to read the opponent's calling system.
9) He must be a key ball winner at the lineout, in 2 or 3 positions.
10) He must run the defensive lineout system.
Attack
1) He must be excellent in support play with the emphasis on linking (catching and passing).
2) He is normally the more mobile of the two locks and must have bigger mobility and be more effective support play.
Defence
1) He must have the ability to steal opposition’s ball in lineouts. He is the main lock to put pressure on the opponents’ ball.
2) He should be strong enough to support the defensive efforts of the pack.
3) He must be a solid defender and stop the opponents attack with defence.

Games watched: Milnerton vs Melkbosstrand, Brackenfell vs Durbanville, Bellville vs Stellenberg, SACS vs Boland Landbou, Wynberg vs Paul Roos, Rondebosch vs Paarl Boishaai, Paarl Gim vs Bishops, Affies vs Helpmekaar, Dale vs Muir, Hudsonpark vs Nico Malan, Queen's vs Pearson, Grey HS vs Brandwag, Kingswood vs Selborne, St Andrew's vs Framesby, Graeme vs Marlow, Gonubie vs Mzzomhle, Chief Boklein vs Aplandale, Queen's vs Stirling, Grens vs Toise, Cambridge vs de Vos Malan, Dale vs Port Rex, Selborne vs Hudson Park, Menlopark vs Ben Vorster. Boishaai vs Monnas, Affies vs Diamantveld, Dale College vs Muir College, Grey College vs Welkom Gim, St Alban's vs Kroonstad AHS, EG Jansen vs Invitation XV, Garsfontein vs Kempton Park, Frikkie Meyer vs Stellenberg, Montana vs Die Anker, Waterkloof vs Outeniqua, Boland Landbou vs Middelburg HTS, Pretoria Boys High vs Paarl Gimnasium.

Next week we will include another 18 games of which we received footage of.