Locks or second rows play in the number 4 & 5 shirts on a rugby field and scrummage behind their teams front row.  A lock will usually be the tallest member in the team and is expected to have good all round footballing skills.  As the second row consists of two locks both players will often have a differing set of skills.  Whilst one might be a big powerful player who gets stuck in at the breakdown and pushes hard in the tight, the second lock might be a bit more lightweight and nimble and therefore a threat in open play and easier to lift in the line out.  Increasingly so however locks are expected to be the best of both worlds.  Locks are often key leaders on the field as they are usually found in the heart of the action and are therefore known to lead by example.

 

In open play a locks job is very similar to that of a back row player.  Each member of the second row will be expected to be amongst the top tackler stats during a game whilst also providing added weight at the breakdown and attempting to win turnovers.  The locks form a key part of the defensive unit, often found as one of the first up tacklers to help bring down opposition ball carriers thereby allowing their back row counter parts to attempt to steal turn over ball.  In attack the locks provide a key ball carrying threat due to their size and will often be utilised when the team are trying to keep hold of the ball in opposition territory.  The height of the second row means they are often key in attack inside the opposition 22 where their long reach can be key to getting the ball over the line by any means necessary. A locks long rangy strides can often make them deceptively quick and therefore they can be used as a great opportunity to change a teams point of attack.

 

In the scrum the hit is very important, the whole front five should engage as one tight unit not as five individuals. The Locks organise the scrum calls regarding pushing and wheeling.  The slight difference between the two locks occurs in that the player wearing the number 5 shirt and packing down on the right hand side of the scrum is likely to be the bigger, stronger players of the two.  This is as the tighthead will be scrummaging against both the opposition loosehead and hooker so therefore requires the extra power behind him in order to help him continue to drive forwards.

 

The line out should be the bread and butter of a locks game as they are usually the key men during both teams throw ins. Usually the line out leader will be one of the two locks who is in charge of calling out the different sequences during his own teams throw and planning a defensive strategy to disrupt opposition ball during an opponents line out.

 

Every rugby fan has his own idea of what greatness is and more often than not the list will feature an inordinate number of his contemporaries because those are the players he knows best; I make no apology for doing likewise.  So without further adieu, here is one man’s opinion of who occupies Rugby Union's Mount Olympus. Here are my top 10 Locks in the history of the sport.  Let the arguing begin.