TRU Position Watch - Scrum-Halves

After wrapping up the pack last week with the number eights, we now turn our attentions to the back lines of the Aviva Premiership, with our focus falling on scrum-halves this week.

Fly-halves are often credited with sparking a back line, but the distribution and tempo provided by scrum-halves are usually just as vital, if not more. Proficient tactical kicking at the position has also become a valuable asset and there are few positions which require the vast array of talents that a modern nine must show.

Wily veterans such as Peter Stringer and Mike Blair just miss out, as do up-and-comers like Dan Robson and Ben Spencer, in one of the toughest rankings yet. Talent abounds at the position currently in the Aviva Premiership and the eight players that have made the cut comprise one of the best position groups we’ve seen thus far.

8. Chris Cusiter, Sale Sharks

The aforementioned duo of Blair and Robson came closest to sneaking into this spot, but Cusiter has been working wonders for Sale alongside Danny Cipriani. Although Scotland seemed to have moved on from Cusiter, he continues to impress in the Premiership, providing a cool and composed head at nine that has had a significant positive impact on Cipriani outside of him.   

7. Joe Simpson, Wasps

Once labelled England’s future at scrum-half, a number of factors including injuries and England’s coaching staff preference for other players have seen Simpson fail to live up to that potential, despite still becoming one of the most dangerous players in the Premiership.

There are few players who can match Simpson’s acceleration over 10 yards, whilst his box-kicking is amongst the best in the game, let alone the Premiership. If a team gives Simpson an inch, he’ll take a yard, as many sides have learnt to their misfortune over the years.

6. Lee Dickson, Northampton Saints

A well balanced scrum-half, Dickson won’t gouge teams for endless metres with ball in hand, nor will he unlock defences with perfectly timed passes, but if his opposition turn off defensively, he can punish sides in either fashion.

As with England and Harlequins full-back Mike Brown, he doesn’t astound with his physical ability, but the determination and composure he plays with more than make up for it.

5. Kahn Fotuali’i, Nothampton Saints

Whilst Dickson is usually Northampton’s starter in the more important games, Fotuali’i boasts a more explosive skill set. The Samoan is not as well balanced as Dickson, but he has the ability to takeover games single-handedly and is arguably the most dangerous running threat in the league at the position, as he is able to break tackles, offload in contact and outpace all but the most athletic players.     

4. Greig Laidlaw, Gloucester

If these rankings were based solely on form in the Premiership, Laidlaw would struggle to make the top eight, whilst if they were based on international performances, he’d be pushing hard for the top spot after a highly impressive autumn with Scotland.

As it is, they’re based on a combination of the two, as well as an appreciation of overall ability, and fourth place feels right for Laidlaw. The Scot’s kicking ability, both from the tee and from hand, surpasses most of his rivals in the Premiership and gives him a valuable edge in those areas.

3. Richard Wigglesworth, Saracens

Wigglesworth, like Dickson, doesn’t do any one thing exceptionally, but there are no weaknesses to his game, nor does he ever seem to struggle for consistency.

The former Sale man is one of the more underrated players at Saracens, not only due to his contributions on the pitch, but also his ability as a leader on and off of it. A return to the England team this autumn was a just reward for a man who rarely, if ever, puts a foot wrong.

2. Danny Care, Harlequins

A slow start to the 2014/15 season has seen Care lose his spot as England’s starting scrum-half and has also seen him relinquish top spot in these rankings, something which would have seemed unthinkable earlier this year.

If his pack can deliver him quick, clean ball, then Care is one of the best in the world at exploiting gaps left by defences around the fringes, but without that string to his bow, he can look a little laboured in delivering the ball to his back line.  

1. Ben Youngs, Leicester Tigers

If these rankings had occurred six months ago, there’s a very good chance Youngs would have featured much lower than this, but his return to form this season has been a fillip in relatively disappointing campaigns thus far for both Leicester and England.

Back in 2010, Youngs burst onto the scene, helping England to a 21-20 victory over Australia in Sydney, outplaying, at the time, the world’s best, Will Genia. Although he is not back at that level just yet, at his best, Youngs is a premiere talent with ball in hand, testing the fringes, and has a pass as crisp and accurate as any of his contemporaries.