Fullback is fast replacing flyhalf as the new quarterback of rugby union.
Since the beginning of time, the No.10 in rugby has been viewed as the ultimate athlete with, in most cases, the highest skill level in the team.
He is the general - the executor of game plans and the one who calls the shots.
This year, though, we’ve seen some change in the status quo.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has used Willie le Roux in the No.10 channel and playmaking role a number of times this year - to great effect.
PLAYMAKER ROLE: Willie le Roux. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
And now his international peers are starting to catch on.
Let’s rewind a bit.
Le Roux has been a force at first receiver for the Boks throughout the year.
Whenever he steps into that playmaking role, he has posed a huge threat to the opposition.
Now Erasmus has also opted to use youngster Damian Willemse at fullback.
MASTERMIND: Rassie Erasmus. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Yes, it’s an obvious ploy to help him scan the field and read the game from a different angle.
But what it also does, is free up the Boks to have two playmakers in their team - two playmakers that are interchangeable at any time.
Now the traditional fullback is the guy that used to join the line running at pace between the two centres to slice open opposition defences.
He is the guy that is great under the high ball and has a decent kicking boot.
Nowadays, he is not just one of the running backs, but a “quarterback” as well.
What this move does is allow smaller players - read New Zealand’s Damian McKenzie - the opportunity of also being a playmaker for their respective teams.
FULL BLACK FLOP: Beauden Barrett. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
It affords coaches the opportunity to blood in young flyhalves and add a new dimension to their game - that of being solid under the high ball.
If you understand the difficulties of catching these GarryOwens at the back, you most definitely will understand exactly how to execute these kicks in order to trouble opposition fullbacks.
Anyway, I remember watching Brent Russell play for the Western Province U21 team many moons ago.
FORE RUNNER: Yster Brent Russell
It was the final of the U21 Currie Cup and they played the Free State Cheetahs if memory serves correct.
On that day, the Pocket Rocket was unstoppable and almost single-handedly ran the Cheetahs into the ground.
I was convinced I had just witnessed the birth of one of the all-time greats in South African rugby.
Now 17 years later and I’m not sure that all of you would have heard of Russell.
He played flyhalf on that day, but because of his pint-size was moved to fullback where he became one of the best running backs in the game at the time.
But as good a running back he was, as good a first receiver we lost.
And that’s why when New Zealand named both Beauden Barrett and McKenzie in their starting line-up, with the former moving to fullback later in the game when Richie Mo’unga came off the bench, I was glad to see the fullback-flyhalf catching on.
KIWI EXPERIMENT: Damian McKenzie. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Anyway, as Barrett found out in their 16-15 win over England, the fullback isn’t for everyone.
It takes time to get used to being the last line of defence.
I’m pretty sure he would have had sleepless nights after Sam Underhill beat him inside-out on his way to what was almost the winning try for England.
This time, though, the Poms couldn’t have their cake and eat it and was called back by referee Jerome Garces.
He referred the matter to the TMO, who had to decide whether Courtney Lawes was onside or off when he charged down a Kiwi kick.
In the box was South African Marius Jonker.
Now any South African who watched the England/ South Africa match last weekend got a kick out of this.
This was the time to laugh last.
In what is being referred to as a controversial decision in the UK, Jonker deemed Lawes to be offside and the try wasn’t given. England lost.
As for Barrett, he’ll be a happy man with that decision as well...