# Locks and Back Row · Rugby Level 3: Pre-Intermediate

Rugby · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/level-3/locks-and-back-row/)

The rest of the pack: locks in the scrum, lineout and at kick-offs, the blindside and openside flankers, the number eight, back-row balance, the back row at scrums and in defence, and famous locks and back-rowers.

## Test 1: The lock's engine-room job

- Locks drive the scrum from behind the front row. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Locks form the second row. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- They bind together and push through the props. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Height helps in the lineout and at restarts. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Locks never stop working. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The second row is 4 and 5. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Locks do the heavy work at the breakdown. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Bind, head in, grip, drive. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Locks tower over the scrum-half. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The second row sits behind the front row. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 2: Locks in the lineout

- Tall locks win lineout ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A lock or back-rower often calls the lineout. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Stealing throws is a lock's prized skill. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Matfield ran the Springbok lineout for years. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Reading calls helps the defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Secure the catch, then use it. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Lifters grip below the hips. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Call, move, jump, catch. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Call, throw, lift, catch. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Locks are the usual jumpers. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 3: Locks at kick-offs

- Teams kick to where their own locks can contest. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Lifts give extra reach. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Three players working together. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Chasers contest the receiving lock. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Safe landing and support come first. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A safe landing protects the jumper. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short kicks invite a contest. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Kick, move, lift, catch. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short, medium, deep. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Lifting at a halfway restart. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 4: The blindside flanker

- The blindside usually wears 6. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The blind side is the narrow side. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Blindsides are big, physical forwards. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Height adds a lineout option. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Kolisi led South Africa in 2019 and 2023. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Flankers are first away from the scrum. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The blindside and the openside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 6, 7 and 8. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Bind, watch, break, tackle. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The flanker on the narrow side is the blindside. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 5: The openside flanker

- The openside is 'the seven'. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Opensides hunt turnovers. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Arriving first wins turnovers. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- McCaw won in 2011 and 2015. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pocock was a master jackal. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A low centre of gravity helps over the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- McCaw retired in 2015 with 148 caps. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Arrive, stay up, grip, steal. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Opensides live at the breakdown. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Opensides compete over the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 6: The number eight

- The number eight binds between the locks. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A pick-up starts an attack from the scrum. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The ball arrives at the number eight's feet. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Parisse is Italy's most capped player. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Read later captained New Zealand. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Defenders are still bound when the ball comes out. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Dallaglio was England's number eight in the 2003 final. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Feed, strike, ball at the back, pick-up. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Front row, second row, then the eight at the very back. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The eight picks up at the back. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 7: Back-row balance

- Ball winner, carrier and jumper together. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Balance needs different strengths. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A strong carrier gets the team going forward. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Tall back-rowers add jumpers. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back-rowers are the busiest forwards. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Numbers 6, 7 and 8. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A mobile lock adds work rate. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Blindside, openside, number eight. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Front, second, back. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Different builds for different jobs. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 8: The back row at the scrum

- Flankers break off when the ball emerges. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The flanker's first target is the nine. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A direct carry off the scrum. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back-row moves start near the scrum. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Holding it lets the pack drive forward. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A loose bind speeds up the break. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back-rowers guard the fringes. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Strike, ball at the back, pick-up, pass. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The openside is first off. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Flankers break to pressure the nine. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 9: The back row in defence

- They guard the ruck's edges. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Loose forwards move all over the field. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back-rowers top the tackle counts. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Turnover or get back in the line. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Being near the ball creates chances. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pushing the attackers off the ball. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Big carriers come at them all match. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Set, tackle, rise, contest. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Opensides usually top the count. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Driving over to win the ball back. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 10: Famous locks and back-rowers

- Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Sydney. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Eales was also a goal-kicking lock. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A goal-kicking lock is rare. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- O'Connell led the 2009 Lions to South Africa. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Retallick won the award as a lock. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Brooke dropped a goal against England in the semi-final. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Itoje was named England captain in 2025. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 1999, 2003, 2011 and 2019. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 2001, 2013 and 2014. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Johnson captained England to the 2003 title. (Source: General rugby union reference)

Sources: World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

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