Size of international backs

[Gagger]

Great read from Shaun Edwards on the size of international forwards in the wake of Wales' gargantuan back line

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2012/feb/09/six-nations-2012-size-matters

We all know that rugby players, like other members of our race are getting bigger and bigger, but it's among the backs that the difference really shows and in some teams the size is truly marked. Take the Wales backs who started against Ireland last Sunday and from No9 to No14 no one was under 6ft 1in – that's 1.86metres in new money – and no one was lighter than just over 15st or 105kg, which gave us an advantage of eight kilo per man over the six Irish guys in the same position.

Maybe our constant rounds of games against them will actually be interesting in the end. They've produced the best two games of the 6N so far this year

 

[Bruce Ross]

I expect better from the Guardian, which has done a great job of exposing the Murdoch family's trashing of journalistic ethics.

No, Shaun Edwards, "just over 15st" does not equate to "105kg". 15 stone or 210 lbs is equal to 95.5kg, a very significant discrepancy. Try dividing the number of pounds by 2.2 not by 2.

 

[Gagger]

Pedant (a compliment in this site)

 

[Jnor]

Thats a huge difference. 105kg I was blown away by, 95 I am kind of impressed but not amazingly so. Thanks Bruce

 

[jason]

My Welsh mates have brought this up too:

Sure, they've got a massive backline but other than George North I'm not entirely convinced yet. Give me Diggers any day.

 

[bryce]

I thought the most dangerous looking backs on the field yesterday were Leigh Halfpenny, as well as Stuart Hogg, neither of whom are very big.

 

[Bruce Ross]

Converting to new money the big boys in the Welsh backline for the Scotland game were:

9 Mike Phillips 100kg
11 George North 104kg
12 Jamie Roberts 110kg
13 Jon Davies 103kg
14 Alex Cuthbert 104kg

In line with the modern trend the most massive was the 12. Interestingly when I wrote the article, "Giants of the midfield - rise of the 100kg inside centre" back in November 2010, among the top 9 rugby nations only Wales, Ireland and Australia were using sub-100kg 12s. At that time Wales were fielding a 90kg five-eighth, a 93kg inside centre and a 92kg outside centre.