# Second five-eighths

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Second_five-eighths
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Second_five-eighths.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_five-eighths
> Source revision: 1239213969
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Rugby union position}}
[[File:Rugby world cup 2011 NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA (7309670892).jpg|thumb|320px|Second five-eighths [Sonny Bill Williams](/source/Sonny_Bill_Williams) is known for his offloading skills]]
'''Second five-eighths''', or sometimes '''second five-eighth''',<ref name = chambers-2006/> is a name used in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) to refer the [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) position commonly known elsewhere as the [inside centre](/source/Rugby_union_positions) or number 12.<ref name = roar-2010/><ref name = nzh-2008/><ref name = ab-2012/>

It traditionally described a playmaking type of 12 with good passing and kicking skills as opposed to the strong hard runner and tackler in that position providing less game-management and attacking options. Some second five-eighths such as [Sonny Bill Williams](/source/Sonny_Bill_Williams) and [Ma’a Nonu](/source/Ma%E2%80%99a_Nonu), however, combine aspects of both styles of play.<ref name = roar-2010/><ref name = balls-2014/>

==Etymology==
The 1903 All Black captain, [Jimmy Duncan](/source/Jimmy_Duncan_(rugby_union)), is credited with coining the name five-eighths when he decided to take a player from the forwards to add to the backs. The backs at that time consisted of two half-backs, three three-quarters, and a full-back. As the additional player stood between half-back and three-quarters, Duncan came up with the term five-eighths according to the fraction between them.<ref name = roar-2010/>

The player at five-eighths, also known as the five-eighth,<ref name = chambers-2006/> could take the ball back to the forwards or pass it on to the three-quarters.<ref name = roar-2010/> This backline innovation occurred before the split between rugby union and [rugby league](/source/rugby_league) in Australia and New Zealand and the term is now commonly used for the [five-eighth](/source/five-eighth) position in rugby league football.<ref name= lp-2007/>

As the game of rugby union evolved, the two half-back positions acquired separate functions. The outside half-back, now known as the outhalf or [fly-half](/source/Rugby_union_positions), became the first five-eighths in New Zealand under the two five-eighths system. The next player on his outside was called the second five-eighths.<ref name = roar-2010/>

The terms first-five and second-five are sometimes used as abbreviated versions of first five-eighths and second five-eighths, respectively.<ref name = one-news-2013/><ref name = nzh-2014/><ref name = sportal-2014/>

==Notable second five-eighths==
New Zealand [All Blacks](/source/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team):
*[Walter Little](/source/Walter_Little_(rugby_union))
*[Aaron Mauger](/source/Aaron_Mauger)
*[Ma'a Nonu](/source/Ma'a_Nonu)
*[Tana Umaga](/source/Tana_Umaga)
*[Sonny Bill Williams](/source/Sonny_Bill_Williams)
Australian [Wallabies](/source/Australia_national_rugby_union_team):
*[Tim Horan](/source/Tim_Horan)
*[Matt Giteau](/source/Matt_Giteau)
*[Christian Lealiifano](/source/Christian_Lealiifano)
*[Matt To'omua](/source/Matt_To'omua)

==See also==
*[Rugby union positions§Centre](/source/Rugby_union_positions)

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=

<ref name = chambers-2006>{{cite book
 |year= 2006
 |title= The Chambers Dictionary |page= 608
 |publisher= Allied Publishers
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pz2ORay2HWoC&pg=RA1-PA608
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141227162921/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=pz2ORay2HWoC&pg=RA1-PA608&lpg=RA1-PA608
 |archivedate= 27 December 2014
 |isbn=978-81-86062-25-8}}
</ref>

<ref name = ab-2012>{{cite web 
 |date= 6 May 2012
 |first= James |last= Mortimer
 |title= All Blacks selection analysis - Second five-eighth
 |publisher= All Blacks
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= http://allblacks.com/News/19303/all-blacks-selection-analysis-second-five-eighth
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141227160705/http://allblacks.com/News/19303/all-blacks-selection-analysis-second-five-eighth
 |archivedate= 27 December 2014}}
</ref>

<ref name = nzh-2008>{{cite web 
 |date= 1 November 2008 
 |first= Chris |last= Rattue
 |title= Rugby: Donald measures up Carter's crown
 |work= New Zealand Herald
 |accessdate= 27 December 2012
 |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hong-kong/news/article.cfm?l_id=456&objectid=10540495
 |url-status=live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160610044703/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hong-kong/news/article.cfm?l_id=456&objectid=10540495 <!--http://www.peeep.us/e5e5411f-->
 |archivedate= 10 June 2016}}
</ref>

<ref name = roar-2010>{{cite web 
 |date= 4 March 2010 
 |first= Spiro |last= Zavos
 |title= When is a first five-eighths actually a number 10?
 |work= The Roar
 |accessdate= 27 December 2012
 |url= http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/03/04/when-is-a-first-five-eighths-a-number-10/
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130921013529/http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/03/04/when-is-a-first-five-eighths-a-number-10/
 |archivedate= 21 September 2013}}
</ref>

<ref name = balls-2014>{{cite web 
 |date= 3 November 2012
 |first= Conor |last= O'Leary
 |title= What The Hell Is a Second Five-Eighth?
 |publisher= Balls
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= http://balls.ie/rugby/hell-second-five-eighth/
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141227161330/http://balls.ie/rugby/hell-second-five-eighth/
 |archivedate= 27 December 2014}}
</ref>

<ref name= lp-2007>{{cite book
 |title=Australian Language & Culture
 |year=2007 |publisher= Lonely Planet |page=[https://archive.org/details/australianlangua0000unse/page/83 83]
 |location= Australia
 |url= https://archive.org/details/australianlangua0000unse
 |url-access=registration
 |isbn=978-1-74059-099-0}}
</ref>

<ref name = one-news-2013>{{cite web 
 |date= 29 June 2013
 |title= First-five options secure with Crusaders
 |work= One News |publisher= Fairfax 
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/first-five-options-secure-crusaders-5479987
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005053202/http://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/first-five-options-secure-crusaders-5479987
 |archivedate= 5 October 2013}}
</ref>

<ref name = nzh-2014>{{cite web 
 |date= 2 September 2014 
 |first= Justin |last= Chadwick
 |title= Rugby: Under-fire Beale still right first-five fit for us - Slipper
 |work= New Zealand Herald
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11317479
 |url-status=live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141228184932/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11317479 <!--https://web.archive.org/web/20141228072209/http://www.peeep.us/b15aa02a -->
 |archivedate= 28 December 2014}}
</ref>

<ref name = sportal-2014>{{cite web 
 |first= Brendan |last=Bradford  
 |date= 16 October 2014
 |title= Cruden "definitely not getting punished" says Hansen
 |work= Sportal
 |accessdate= 27 December 2014
 |url= http://www.sportal.co.nz/rugby/super-rugby/cruden-definitely-not-getting-punished-says-hansen/1f41n7xqs55nd1tojykgc2j37z
 |url-status= live
 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141228072647/http://www.sportal.co.nz/rugby/super-rugby/cruden-definitely-not-getting-punished-says-hansen/1f41n7xqs55nd1tojykgc2j37z
 |archivedate= 28 December 2014}}
</ref>

}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book
 |year= 1993
 |first= Keith |last = Quinn
 |title= The Encyclopedia of World Rugby
 |publisher= ABC Books
 |isbn= 978-0-7333-0146-9}}

Category:Rugby union positions

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Second five-eighths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_five-eighths) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_five-eighths?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
