Second five-eighths

{{Short description|Rugby union position}} [[File:Rugby world cup 2011 NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA (7309670892).jpg|thumb|320px|Second five-eighths 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 to refer the rugby union position commonly known elsewhere as the inside centre 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 and Ma’a 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, 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 in Australia and New Zealand and the term is now commonly used for the 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, 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: *Walter Little *Aaron Mauger *Ma'a Nonu *Tana Umaga *Sonny Bill Williams Australian Wallabies: *Tim Horan *Matt Giteau *Christian Lealiifano *Matt To'omua

==See also== *Rugby union positions§Centre

==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  |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  |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