The secret to any good rugby side.

Rugby sides are funny old things.

You have the 20 stone, face for radio, beer guzzling and usually stupid props all the way to the gym fanatic, hair perfected and protein guzzling wingers.

The array of personalities and physiques is something to be admired but this post is looking to focus on one particular position. It is a position that we think is one of the most underrated positions in the game.

It is the flanker. 

When you think of rugby 'superstars' you think of your Wilkinsons, Carters, Sextons, Saveas, Lomus etc...

But you don't, with the exception of one Richie McCaw, think of your flankers and here's why you should be. 

Who remembers last year's rugby world cup?

As an England fan I remember it for all the wrong reasons but something quite clear came out of that tournament. That if you're team does not have a quality set of flankers, you're going to struggle to compete, let alone win. 

Want an example?

Australia. 

They were, and this is with no disrespect, not thought to be getting that far in the tournament. Their team since 2011 had been disorganised, lost a lions tour, and frankly confusing. 

The Aussies are known for being at the forefront of world rugby and they hadn't been for quite some time. 

But at RWC 2015 something changed and the whole world watched them in awe.

Michael Hooper and David Pocock were, for me, the two standout players in that tournament and at the heart for their incredible performances. 

Every breakdown they hit they won, every turnover possible was achieved and every tackle was made. 

They dominated every game and as a pair they allowed the backs to attack and the fly-halves kick. 

Let's contrast that to England's back row. 

We had, usually, Robshaw at 7 and Haskell at 6. 

Haskell was very poor and looked a little all over the shop and Robshaw was once again being played on the wrong side of the scrum. Luckily Jones has acknowledged this and looks to be playing him at a much better 6 at next week's starting 6 Nations. 7 should have been Steffon Armitage but let's not get into that... I've had many disputes over the overseas selection process and can only describe it as bullsh*t.

England's lack of quality in the backrow meant that we struggled at the breakdown and found it almost impossible to win turnovers against the head. 

This meant that when England played Australia in the game that HAD to be won for the hosting nation, it was men against boys and England deservedly lost. 

If you think of all top sides don't go straight for the fly-halves or the wingers but think of the pack and most importantly the flankers. 

If your team has a good set of 6s and 7s you'll have a great base. That way you know that turnovers are strong possibility and tackles are a given.

I challenge you to give me a good side with a poor back row.