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Locks: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield
Required skills: Locks are among the biggest players on the team, and tend to be the tallest. Their primary role is to win possession at line-outs and kick-offs, by jumping up as high as possible to catch the ball. For this they need good hand-eye co-ordination. They also need strength and power to gain possession once the ball is on the ground, by grappling it out of their opponents’ clutches and pushing them away from it. Their size and strength make them formidable generally in scrums, rucks and mauls.
Required fitness levels: Locks need to reach a minimum of 65cm in the vertical jump test. They are expected to bench-press 150kg and squat 160kg, as well as run the 10 metres in 1.75 seconds and the 40 metres in 5.5 seconds. Locks should have no more than 12% body fat.
Injuries to watch out for: Studies have shown that locks are among the most frequently injured players. They are vulnerable to head, neck, shoulder, back, trunk, knee and ankle injuries. If opposition players bring the lock down by knocking his feet out from under him, he can land on his back or neck, resulting in serious injury. Arm fractures and shoulder dislocation also commonly result. If a lock is tackled while still in the air when leaping to catch a high ball, he can sustain serious injuries if he lands on his neck or back.
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