▁control ▁the ▁ball ▁after ▁it ▁has ▁been ▁he e led ▁back ▁from ▁the ▁front ▁of ▁the ▁pack , ▁and ▁the ▁position ▁provides ▁a ▁link ▁between ▁the ▁for wards ▁and ▁back s ▁during ▁attack ing ▁phases . ▁ ▁Back s ▁The ▁role ▁of ▁the ▁back s ▁is ▁to ▁create ▁and ▁convert ▁point - sc oring ▁opportun ities . ▁They ▁are ▁generally ▁smaller , ▁faster ▁and ▁more ▁ag ile ▁than ▁the ▁for wards . ▁Another ▁distinction ▁between ▁the ▁back s ▁and ▁the ▁for wards ▁is ▁that ▁the ▁back s ▁are ▁expected ▁to ▁have ▁superior ▁kick ing ▁and ▁ball - hand ling ▁skills , ▁especially ▁the ▁fly - half , ▁sc rum - half , ▁and ▁full - back . ▁ ▁Half - back s ▁The ▁half - back s ▁consist ▁of ▁two ▁positions , ▁the ▁sc rum - half ▁and ▁the ▁fly - half . ▁The ▁fly - half ▁is ▁cru cial ▁to ▁a ▁team ' s ▁game ▁plan , ▁orch estr ating ▁the ▁team ' s ▁performance . ▁They ▁are ▁usually ▁the ▁first ▁to ▁receive ▁the ▁ball ▁from ▁the ▁sc rum - half ▁following ▁a ▁break down , ▁line out , ▁or ▁sc rum , ▁and ▁need ▁to ▁be ▁decis ive ▁with ▁what ▁actions ▁to ▁take ▁and ▁be ▁effective ▁at ▁communic ating ▁with ▁the ▁outside ▁back s . ▁Many ▁fly - hal ves ▁are ▁also ▁their ▁team ' s ▁goal ▁kick ers . ▁The ▁sc rum - half ▁is ▁the ▁link ▁between ▁the ▁for wards ▁and ▁the ▁back s . ▁They ▁receive ▁the ▁ball