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Auckland - They go by various names: fetchers, snafflers, pilferers. The South Africans call them jackals, without any disrespect intended.
They're openside flanks and the Rugby World Cup will deliver one of its most compelling individual contests when the best in the world in that position, New Zealand's Richie McCaw and Australia's David Pocock, meet in Sunday's semi-final.
The contest has the ingredients of sports' greatest confrontations: the meeting of an established master, a player at the peak of his powers, and a rising star eager to assume his mantle.
McCaw, who became at this World Cup the first player to reach 100 Tests for New Zealand, has been acknowledged for several years as the world's best No 7. Though he has critics who say he bends if not breaks the rules, he is equally credited with having been the most skilled player in the complex area of the breakdown.
Pocock, the Zimbabwe-born Australia openside, has rapidly caught up with McCaw through the late stages of this season's Tri-Nations tournament and at the World Cup itself.
His performance for the Wallabies in their gripping 11-9 win over the Springboks in last weekend's quarter-final was probably the individual performance of the tournament so far.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who dispenses praise cautiously, used one word to describe Pocock's matchwinning effort: "immense."
In that sense, Sunday's clash between McCaw and Pocock may see a palace coup, the moment when the king of his position is supplanted by his younger rival. Some say it may already have taken place.
Former All Blacks openside Josh Kronfeld, one of the best in the game during the 1990s, has already proclaimed Pocock better than McCaw. Kronfeld told London's The Times newspaper early in the World Cup he felt Pocock was now a better player than McCaw, giving Australia an edge in one of the most crucial areas of the game.
Backrow Owen Finegan, who was a member of Australia's 1999 World Cup-winning team, also rated Pocock the better player.
"I probably rate David Pocock above (McCaw)," Finegan told Australian media. "George Smith was the best No 7 I ever played with or against and that included McCaw. And Pocock, towards the end of George's career, was the one who put him on notice."
The softly-spoken Pocock said he was flattered by such comparisons but he remains determined to prove himself on the field.
"Ever since I started playing Super Rugby I've looked forward to games against other No 7s who are highly rated," he said. "That hasn't really changed."
Pocock will never align himself with critics who say McCaw breaks the rules.
"Richie has been up there for a long time," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "He's very smart and very good about the way he goes about his game, playing to the limits, which is what every No 7 should be doing.
"He is smart and good at reading the play at the right time. The key is how he reads refs. A lot of people think he gets away with stuff, but it's the way he plays right to the edge. Good on him."
McCaw, in turn, has only praise for Pocock.
"At the breakdown he has a good idea of how to have an impact," he said. "He's a strong character, has physical presence. The Tests we've played we've had to make sure we keep him under control."
The role of the openside flanker has both changed and increased in importance as the breakdown or the tackle area has become more central to the game. His ability to arrive quickly at the tackle to secure his team's own ball or, more importantly, to turn over opposition ball has become decisive in the modern contest. While McCaw and Pocock are established in the role, Sam Warburton's performances for Wales have been instrumental in providing front-foot ball for a backline which has carried them into a semi-final against France.
How openside flankers go about their task, operating within the limits of some of rugby's most suffocating rules, is often a mystery to the uninitiated, leading to claims of cheating. They operate in the depths of rucks and mauls and the scars they earn are almost badges of office. Injury is the opensider's constant companion: both Pocock and McCaw have missed matches at this tournament, Pocock with a back injury, McCaw with a foot problem which has troubled him since February.
"I suppose it's just one of the hazards of my position," McCaw said. "Obviously as an openside flanker you're into contact a fair bit and if I don't get among that, somebody else will.
"That's the attitude you need to play in that position."
McCaw's injury history is an almost chilling catalog of fractures and strains, a tapestry of stitches. Pocock already has his share of battle scars: in a 2009 Test against Wales he dislocated his thumb, wrenched it back into place and continued playing.
McCaw shoulders the All Blacks captaincy in addition to his substantial responsibility as their main agent at the breakdown. Pocock, who is sober, mature and highly tactically aware, has been tipped as a future Australia captain.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said McCaw's influence as a leader is "massive."
"He's the most experienced international captain - apart from (South Africa's) John Smit, I suppose - playing the game right now," he said. "And that experience, you just can't buy that. He's the most experienced All Blacks captain in the history of the game. So his captaincy is massive, particularly now that Daniel (Carter) is not playing. It's going to be even more important."
Sunday's semi-final may determine whether McCaw continues to be widely regarded as the best in the world, as he has been since he was named man of the match in his Test debut against Ireland in 2001, or whether his mantle passes to Pocock, who played his first Test in 2008.
Australia assistant coach David Nucifora summarised the contest: "The world is blessed with some very good snafflers at the moment and no doubt people will be looking forward to (the semi-final) to that end."
Who would YOU rather have in your team: Richie McCaw or David Pocock?
