Say Neil's defensive position? (5,4)

I believe the answer is:

right back

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'say neil's' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'defensive position?' is the wordplay.
'defensive' becomes 'right' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'position?' becomes 'back' (back is a kind of position).
'right'+'back'='RIGHT BACK'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for right back that I've seen is " Footballer".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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