Introduction:

Gene gave me a brief to look at the mode of play at the 2015 RWC and to project the mode of play that may transpire as rugby progresses towards 2019.

So first up I am going to audit the mode of play from the last RWC.

In order to do this we need a template or list of criteria against which to judge the mode of play.

This template must be the principles of the game of rugby football as explained in the Playing Charter that enables the object of the game to be achieved. These are the principles of a game of two teams.

We must not confuse this with the principles of attack and of defence which are what a coach uses to optimize the performance of one team.

To reinforce our understanding of this let’s first start with the object:

Object:

“ The object of the Game is that two teams, each of 15 players (now of 7 and 10 also) observing fair play according to the Laws and in a sporting spirit should by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding the ball score as many points as possible.”

Before we identify the principles let’s be specific as to the meaning of a principle so we can apply it to rugby.

Definition – Principle:

“A principle is something that applies to all rugby that serves as the foundation for an understanding of the game and which is part of a chain of reasoning”

Now here we need to be careful because some time ago the marketers of the game identified the following as the principles of rugby and put it in the front of the Law Book:

Integrity

Passion

Solidarity

Discipline

Respect

So what was done was some values that I would say should be an innate part of all human endeavor were listed as being the exclusive rights of rugby.

In addition if we look again at the definition of principles these do not form a foundation for an understanding of the game and they are not part of a chain of reasoning.

The Principles of the Playing Charter:

Hidden away in the charter are the principles and it was these that were used to ensure rugby was true to its identity at the Conferences on the Game that were held in the past.

These principles are:

• A Contest for Possession
• Attack
• Defence
• A Multi- faceted Game.
• A game that rewards play to the principles and penalized play that is contrary to the principles.

In addition the principle of equitability encompasses all the principles.

What does equitability mean?

Definition – Equitability:

The quality of fairness in which the reward received in the next play is based on the standard of performance in the last play.

In other words when the ball is kicked out to stop play this is a reflection of the defence forcing the attack into the least favoured option. As a result the superior defence is rewarded with the throw in at the line-out.

If the ball is thrown forward it is against the Law and the team whose defensive pressure has forced their opponents to do this are rewarded with the put in to the scrum.

And so on.

So now we have a list of actions that give Rugby it’s unique character against which we can judge RWC 2015.

It is the role of the Laws to ensure the principles are adhered to.

A Contest for Possession

So how does RWC 2015 shape up as far as a contest for possession is concerned.

Gaining Possession:

We have seen a decline in the number of scrums and line-outs.

• Scrums – 13 per match in pool play and 10 per match in the knock-out competition.
• Line-outs – 26 per match in pool play and ?? per match in the knock-out competition.
• Ruck/ mauls 90-95% retention.

Going Forward:

A reason for this is the difficulty in regaining possession once it is lost leading to a conservative attack that places a premium on retaining the ball.

Continuity/ Regaining Possession:

This is compounded by rulings in the dynamic contests for possession, the post tackle/ ruck, being in favour of the attack.

This is largely because of the erosion of the word “immediately” allowing the tackled ball carrier time to ensure possession is retained.

While the defence having a split second to contest that ball, the split second between the completed tackle and the ruck being formed.

Because of the risk of infringement the defence contests possession only when the cues give them an advantage.

This is not often as, to retain possession the attack over-commits while the defence under-commits to the extent that many, many rucks are in fact general play.

This now leads us on to attack:

Attack:

NB attacking in playing and coaching is not attacking in match officiating.

One refers to possession while the other refers to field position.

I refer to the former.

Go Forward/ Support:

It is the aim of the attack:

• To take the ball forward,
• To create space either across the field, lateral space, or
• Down the field, linear space and
• To use that space to penetrate and score
• With the help of lateral or linear support.

 

Continuity/ Regaining Possession:

If the attack is unsuccessful we use rucks and mauls to redraw the offside lines to create linear space and once again mount an attack.

As we saw in the games the attack more often than not retained possession of the ball and were praised by the media for holding onto the ball for many, many phases.

They did this because possession was not being contested for the reasons mentioned above

i.e. risk of infringement and latitude being given to the attacking team.

 

Go Forward/ Support/ Continuity:

Having won the ball the attack was faced with a defence line that outnumbered the attack line across the field so there was no lateral space for a penetrating player to run into.

So the answer was to try and create momentum by creating and using space down the field. This space was created by the redrawing of the offside lines at each ruck.

The attacking team attempts to build momentum by winning the race to and beyond the gain line so that, upon the formation of the ruck the next defensive line is further down the field.

With the quick re-cycling of the uncontested ball the defence is forced to retreat or get caught offside, from which points can be scored.

To reduce the margin of error and in recognition that they will be no further down the field at the first receiver than they will be at the 5^th receiver the attack that is produced is a succession of 1 and 2 pass attacks.

The ball carrier seeks contact as this is needed to form a ruck. In time the defence may tire but if they don’t the attack then plays to the space behind the front line of defence, by kicking, in order to gain territory and/ or regain possession. Better teams react to this situation in broken play and points are often scored from this general disorganised situation.

.

Defence:

So what of the defence why were they able to withstand ruck after ruck?

Going Forward/ Applying Pressure:

If we look at mauls we can see why.

A maul protects the ball as bound players are allowed to obstruct in front of it.

The defence cannot tackle the ball carrier.

The same offsides lines as you have in a ruck create space for the attack.

The advantage is that as the maul moves the ball down the field the offside lines move with it forcing the defence to retreat.

Continuity

So in the RWC mauls were not very numerous but highly successful.

They still have a bad name for being boring and the methods that were used to defend them verged on foul play.

Now let’s look at rucks.

To form a ruck the defence tackles the ball carrier, the ball is on the ground and unlikely to be moved forward and it is unlikely to be used to threaten the defence in it’s immediate surroundings.

We did see counter rucking based on the cues read by the defence but more often than not we had the tackle, the nominal ruck, recycling,pass to a runner and the next tackle and ruck.

Go Forward/ Apply Pressure

You will have heard defences being praised for withstanding attacks from 15, 16 and even 20 phases.

From most of these the defence had to make a tackle on a ball carrier who was running straight at the tackler with no intention of passing to a team mate or performing evasion skills.

Coaches are now referring to this as “sets” of tackles as they are in rugby league and a good tackler is being targeted so they are not in position as the attack develops. The same applies to a good “jackaller”.

When the cues offered the opportunity the turnover was attempted.

These cues could have been something as simple as:

• the attack attempting play behind the gain line. Many just stood and passed and let the defence come to them.
• The attack line drifting across the field so the defenders could drift as well and gang tackle the receivers further along the attacking line.
• Plus, of course, handling errors that forced the receiver to focus on catching the ball and not what he was going to do once he had it. This was a product of the attack not reloading so that they could run onto the ball.

The next 2 principles are a bi-product of the first three and are a consequence of them.

 

Multi faceted game:

The multi-skilled player: Polyvalence

A game for a variety of shapes, sizes, skills and abilities.

The irony of this is that the term polyvalence is French and reflected how the French once played the game.

 

A game that rewards play to the principles and penalized play that is contrary to the principles.

 

Rugby in Transition:
So why is the game like this and what can we do about it?

Maybe I am ramming my views down your throat.

You may be happy with the way the game is and to this you are entitled.

I believe in the game standing for something that gives it its unique character.

I am aware that in some rugby circles there is not a desire into being accountable for the whole when it infringes one of the parts.

In your mind go to sports that are also professional and which a whole host of participants are making a living from, especially those for whom results are everything.

Look at football with its emphasis on defence and the few goals that are scored. The same goes for hockey and ice hockey.

American football in which the ball can be passed backwards a number of times but never is, more secure to go for a single one or no pass play and start again.

Rugby league with its no pass or one pass hit ups.

We used to laugh at:

“1,2,3,4,5 – kick.”

What have we currently got?

So my contention is that professionalism leads to conservatism.

The situation that I have explained is a product of the insecurity that comes from playing and coaching being your job.

So it is better to do what we know even if the returns are marginal.

And of course the way the most successful teams play is duplicated, usually with a time lapse, by all the rest.

You might see this as coach laziness and an inability to create a profile of the team and from that work out the optimum way for them to play.

I have found players to be the most conservative people in the game. They don’t want change. They want to do things as they have done successfully for as long as they are in the game.

Change has to commence in the early teenage years and brought through across all players as they develop. However this is undermined by the example shown on TV.

Coaches are similar and the strength of a coach’s squad will be determine by how the team wins, not how it plays.

So what should we do to return the game to one in which there is not an imbalance between:

• limited contests for possession,
• few turnovers,
• the domination of none to one pass attacks and
• defences that won’t risk contesting the ball.

This all depends on Law change and referee management although I do feel that this last variable is what has led to this situation – something as simple as the word “immediate” meaning 10 seconds causing the defender to shy away.

Possible Emerging Trends for RWC 2019

If rugby is to retain its character as a game in which the defence has such an opportunity to regain possession;

a game in which whichever teams gains possession the commitment to the contest rewards the ball winning team with space to go forward.

This is what I would like to see.

So how do we do it?

Obviously we need greater commitment to the post tackle as an equitable contest for possession not a biased one.

Under present Law we could coach less lateral support and more linear support.

Less east to west and more north to south.

More mauls in general play as the maul carts the ball down the field, brings the defence in and, in doing so, creates space to which the ball can then be passed to go forward and score.

To my mind if the ball carrier doesn’t have an escape route for the ball in action by the conclusion of the tackle then the superior skill of tackling should be rewarded as the ball carrier has shown inferior skills of evasion.

If we look at Law 15.5a we can see the flaws in the Law.

The tackled player must not lie on, over or near the ball to prevent opponents gaining possession of it and must try to make the ball available immediately so that play can continue.

Removal of the word “try” and the strict application of the definition of “immediate” may lead to greater commitment to the contest at the post tackle and ruck.

This will be enhanced by the attack line running onto the ball at depth. Attackers coming from depth make the defence apprehensive and by running straight left and right channels are available for the side step or swerve or for the penetrator to make a late, unexpected entry between 2 defenders.

 

Remember the art of attack is to, as late as possible, put more attackers than defenders in a channel. This forces the defenders to choose and the art of attack is to pass the ball to the unmarked player who is able to penetrate.

Finally I would like to think we are looking at a game that is a reactive game and not prescriptive. A game in which a basic blueprint in the contest for possession, attack and defence leads to reactive options.

Some years ago Mark Ella was coaching the Waratah’s and in his first year they had a play book of 16 moves. Analysis at the end of the year showed that they used just 4.

In the forthcoming year they chose these 4 and worked out the ways they could react to the behavior of the defence to penetrate.

Robbie Deans found similar differences after coaching the Crusaders and going to the Wallabies.

 

But more importantly lets take the experimental Laws that I received from World Rugby a little while ago and see if they are going to help.

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