INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF SUPER !5 AND SIX NATIONS

Principles

Comments

Kick Starts and Re-Starts

Scrums

Line-outs

Kick-Offs

From a shallow kick off have support right around the ball.

The best kick off that puts the ball in the air for the longest time while at the same time allowing the kicking team time to contest it is the angled one that draws the ball down the 10metre line with the catcher angling from the touchline side. The ball travels at least 25metres while the attacking catcher runs about 10metres. Also the angle of running is more towards the ball, the ball is not moving away from the catcher.

If you have many variations you may never get one of them right.  Maybe you should focus on 1-2 options and get them right.

22metre Drop Outs

Does the options of being able to kick from anywhere along the 22metre line offer possibilities?

Line-out

To reduce the number of variables the jumper must be up and stable in front of an opponent to give the thrower a real target. At present line-outs are lost because both the ball and the jumper are in motion and the instability of the jumper means he is using his arms for stability and not to catch the ball.

It was interesting to see one team throwing in as soon as the defending line-out has the minimum number of players in the line-out, which is 2. It is worth a look. At the very least it will make the opposition hurry to the line-out.

I watch the quarter back throwing in NFL with a ball approximately the same shape. Variables in distance, flight and targets are not “telegraphed” by the throwing action so why is this throwing technique not used? It is the most natural way of throwing in a variety of ways.

In my time in the game I have seen technical advisers from outside the game, outside the country or both needing to bring in something different to make their mark.In most aspects of the game we are very prudent about change and we force our own people to justify their views. But, like some other aspects of New Zealand life, we find those from a different background who talk differently irresistible, no justification needed.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The current conventional way of throwing is bio-mechanically and tactically flawed. For the first time in a long time I think I saw a lobbed throw clearing traffic and falling on the designated catcher. So there are options but the throwing technique mitigates against them.

Finally,maybe it is early season but teams don’t seem to have done enough homework to contest ball in the air.

Scrum

Adjust to the screw/ wheel; don’t play against it even if it is where you intended to go.

Gain-line in attack from set pieces and phase play.

Attack Line Alignment

The players in the attack line are standing so flat that the defence can rush up with confidence, as they are able to arrive with the ball. They are able to multiple tackle.

Players running onto the ball and running straight threaten the defence and this leads to the defence hesitating. OK I realize that if you are flat and manage to penetrate you are away but this is not happening through many phases.

Should the great number of phases be an indictment of either our attacking ability, the ease of defending or the Laws of the game not creating space as a reward something I have raved on about elsewhere?

Passing

Teams are passing to players in a worse position than themselves further from the gain line.

Getting Over The Gain Line

Taking the ball flat with the tackler arriving at the same time is the main reason for handling mistakes.

Because the attack lines are standing too flat and the players are not running onto their passes there seems to be a need to go to at least two phases before the defence is disorganised enough to allow the attack to get over the gain line.

When players “take it up” they are seeking contact and not stepping into space to ensure their hands are free to offload or place the ball. If a player does take the ball flat and, running slowly, to avoid a forward pass, steps and then drives as far forward as they can, they get further down the field.

When teams come from depth, commit a defender and have support coming from depth off the ball carrier’s shoulder, teams are getting well over the gain line. This also occurs when a flat, close standing line offers an option but becomes a decoy with a second line coming from depth wide out.

It is the role of the front line to hold the defence creating space for the second wave. This will not happen if the front line is ahead of the ball and, as a result, they are no distraction. The defence just drifts. At best the front line obstructs which maybe a penalisable infringement.

Most attacks are single line attacks with no players entering the space from outside or inside the space between the ball carrier and other players. This means the space between the defenders is not being attacked.

Using The Overlap

Where there are large numbers and you have an overlap, say 8 Vs. 6, it is difficult to exploit an overlap as too much can go wrong. You are better to set up phase play that recreates space, using the off-side line, and then exploit it when there is a 4 Vs. 3 or something similar.

Where to penetrate

There is a weakness in tackling at #10 in most teams.

Set pieces offer more space to attack and penetrate.

Are players so tied into patterns that, when a gap does occur, they don’t take it?

Gaining Territory

Penalty kicks made for territory and line-out possession are very much like Rugby League kicks, a gain of 10-15metres, but at least 50% of the flight of the ball is over the touch line.

Territory is important.

I know that they want to find touch but the gain can be greater especially if the spiral punt is used.

Blind-side Wing From Scrum

Have a close look at the defence formation from a scrum. Either the blind-side is available or using the blind-side wing as the penetrator on the open-side is a good option depending where the defensive blind-side wing is positioned.

Linear Support

When a player penetrates lateral support is allowing the defence to isolate the penetrator, as the pass must be lateral. A pass to linear support coming from depth is difficult to interfere with.

When making the pass, especially when playing through the tackle, imagine the ball is a camera and only pass to a teammate if you can take a complete picture of him.

Depth is everything as it allows the support player to adjust to the situation; hopefully this is a pass into space. A lack of depth leads to the passer forcing the pass. This is happening when a team is behind on the scoreboard and is desperate to score. This is why the turnovers occur.

Leg Drive

When the defence tackles at the level of the ball, teams are combatting the situation by driving strongly with the legs. This is helped by support adding to the drive and this usually prevents the turnover. This can be further helped by the ball carrier having a low body position.

Support At the Tackle

In one game the players in the attacking team became grouped on the far side of the field as they all chased the ball with the sole exception being the open-side wing. I wonder why this is occurring?

Post-Tackle

Ruck

Maul

The Number of Phases Doesn’t Count

The number of phases is not indicative of superiority as the illusion of movement is by the movement of the ball not by the defence or the attack. The defence just shuffles maintaining their alignment. There is a lot of east-west movement by the ball and not much north-south movement by the ball carrier, which is the movement that counts.

What makes matters worse is the greater commitment of the attack in support to re-cycle the ball. This takes some time and leads to slower and slower support as each phase is played.

What is happening however is that a succession of reverse attacks does cause the defence to compress and the overlap can result. Numbers in 15’s make this less likely to occur than in Sevens.

Just remember that each phase can offer the opportunity for the ref to get involved and the later this occurs the greater is the waste of effort if your team infringes.

Is it strategy to use post tackle infringements to gain a penalty? These are winning games along with scrum penalties or, at the very least it is creating a lead that then makes the defence more cautious. I guess this is the positive spin.

What Goes Around Comes Around

Think about Gregan when he used to use forwards taking the ball up by running across and feeding it to a runner in the channel where he was being tackled. The tackler is committed and has trouble tackling both players.

Longer memories do create options, everything hasn’t changed.

On The Ground/Out Of Play

I know that this is the Law so why are “rucks” composed of players on the ground mainly, if not all, from one team with the bodies making little effort to get away. If the ball is to be contested Law has it that the foot be used, yet there is no ground for the supporting leg. It has to be put on a body.

Loitering:

Currently players who bind and drive through the gate and past the line of the ball arrive in fresh air beyond the opposition halfback or between this player and the ruck. Here they loiter using their body angle to create a channel for pick and go. They move off to the side and then wander back to their side of the ball blocking the running line of the defence.

Another strategy is to line up defenders and manhandle them away.  This is so common that, when an opposing player is bowled away from the play, they get up, shake themselves down, and rejoin play. I don’t think you are able to play the man without the ball especially from an offside position. Remember attacking players can be offside.

Milking the Penalty

A similar strategy is to pull down the opponent who is trying to contest the tackled ball. I guess this helps the ref, as the player is unable to retain his feet. At the very least you can get rid of one or two good tacklers from the defence by delaying their re-entry into play. The player on the ground is out of play but it is difficult for the ref to see what is going on.

Maul Delivery

To get the greatest gain delivery should be while the maul is still moving forward.

Possession

Field Position

Pace

A Post Half-Time Strategy

Any losing team worth its salt is going to throw everything at the team leading on the scoreboard, immediately after half time. To take away their “fire in the belly” the leading team needs to develop a strategy. Retaining possession, putting the ball behind them and chasing to a pattern; and playing to the corners come to mind. There are others.

A Post Scoring Strategy

It is the same after your team has scored. You are not compelled to give the opposition their turn to score. The aim should be to ensure the next stoppage in play is in the opposition’s territory after playing to a pattern that retains possession and ensures this happens. Just remember that every tackle offers the potential for an infringement.

Pick and Go on Their Goal-line

Teams are showing patience and commitment when they are attacking on the goal line. On TV you do see many defenders around the ball. Is there an overlap somewhere?

Teams make matters worse for themselves by forcing passes and getting too flat. Interceptions may be the result.

Principles

Comments

Receiving Kick Offs

Follow your opposite number and duplicate their role.

Defensive Alignment

It may have been enthusiasm but defenders in the line are getting ahead of those closer to the source of possession. In doing this they lose their peripheral vision, especially inside, and a “dog leg” gap is created. It exposes the player to the inside break also.

Spacing Between Defenders

The defence line from set pieces tend to be spread so that each player is in a one-on-one with their attacker. As a result each defender tends to be isolated. They must work as a unit defending inside out forcing the attack to drift or be tackled.

I did think one team was defending outside in. This created gaps inside. Maybe it is a matter of practice.

Numbering Out

It may be useful for each defender to defend a “pair of hands” numbering out from the source of possession to avoid uncertainty. If your pair of hands passes the ball, so long as you have an angle of running that enables you to make a strong tackle, you can drift with each player moving onto the next pair of hands.

With greater numbers in the defence line from phase play each player can defend a lane and, when the ball is passed beyond the player’s lane the whole line shuffles across but also retains depth to cover the inside break.

When there is an overlap wings are coming off their man leaving their opposite number free. They should stay out and run to stop the pass to the wing being made. This allows other defenders to drift to defend the gap inside.

Tackle Success

Tackling

Tackles made when the ball carrier steps lack “body” in the tackle. Tackles are being made with the arms. This allows the ball carrier to play through the tackle.

Drive with the legs, through the body and the shoulder to destabilize the ball carrier and then wrap with the arms. Some players are going very low and are only able to grab a foot or two. There needs to be body in the tackle. Opponents will exploit this especially to run a penetrating player from depth.

Tackle effectiveness

“Roll Away”

It is demanded that the tackler on the opposition side of the ball rolls away. I guess the player can roll away from the ball so long as he knows where the ball is. If they don’t, do they roll towards the opposition halfback or roll back towards their team’s side of the ball or is the answer to pull out sideways? Some direction is needed.

Defending Goal-Line “Pick and Go”

Tackling against the pick and go on the goal-line can be best done by tackling outside in as it gives access to the legs and the player directly in front is in a position to contest the ball.