The State of Play at the Start of 2015

It is going to be interesting to see how the game develops during 2015 with the RWC coming at the end of the year. While we might live in the hope that teams playing to a point of difference that will give them a head start will stimulate our interest, history does not do this. In fact what tends to happen is the physicality of the game takes over and, unless there is a miss-match, the game becomes a war of attrition to wear an opponent down and penalties successfully converted to points.

I guess what ruins the spectacle for me is the deliberate “milking” of points at scrum and the post tackle. It seems to me that, within kicking range, teams are prepared to risk a penalty outside kicking range in the hope of getting one within kicking range.

This season to date in the 6 Nations, on which TV coverage has been limited down here and in Super 15 there is a significant change.

The front rows are composed of 3 props, the ball is rolled in at a slow speed, and sometimes so slow it becomes stationary. The pressure goes on forcing an opponent into a position so that technique gets compromised. The player assumes an unsafe position and/or an “illegal” position. A penalty is given even if the ball can be passed from the space on the right of the number 8. I realize that the ref is under no obligation to make a use it or lose it call under these circumstances.

As I have written before the frequency with which penalties are given shows the ultimate certainty on the part of the ref as to who is doing what to whom, at scrum. It seems to me that the strong scrum, in forcing their opponents into an unsafe position, is rewarded with a penalty. If the penalty goes the other way, being outside kicking range, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

As far as the post-tackle is concerned the emphasis seems to be in favour of the attacking team, the team in possession. We have created a situation in which the commitment of the defence is limited because of the risks involved. As this stacks the defence line, the reward for retaining possession is not space to penetrate but the opportunity to take it up using zero, one pass and, at best, 2 pass attacks to try and create momentum by getting over the gain line.

The other option is to kick down the field not to regain possession or to gain space but to see if the opposition, maybe out of share frustration, has a go in a poor field position, and put them under pressure at the ensuing breakdown. This leads to kicking duels, some say to see if an opportunity opens up, until someone realizes that a dropped goal is not on, and applying pressure with the ball in hand, is the only way to score or get a penalty advantage.

So we have a defensive line more numerous and opposed by an attacking line with them bashing into each other and settling for a post-tackle situation, by definition not a ruck but for the sake of the game, called a ruck so that play can continue.

And we have announcers remarking on the ability of the attack to go to 10+ “rucks” none of which are any further ahead than the previous one, all contested to the extent of the tackler, “jackaling” to slow down delivery and letting the defence re-form to repeat the pattern.

An alternative to these is tackles to the upper body to delay delivery.

It was interesting to see the ball carriers held in this way in the Sevens especially. By getting a knee on the ground to complete the tackle the onus is put on the defence to let the player immediately play the ball and make it available.

Of course if the ball carrier is the only attacking player in the “huddle” by definition this is not a ruck and the defenders are obliged to let the ball carrier play the ball, as the only thing it can be is the post tackle. Don’t go back and look at the definition of the tackle and its consequences you will find you are into a circular argument.

What can lead to penetration and momentum occurs if the attack comes from depth to threaten the defence and, using players to enter the space between 2 defenders but this is not in vogue. Apart from “hit ups” the alternative is for a second attacking line to come from depth with those in the front line running as decoys, some would say obstructions.

This is seldom effective as the attack frequently drifts across the field and this allows the defence to delay their commitment and go with the drift so that they eventually run out of space across the field.

In both Sevens and Fifteens the grouping of the defence on the drift and their body position, which is one to herd the sheep to touch giving them time on the ball and not to cut down space and make a tackle, creates space on the edge for runner to penetrate.

By this I mean the space on the inside edge of the defenders and the penetrator running against the movement of the ball back infield.  

It has been used now and is a partial response to Grant Nesbitt on TV saying there is “Too much east-west and not enough north-south”.

Taking the broader picture how do we create a greater reward for the team winning phase ball beyond this situation.

There have been hints of a maul achieving this in some games and we could expect that the skill of mauling may improve.

At the maul the main area for improvement is to have the ball delivered while moving forward so that the defence is in retreat and the attack on their front foot. In addition players could roll off the maul and make play down the channel the maul has rolled into.

Regarding other aspects of play the game was littered with errors in some of the most fundamental aspects of play, especially in attack. Amongst these are drifting in attack, not using the overlap, not holding the defence so that the overlap can be used and passing to a player in a worse position than yourself.

In defence greater numbers and the simplicity of defence as a skill compared to the attack means that errors are fewer in defence but some are allowing the attack to run at a stationary defence, aligning square on to the ball carrier so there is space to left and right and not taking the legs away to make the ball contestable come to mind.

The most disappointing aspect of the game was how far the French have deviated from the “flair” they previously exhibited. But that may be a product of the context of the current game and the pressures forcing a team to play to lose by as little as possible.

It may all be a product of the superior fitness and there being too many players on the field but there are more options to be used in attack before we settle for this excuse.      

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