Just as life is what takes place while we're waiting for something to happen loose play in rugby is what takes place when we're not engaged in a set-piece or its immediate aftermath. We're either defending (see
Defence) or we're trying to mount an attack. This is the time when paying attention to various general guidelines is most useful. For example:
ALL SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS
STEM FROM SUDDEN SWITCHES OF INTENTION
Switches of intention may be as apparently simple as a sidestep and as complex as a major change of attack vector that involve several units. Deception plays are variations of switch moves.
There are two types of switches,
Opportunistic Switches and
Worked Switches. In general,
opportunistic switches are successful when the defense is recognized to
have embarked on a defensive tactic which leaves it vulnerable -- often
in another part of the field. Worked switches are successful when it is possible to draw the defending team into a position or tactic which leaves it vulnerable. The attacking team can then exploits the vulnerable situation suddenly and decisively. In both cases an informed appreciation of the defending team's field position and intentions is the key to the success of the switch move.
Opportunistic Switches
Opportunistic switches make the reputations of players and teams. They are the very life-blood of attacking rugby. They take advantage of momentary defensive vulnerabilities and result from observation, recognition of opportunity, decision and communication of the very highest quality. Such switch moves don't come about by magic, however. Even such apparently simple opportunistic switches as dummies, swerves or sidesteps carried out by an individual almost always require the coordination of two or more other players for their exploitation and this requires not only a very high individual skill level but also perfect communication.
Opportunistic switches are initiated by action and their success calls for a high level of awareness on the part of the other members of the attacking team. For example: 10 sees the defending 13 (D13) on the ground and instead of making the expected pass to 12 passes to 13 who breaks through the gap. This category of switches may also includes attacks aimed at exploiting recognized weakness in the defense
-- e.g. a 15 uncertain under the high ball, a non-tackling center etc.
Worked switches
Worked switches are usually initiated by a signal which leads to a pre-planned (and rehearsed!) sequence of events.
e.g. The Waikato Chiefs "Dallas!" where at a line-out on the right-hand touchline the following four phase sequence is run :
Throw to jumper at line-out 4, off the top to 9, long flat pass (off 9's
best hand!) to 12 charging on a vector just inside the opposing 10 and
just behind his own tail-gunner,
ruck supported by line-out 1,2, 6 and
7, heel to 9,
pass off to line-out thrower angling left toward mid-field
and supported by line-out 3, 4 and 5, (back line also still lined up left!),
ruck, sudden switch by backline to right, fast heel, 9 to 10 to 13 or 14
(i.e. miss move to put ball quickly back close to the right touchline),
score in the corner!
This switch move is successful because it seeks to move the bulk of the defence (certainly the tight five and, hopefully, the loosies) into the center of the field leaving the right touchline area vulnerable. Planning, rehearsal and communication are all essential to press home moves like this decisively.
Note that
a major benefit of such Worked Switches is the efficient use of players. If they all know what will probably happen next and their role in it there is a much smaller problem than normal in getting just enough forwards to each of the successive breakdowns. Likewise, backs know exactly which pass is going to be required and can concentrate on other things -- pace, vector etc. If the forwards
know that their 12 is going to crash towards the opposing 10 the advantage
is already there. (See also:
Concentration of players in attack.)
It must also be stressed that slavishly following a worked switch move and in so doing failing to recognize and exploit other opportunities is clearly mad.
The general injunction, "Bang, bang, switch!" is just that -- a general injunction. Yes, it usually takes at least two rucks to both move the center of gravity of the defence
(the forwards) to where you want it and to concentrate it at the same time
but the very action of setting up two rucks on the same vector may very
well open up other opportunities. In the same way it may take three or
more rucks to have the desired effect. Thus, worked switch moves should
never cause the observation and awareness switch to be moved to OFF.
Deception plays
The only successful deception attacks are those in which a real option is perceived by the defense. A blind-side wing screaming for the ball and vectoring inside deceives nobody if the 10 has already begun his pass to 12. Players watch the ball! If
however both 14 and 12 commit to the reception and 10 disguises his pass
until the last possible second a real deception is possible.
Concentration
of players in attack
Say what you like, there are no more devastating attacks than those mounted by half-a-dozen big forwards charging down the field passing the ball. Never mind your Lomus taking four defenders with him, Berryman stepping his man or Guscott sliding through a tiny gap, give me sufficient big men who are prepared to absorb
the tackles of the defensive line, keep the ball alive and react to the opportunities that present themselves.
Question: Coaches have long preached the virtues of creating two-on-one situations -- generally through introducing an extra man into the attack -- but what is wrong with three-on-one or four-on-one?
Answer: The major problem with concentrating your players in attack in this fashion is that backs and forwards who don't have the ball still have to run into position! (Yes, this even includes 10s!) And what's worse, they have to know where to run! This means that they have to know who's going to strike to penetrate the defense -- and where -- so that they can take the proper position to support the break.
Concentration of players is a key ingredient to any attack, (switch, pace and vector being the others). No matter how attractive it may be, an attacking strategy that consists of getting your favourite centre into space with the ball and then putting your hands on your hips to watch him score under the posts is total nonsense.
The striker must first breach the opposition's defence and then have support in numbers to be sure of scoring. When your centre makes his step, scores the try and stands there grinning happily under the posts there should be six
or more of his teammates with him, all of them thinking "That could/should
have been me!"
To be successful, attacks with ball in hand require all of the following: a designated (or self-elected) striker, one or more players in close support and an attack unit (including 9) in second wave support.
This is applicable to all players but backs, and wings in particular, must understand this principle of concentrating
in attack and demonstrate their understanding by getting themselves into
the best position to support the striker. As the striker makes the break
(or half-break) they must be in position to take the pass, recover the ball on the ground or protect the ruck. I stress this because there is a strange and apparently endemic tendency by wings to believe they can best support the ball carrier by staying outside their cover (to the extent that they notoriously allow their cover to get between them and the ball carrier) which, by the way, is exactly where I coach
the defense to be!.
Optimum positions to support a striker:
From best:
1) 3 to 4 m directly behind him, matching his pace but ready
to burst forward, able to support on either side, head up, eyes open, hands
out ready to take a pass, recover a posted ball, set up the ruck etc.
2)
3 m behind and 2 m to the side, same conditions etc.
all the way to the
absolute worst
10) Flat, outside the cover defender, screaming for the
ball, preparing to throw the inevitable tantrum when it, quite rightly,
doesn't come!
The most obvious way to set up an attack with a number of forwards in relative space is to use the short lineout. A clean ball off the top at the 15m mark and a good pass from 9 can put your entire back row plus a lock away. The major drawback
of this move is that these forwards almost inevitably come into conflict with their own backs unless very good communication is maintained. The captain, 10 and, say, 8 should all have calls which indicate "forwards ball" and "backs ball" and these calls must be both used and heeded! The second drawback is that forwards must be ready, willing and able to pass and not just throw themselves at the first tackler.
Contested loose play
The primary objective of all loose play is to move as many of the other team as necessary away from the ball so that your team can gain it and use it. This can only be achieved if you act with AGGRESSION and DECISION. The only outcome of half-hearted loose play with poor body position is to render you useless to your team. You may as well lie down and take a rest.
On the other hand, a committed, aggressive action by even a single player can have decisive results.
Possession
Gaining possession of the ball is an obviously crucial first step to winning rugby and gaining possession regularly in loose play is the hallmark of a committed team. Some of the comments that follow seem so obvious that I am a little hesitant to include them but I think that every player and coach, myself included, is prone
to forget them.
Ball
retention
Not only must you win the ball at every possible opportunity but you must retain possession -- and just as there are many opportunities to win a ball there are just as many to lose it. Each must be avoided.
The most basic injunction in ball retention is,
"Never to let an opposition player touch the ball."
This seems obvious and, I have to admit, simplistic but it is apparently
often forgotten. How often we have seen the ball literally taken away from
a forgetful player. Of course, there are tackles where the ball carrier
must lose possession of the ball but there are many other contact situations
where this is not the case and yet the defense always seem to come away
with it -- to the extent that I could be persuaded that in one-on-one contacts
the defender may very well have the advantage -- i.e. it's easier to dispossess
the ball carrier than it is for the ball carrier to retain possession.
(I teach a sharp, downward arm drive between the ball and the carrier's
chest to defenders which works well in most circumstances. Note here that
the defender is almost as happy if the ball falls free as he is if he takes
possession but that to be successful the carrier has to retain possession.)
It seems to me that a definite adjunct to retaining possession is that the ball-carrier should always try to maintain his down-field progress. In today's environment there is great emphasis placed on the wrap-up and thigh-lift action for defenders.
They like nothing more than to hold the ball carrier up straight and dump
him over on his back. Hence, ball carriers must make sure that they don't
allow it to happen.
This means that they must
a) approach any potential tackler in a driving body position making sure that he can't reach behind
their knees to unbalance them and
b) continue their drive swiveling one
way or the other to break the defender's grapple. This is totally compatible
with the ball protection methods mentioned below.
So, the basic injunction is: don't let the defender touch the ball. This can be done by
a) holding the defender at arm's length with a fend,
b) holding the ball in such a way that he can't reach it and
c) keeping your body between the defender and the ball.
Stay on your feet
No discussion of this topic would be complete without perhaps the most important injunction of all.
"STAY ON YOUR FEET." It is abundantly clear that your best contribution to your side's success is not to be tackled. EVER. You can't play the ball on the ground, you can't support or tackle either. The best that can be said about taking the ball to the ground is that if you are well supported you stand a good chance of retaining possession but the price is high. You have sacrificed momentum.
Rucks or mauls?
There is considerable debate especially in junior clubs about when a team should maul and when it should ruck. Given numbers, (see: Fitness) and excluding positive actions such as rolling mauls etc. my belief is that you ruck (i.e. recycle the
ball quickly) if you are in
attack mode and maul (i.e. hold the
ball) if you are in
defense mode no matter where you are on the
field. Note: I use the term "mode" here to denote intention or mind-set
rather than simply possession of the ball. Remember: whether you ruck or
maul is a dead giveaway as to the mode you and your team are in. (As a
spectator or player the easiest way to determine the prevailing mindset
of the opposing team is to see whether, things being equal, they elect
to ruck or to maul.)
Attack is what you came to do, isn't it? It should be because that's the only way you'll score points! So, get into and stay in attack mode when you have the ball. Taking this concept a step further: nothing destroys the confidence of the opposition more than your willingness to attack from deep in your own half. A fast
recycle on your goal line followed by positive, prepared attacking action
is not only tactically superior it also sends the clearest and most disconcerting
message to the opposition. Thus, rucks are preferred.
If you don't have the ball tying the opposition up in a maul may be useful -- if you can't deck and turn the ball-carrier. In fact, if they elect to maul you should generally
encourage them! It is perfectly acceptable to hold up the ball carrier
making sure he can't deck the ball and drive them back thus gaining the
put-in at the inevitable scrum. Of course, in this circumstance you must
confident of your ability to succeed and still be frugal in committing
players.
Ruck specifics
Rucking is the preferred method of
a) demonstrating your attacking mindset,
b) maintaining the impetus of the attack,
c) sucking in the opposing forwards (particularly the loosies) and
d) providing clean ball.
Rucking has its problems, of course.
More penalties are awarded at rucks than at any other activity -- usually for "holding the ball" and "diving over".
Players on the attacking team must keep their feet and be seen to move their opponents back to ensure that this does not happen.
To my mind the Kiwi approach of "blowing over" is the key here. Note that both the words "blow" and "over" are operative! The idea is for the first wave of supporters, who must be confident of the immediate arrival of further support, to drive
into the opposition over the ball (and the now-recumbent ball carrier),
in fact ignoring the ball, and "blowing" the opposition backward.
They
must keep their feet and, obviously, make and maintain firm contact with
the defense. Pre-binding certainly helps the blow but correct driving body
position is crucial. (Since the driving position puts the centre of gravity
outside the wheelbase the contact must be maintained.) Second wave supporters
then have the option of joining the ruck if required or (better) picking
up and using the ball.
Remember that players committed to the ruck have a very limited awareness of other situations so that a ruck "manager" is often required. Someone, usually 9 although every player must be prepared to fill the position, may be required to ensure the proper placement of rucking players and, much more important, to guard against over-committment. Note, too, that there should be no difference in commitment between attacking and defending rucks until the ball is safe. Aggressive action in both cases will ensure possession.
Any hesitation by the attack is an excellent opportunity for a turn-over.
Using proper body position one attacker can definitely blow two improperly positioned defenders off the ball (and two can clear out four!) every time.
One last caveat: Note that the role of the second wave is crucial to this approach -- nothing looks so stupid and is so potentially dangerous as the first wave blowing their men off the ball only to have a defender skip around the ruck and pick
up the unattended ball! Hence, if your second wave support is typically
missing perhaps you should think again.
| Decisions at the Ruck |
| Situation | Decision | Yes/No | Decision | Action | Decision |
Support on arrival
at tackle. |
 Am I 1st or 2nd? |
 | Check for support and... |
Blow over. Keep on feet and protect the ball. |
What's likely to happen next? |
Am I 3rd (or 4th?)
Do I need to protect
or help clean up? |
|
Adjust speed and... |
Protect/Clean up. Channel the ball securely to 9. |
What's likely to happen next? |
 |
What is my offensive assignment? |
Get ready for the
next phase... |
What's likely to happen next? |
Ruck in progress.
Ball protected. |
Can I make a contribution as a ball-carrier? |
|
Get into position to TTBAP
(drop back to gain depth?) |
Watch 9's hands.
Burst onto the ball. Head for a gap. |
What's likely to happen next? |
|
What is my offensive assignment? |
Get there with good body position.
|
What's likely to happen next? |
Ruck in progress.
Ball lost
or in danger. |
Can I make a contribution
by blowing over? |
|
Get into position
behind back foot. |
Blow over.
Win/protect the ball. |
What's likely to happen next? |
|
What is my defensive assignment? |
Get there with good body position.
| What's likely to happen next? |
Note to ball-carriers
The second most common source of penalties at the ruck is not releasing the ball and for both ball-carrier and tackler failing to move away from the ball after a tackle. Referees are under stern injunctions to clean up the ruck and are currently absolutely heartless in this regard to the extent that a ball-carrier upon hitting the ground
must be seen to be playing the ball. The traditional gyration of taking the tackle and going down, knees, hips, shoulders with your body parallel to the goal-line and placing the ball back is perfectly legal but be aware that if you do not have close support your tackler and the defending supporters have also read the rules so be prepared to be stepped on as the defender moves forward to pick-up.
Long body/Squeeze ballThe approach currently in vogue with most national teams and many others to prevent this happening is to go down
parallel to the touch-line and push the ball back between your legs. This has the advantage of both hiding the ball from the defense for a vital instant and keeping it further away from danger. Refs seem to have endorsed the approach for the time being but with the proviso that they will now ping you if you even attempt to adjust your position on the ground before you move the ball. Without wanting to discourage the faint-of-heart from this tactic I have to note that this approach puts your head, some say an important body-part, in close proximity to the defenders boots! Many players thus adopt a position supported on one elbow and two knees, one arm and hand protecting their necks and the other delivering the ball.
Maul specifics
A sudden, violently-driven maul is a devastating tactic. A half-hearted maul is a quick way to lose possession. Keeping the maul moving must be the first priority. Simply digging and heaving doesn't do it. To keep the maul moving you must continually shift the vector of attack.
Mauls are a problem area because as coaches we feel we must emphasize the need to protect the ball over the need to move it forward and in mauls more often than not we get what we teach. Clearly, the ball has to be protected but setting up a static
situation often results in a turnover -- all refs. know this rule!
Thus, the ball must move and if it can't be moved forward it must be recycled. (We must all be thankful that refs don't have any idea how long 5 seconds actually is and that they regularly equate sideways movement with movement. They will, it seems, forgive a lot if something -- almost anything! -- is seen to be happening in the maul so smuggling the ball toward one flank or the other with the perceived intention of moving forward again is acceptable in a pinch.)
The rolling maul
Just to reiterate: Properly executed, the rolling maul is a devastating tactic especially against previously conditioned opponents i.e. opponents who have come to expect a fast recycle.
The only tried and true defense against a rolling maul is to isolate the ball-carrier. This requires intense concentration, not to mention huge physical exertion on the part of the defending players who can see what's happening and, of course, their ability to communicate.
Restart maul
The maul which inevitably follows restarts is another special case. Regardless of my tongue-in-cheek comments elsewhere persisting with a static maul having successfully received the ball from a restart makes little logical sense. It is important, of course, to encourage the chasing forwards to concentrate but having done
so this is precisely the time to launch an attack. And that means recycling
the ball smartly.
Driving maul from lineout
The standard example seems to be: Lineout 4 catches, comes down turning his back on the opposition, lineout 3 and 5 joined by lineout 1, 2 and the thrower drive him forward -- so far so good. (If the drive has taken the ball over the line all is
even better and we trot back to watch our kicker convert.)
The problem
is that 9 times out of 10 we don't, the drive gains 5m or so and then falters and stops, at least 6 forwards are committed, a vast amount of energy has been expended and the ball must be recycled with the opposition defense in good position poised on the rear foot -- which greatly reduces our attacking options. Note that in this situation with all the forwards already concentrated the ability to roll the maul is also hampered. Also: defenders naturally commit to the maul while it is moving but peel off as soon as they sense its impetus is contained. Thus, the problem for the
attacking team multiply when the maul stops.
My feeling is that the mistake is to CONTINUE to drive after the initial advantage is gained and I believe the sequence should be: catch, bind, drive, 9 yells "Tiger" or some such
while the maul is in full forward motion, recycle, e.g. hand off
to hooker on the burst, box kick for wings/centers etc. (How does 9 know
when to yell? All he has to do is listen to the spectators. As soon a the
first one yell "Heave!" or "Drive" it's too late!)
In other words, unless it is initiated close enough to the line to cross it in the initial burst the maul should be used only to concentrate the defense and to provide the opportunity for a sudden SWITCH of attack.
Mauling makes sense to gain a few extra seconds for support to arrive -- not to be sneezed at when e.g. fitness is below par. But again the ball must be recycled before the drive is halted.
I would add that mauling is an enormous energy drain.
Slow Ball
As is noted elsewhere slow ball is the undoing of decisive attack but it is such a feature of the game that it is worth considering how to deal with it. (The following is
offered in the context of games where the defensive team understands its
defensive assignments and acts on them.)
Slow ball from the maul is obviously
fatal so it is only worth reiterating the need to cycle the ball before
and in my opinion well before the maul stalls.
Slow ball from a ruck (and I'm specifically referring here to the situation where the ruck is "won" and possession is safe and secure even if the ball has not found its way to 9's hands) is a different kettle of fish. While it has the disadvantage
of allowing the opposition time to form and organize its defense there
are a few meager benefits worth considering. For example: It may also give the
attack time to re-set so that "first-phase" moves come back into play --
even if the defense is that much closer. Thus, for example, a drop goal
attempt which wasn't feasible under the normal urgency of third or fourth
phase play may be on -- as may other tactical kicks.
In fact, I could be persuaded
that if the ruck ball does not come immediately or sooner there is little
need to hurry it. The damage is usually done already and it may be better to use a couple of seconds instead to e.g. extract nonessential players from the ruck, place them in better attacking positions and to communicate instructions for the next series of phases.
Such a delayed action is certainly better than 9 rising out of the ruck
with the ball only to find himself completely hemmed in by forwards trying
to get to where they should have been before the ball went to ground. Thus,
in the situation where the ruck is stalled but safe close to the opposition try line
and the chance of a 9 sneak under the tackle is gone, setting up your favourite
bang, bang, switch move may be absolutely feasible.
Ball on the ground
Taking possession of a ball on the ground is such a key factor of the game that the powers that be have provided us with a specific provision of the tackle law to cover the situation!
18d) A player who goes to the ground and gathers the ball or
with the ball in his possession but who is not tackled must immediately
get up on his feet with the ball or pass the ball or release the ball
and get up or move away from the ball (my italics). This implies that
the opposition must actually stay away and allow the player recovering
the ball to do any of the above. This gives the player a major advantage
which is too often ignored at most levels of play and notoriously by many refs.
Going down on the ball in traffic takes courage and determination but it is a critical part of winning loose play. It goes without saying that every member of the team must understand this, practice it and have a firm grasp of the options
it provides. Note that the usual act of bending over to pick up a loose
ball in traffic is not only much more dangerous but usually ineffectual.
There is nothing that strong rucking forwards love more than to find someone
in this position!
Ball in the oppositions' possession
The ball can be removed from
the possession of a player by
wrestling it free,
by making a decisive tackle which jars the ball loose,
by completing the tackle at which time the ball-carrier
must play the ball (if the tackle can be made in such a way that the ball-carrier
is turned and must play the ball on your side so much the better) or, and
this is becoming a much more useful tactic as refereeing improves,
by preventing the ball-carrier from going to ground, forming a defense maul moving forward and thus gaining the put-in at the inevitable scrum.
Note that this last requires the presence of one or more extra defensive support players so if in doubt (and I mean any doubt at all) take the man down.
Ball in the air
It is my definite impression that catching a ball in the air is becoming a lost art. I put this down to the prevalent delusion that a rugby ball can easily be gathered on the
fly, arms outstretched. It can’t, or at least it can’t by most players in the heat of the moment.
It can be gathered fairly efficiently, however, if, and I’d say only if,
the receiver is in position, watches it carefully and uses both arms and
hands to pull it into his chest. If this can be done while off the ground
a definite advantage is gained but as a coach I suppose I regard this as
being the icing on the cake. Safety seems to me to be much more valuable.
There are a few circumstances when exceptions to the above are permissible. It is obviously worth trying to catch the ball arm’s length to recover
your team’s kickoff, for example. In this case risking a knock-on resulting
in an opposition scrum on their 22, say, is a slightly better outcome than
giving them clean possession.
While on this subject it
is worth emphasizing that allowing the ball to bounce is never an desirable
option for a defender. If a clean catch cannot be made the only recourse
may be to the knock-on law which implies that, for example, trapping the
ball with the feet, chesting it down or even heading are all legal. (I’ve
never actually seen anybody heading a rugby ball on purpose but I certainly live in
hope!)
Dealing with high tactical kicks at full back or wing is another kettle of fish. Not only must the receiver be in position and make the catch often in heavy traffic he must try to do something constructive as a result. While the first two of these requirements depend on the anticipation, awareness, concentration and skill of the individual the last almost always involves other players. Just like quick throw-ins and quick penalties there should be a plan.
Some teams have a rule that the catcher immediately offloads which has the advantage of allowing the support player to consider the options while the ball is in the air. Certainly, close support for
the catcher multiplies the options and this goes double in the danger/opportunity
zone under and in front of the posts where failing to mark the ball under pressure
is a recipe for disaster - and even having marked it the kick for touch isn’t
easy.
The anticipation and awareness it takes in a full-back to always be under the garryowen doesn’t seem to be coachable. Maybe the simple answer is that a fullback who isn’t consistently under it, isn’t one?
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