Quote: Knocker_White "I thought this too and I think some of it is game planning. We seem to favour going sideways and dropping the ball off to Macani on kick reception, in the hope he can use his speed and acceleration to get round the opposition. I would like to see all of our back three go a little more direct at times though, Alex and Paul aren't exactly small bodies'"
Basic principles, Space - Pace - Advance.
I hate the lateral play, and as a former RU player turned junior coach, when you see the opposition is going lateral it says to me that they are out of ideas, low on confidence, poorly coached and as a result the rest of that team are going to have to bust a gut getting the even get to the gain line. In League, I find this amazing that attacking teams still crab as they have so much more space in run into after a completed tackle.
I am now a RU coach for juniors, and I have a World Rugby Level 2.
My 10 year olds even know that when in unstructured attack
1. Claim the
Space, you run direct you are going to take 1,2 even 3 players with you
2. Hit the ball at
Pace. there is a time and place for throwing it down the line, but never adopt a mindset of passing down the line to get around the opposition defensive line.
3. Always
Advance, never sideways. A exercise I do with my boys and girls in a end of session training match is if I see any signs of crabbing, I blow the whistle, and throw the other ball to the defending team.
Build your training exercises around those basic principles. Seriously guys, it is not that hard.
