NWT 15 a - side Rugby Skills & Positional Knowledge 2007
Individual skills that every rugby player should have:
Fundamental Skills | Contact Skills | Ball Retention skills |
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No 1 – 15 Positional Skills and Proficiencies
Front Row
No. 1: Loose head Prop
- Scrum techniques – Good Body Posture
- Lifting techniques
- Mauling skills
- Pick & Go
No. 2: Hooker
- Scrum techniques – Good Body Posture
- Hooking
- Throwing (Should be able to throw straight at a distance of 15-30m)
- Controlling of scrums
- Calling calls
- Sets the height of the scrum.
- Low/straight hit
No. 3: Tight head prop (A Specialist roles)
- Scrum techniques – Good Body Posture
- Leading hit in scrums. Turn-over the scrum.
- Stealing balls and making life difficult for opposition hooker in scrums
- Reading opposition hooker’s tap in scrum.
50% of the possession comes from the front row.
All 3 players have the same attributes.
No. 1 is slightly taller and No.3 is slightly shorter.
No. 3 will lead the hit.
Scrum Binding psychology
- Think about the bind being a quick and efficient process. Therefore be comfortable with the system of binding and work easily with co-players.
- Two pillars, two props – the props providing a stable platform for hooker to support themselves. If the hooker is not comfortable, then rethink the binding. The higher the bind, i.e. where the hand grips the shirt, the more it keeps the hooker square.
- Locking the hand in: put the hand into the shirt and then twist to get a strong bind.
What is a good step by step way to bind for a strong scrum?
- Hooker gets into position first.
- Normally loose-head binds first onto hooker:
– approach the hooker from behind,
– reach around, grab shirt; arrive into position. - Tight-head bind:
– arrives from behind,
– reaches in and grabs lower than loose-head,
– arrives into position.
Good practices for stronger binding
- Grip work practices: Squeezy weights, such as handgrips or dumbbell Forearm Grips, which can be used by front row players when they are not having team training.
- Try out different binding positions on the hooker for maximum strength. Different body shapes might mean different binds.
What are the benefits of good binding?
- It is where the strength comes from: if you split the front row then you lose the focus of power; second rows have nothing to push against.
- Improves the freedom of movement for the hooker.
- Give the 2nd rows a more solid base from which to push.
- Props are holding the hooker up: if the hooker is not held securely he would be unable to strike the ball because he would fall over.
Locks/Second Row:
No. 4 and No.5
- Jumping skills (L/O)
- Staying Strong in the air
- Scrum techniques – Body Posture
- Pick & Go from base
- Mauling skills
- Mirco-unit skills
Specific Roles:
- 2nd Row are usually taller players
- Must have strong core to contest for ball in the air
- They are the 2nd wave in defence & have to be very stroing going into breakdowns
- They are the workhorses of the team, sometimes rarely touching the ball in general play
- They are also involved in cover defence
The least recognized players in the game, but the true workhorses of the team. 2nd rows must be hardy and tough. They must have good aerial skills to dominate the lineout and out think opposition in attack.
A good Jumper will look to both attack & deny air space to their opposition in the lineouts.
Back Row - Looseys/Flankers:
Back rowers have to be:
Quick & Smart, able to read the game well and stop opposition attack off the base of scrums.
Should possess excellent tackling & turnover ball skills
Must have good ball handling skills and ability to link up with backs on attack
No. 6 | No. 7 | No.8 |
Scrum techniques | Scrum techniques | Scrum techniques Channel 3 – protect 9 |
Awareness in scrums – Eyes on Ball | Awareness in scrums – Eyes on Ball | Awareness in scrums |
Support in attack - detach backwards and chase around | Support in attack- Lateral line of run to 1st ruck | Support in attack |
Cover 7 inside. Shoot for oppo 9 | Cover 10 inside. | Cover Backline in Defence – runs behind inside backs |
Drop back to cover one wing when the other wing goes up. | Chase down oppo line & effect hit Pilfer the ball | Ball Pilfering Skills Ball retention on contact Vision |
Chase stand-off in defence. | Chase stand-off in defence. | Control of Pack |
Be the first to every breakdown | Be the first to every breakdown. | Pick and go skills |
Jumping + Lifting skills | Jumping + Lifting skills | Linking up with backline |
- No. 7 is to be there in the first hit. If hit is successful, No 6 goes up there to collect the ball.If not, No.6 have to clear up the mess.
- Ability to pilfer the ball for flankers.
No. 8 - Defence Much of the defensive role of a blindside flanker and defence is applicable to the number 8. Certainly, the first job of the No 8 from scrums and lineouts is to cover the gap between the set piece and the backs. Should the opposition play back into this area then it is the No 8’s job, along with the flankers, to make the tackle. Here the back row should be working together. For example, the No 8 and flanker (usually openside) can work like a pincer, with one targeting the inside and one the outside of the fly half. Another option from lineouts (especially where the pack is strong) is to have the No 8 line up with the backs to cover the fly half. Our fly half then covers their inside centre, etc. Now both flanker and No 8 target the fly half (assuming the ball is not thrown deep to the tail of the lineout), with the backs now able to counter any extra man introduced into the backline by the opposition. Given the possible vulnerability of your lineout to a catch and drive, you may wish to reserve this for play outside your 22. From scrums the key issue is to identify who takes whom from a back row move. My reference is:
- Attack going right: 9 takes first man round the scrum; 8 second; flanker covers.
- Attack going left: flanker takes first man round; 8 second.
Leadership Not surprisingly, given the influence the number 8 has, it is an ideal position from which to lead. It can be used to give a player their first taste of leadership and prepare them for greater responsibility in the future, particularly if they have been identified as someone with the potential to lead the whole team.
Decision Maker In many ways this quality is intertwined with leadership, in that a crucial element of leadership is making effective decisions at the right time. (i.e.“What do I/we need to do for this move to succeed?”), to a wider focus that also considers ‘added value’ (i.e.“What can I/we best do in this situation to enhance the team’s performance as a whole?”).
Summary The best number 8’s are probably one of the best players in the team; they can perform most of the functions of all the team extremely well. They also need to be part of the team’s strategy decisions, either as a leader or certainly as a key member of the smaller group of captain and coach. The spine of the team is 2, 8, 9, 10, 15. But 8 must be a thinker and a robust forward that can link up with the backline
D. No. 9, Half Back/Scrum-Halfs. (Specialized training)
Primary job is to LOCATE the ball and pass the ball.
Secondary job is to stabilize the situation by: a) Securing the ball himself b) Directing the forwards to secure the ball
Also known as the ninth forward. Can also go in for the first hit.
- Clearing pass(10-15m)
- Box kick (Emphasis not enough – More Practice on own)
Can be used for T.O. Balls
Lack of support players in attack (Wings can chase)
Blocked Channels - Lines of run – get to breakdown fast
How they enter the Ruck? & Primary focus at Rucks?
They should:
a) Scan area on the way to breakdown (Look for space to attack & know your options – Blind, open, box kick)
b) 10 to communicate on what options for 9 / strike
c) Observe ruck formation & defence formation – Option to communicate with forwards to run on short side - Communication (link between forwards and backs) – A need for SAV 9’s to know what to say
- Commanding in attack & defence (9 needs to comm. With players at breakdown to shift if needed)
- Game awareness – know what is going on. Experience is crucial here, with sound knowledge of options
- Superb handling skills - Ambidexterous
- Decision making: 9 to dictate at breakdowns, and to decide if he can run
- Can overrule the backline calls depending on situation
- 9 to control fwds entering a driving maul because this dictates the driving angle of the maul – Directing angles of runs
- 9 to TELL fwds what to do when things change in attack/defence
Core Skills for Backline - :
a) Timing of run
b) Positioning (Depth/Angle prior to receiving ball)
c) Flying start to chase kicks – Maintaining standard attacking alignment at 45deg instead of a flat line giveaway for opposition to be able to read you
d) 1 loop 2 in oppo 22m – Execution at pace
e) Gap running
f) Line breaks & Ball retention OR continuity (Offloading in contact)
Backline
No. 10: Stand-off/Flyhalf/ 1st 5 eight
Major decision maker of the team.
In a game, test the centres first in a game. See if they can hold our centres.
Test Opposition wingers – Kicking High balls just behind them
Tactical kicking must be spot on – Kick into space (Make opposition either:
- Run forward to catch ball (Fullback)
- Run backwards to catch ball (In between fullback & Winger)
- Handling and accurate passing.
- Communication with back-line and half back.
- Dictate play – Phases / downtown / Penetrating moves
- Decision making
- Kicking
- Control the style of play
- Reading of the Game.
- Lead the line defence.
- Delayed runs in attack
- Running Skills
- Tactical Kicking Skills
No. 12: In-Centre
Must Have - Have the equivalent skills of the flyhalf.
Next General in the line.
- Tactical kicking
- Line of runs.
- Tackling
- Decoy running
- Look for gaps (off-loading)
- Crashing
- Communication with no.10
- Line Breaker
- Stand in for 10
Why No. 12 crashes?
-to straighten up
-to fix the defenders/slow the pace of play.
No. 13: Out-centre
Out centre should have better stepping skills & possess better footwork.
Should be able to play first receiver (Especially in the event that Stand-off and in centre get caught in a break-down situations.
- Tactical kicking
- Line of runs.
- Line Breaker
- Tackling
- Decoy running
- Look for gaps (off-loading)
- Crashing
- Communication with no.10
- Stand in for 10
No.11, No.14: Wingers
Speed Demons of the team, who have to finish well, when they get the ball
High pressure position where they have to think on their feet in nano seconds
Must know how to operate:
- Man on Man Defence
- Drift Defence
- Plug gap Defence
- Ability to catch high balls.
- When to switch with 13
- Timing of run for linking up
- Composure in both attack & defence
- Reading of game – and positioning (Crucial Skills – dependent on individual speed & skills)
- Decoy starting positions
- Finishing - Clinical
- Kicking - Tactical
- Pass a distance of 15-20 m.
- Depth runner - Coming from a natural deep position.
- Fielding – Linking with back 3
- Option runner off 1st wave of attack
No.15: Full back
If our full back has to tackle, it reflects a poor defensive patterns from the backline.
Kicking skills –
Must be able to relieve pressure with tactical kicks
He is also the 2nd Kicker since No.15 is the 2nd nearest to the scrum especially in the red-zone.
Must know how to operate on:
- Man on Man Defence
- Drift Defence
- Plug gap Defence
- Ability to catch high balls.
- Composure
- Reading of game.
- Decoy starting position.
- Finishing.
- Kicking.
- Pass a distance of 20-30m.
- Depth runner. Coming from a natural deep position – Must think of linebreak into gaps
- Fielding (Control of back 3)
