Try Something New

It is amazing how hard it is to convince club players to try out something that they haven’t come across before in their rugby playing career.

A friend of mine Graham O’Brien, a Ranfurly Shield winning coach with Taranaki, introduced  me to a driving lineout from close attacking positions that headed at a 45 degree angle across the field towards the goalposts and although he had found success at NPC level, it has often been difficult in convincing club teams of its worth.

The few times I have used this tactic has resulted in a 60%+ scoring record, so it is probably worth bringing it out of the cupboard and brushing it up for 2014.

The concept behind driving on the angle is so that the defence can’t mount a strong counter, unlike driving in the middle where the defence is strongest. Also because it heads at pace across the field, in theory the defenders must come around in an offside position and not through the gate to hit it head on.

Most of the techniques, skills and tactics involved are already part of the make up of a normal drive, the big problem being the psychological barrier players have because they are not driving directly down the field.

It works like this. Lineout numbers referred to are: (back)7-6-5-4-3-2-1 - H

Work out a pattern so that the ball is thrown to the back jumper. (No 6) The jumper must be strong in the air and come down in a position that makes it difficult for him to be interfered with by the opposing player.

The players on either side of him (7 & 5) will block as normal. The lifter in the front position should get as far forward as possible so that he can accommodate a drive going towards the goalposts and needs to be quick and strong to stop the jumper being ‘sacked’.
The back lifter will also benefit from getting low and facing forward in a driving position.

The player at 4 will turn and bind on the front lifter (5) and prepare to drive across the field by getting as far forward as possible in a low, driving position.

The momentum and direction is dictated with the front player in the lineout (usually an athletic prop – No 1) coming around and driving hard on to ball and the man.[4 hands securing the ball]. He will bind on tight and keep the ball in that space as long as possible as he drives on that angle. He must create the momentum before the defence can get set so he needs to drive in hard, which means the front group must be set quickly.

No’s 2 & 3 will bind up and drive around together hitting the maul going across the field on the inside cheek of No 1 and on number 5. Like any maul, positional changes may vary on how well the drive is initially set up.

It is crucial that 1 now has the ball under his inside arm.

Finally the hooker (H) will arrive and will either seal off the outside of no 7 or No 1 if the drive has spun around too far; or he will drive from the back of the maul and take control of the ball.

It is important that the front group stay tight and bound, stay strong, and don’t leave the maul. As the maul evolves it will be driven and communicated from the back with the halfback guiding players as to where they are needed.

The key is to get momentum early and keep it going.

The aim is to score somewhere near the goalposts.

If a new maul is required, then it is absolutely imperative that the ball is under the inside arm and the usual maul tactics and techniques are applied.

A really imaginative coach might try this pattern from a short lineout. If the drive is halted the ball can be popped to a couple of forwards on the burst or to a couple of backs who are sprinting down the short side.

Try it out. Introduce your own variations. There are lots of tactics and plays that can be developed at lineout time.

Good luck.