Wide Strike at the Scrum (2)
Wide attack at scrum time needs to create continuity in the wide channels with the aim being to get in behind the defensive line and keep going forward to create as much confusion as possible.
Think carefully about where the defence are likely to be at their strongest before planning the next phase.
Coaching skills and concepts to keep the ball alive in these wide channels is crucial to the success of the plays.
The plays that you choose will be determined by the ability and skills of the particular individuals you have in various positions. For wide strikes the insides need to be able to threaten and pass and these skills should be taught as part of the play. As well it will be really advantageous if the team has fast and penetrating runners in the back three.
The best idea is to start with one basic pattern that has two or three options that can be used.
Back play can be difficult to coach. In order to be successful backlines have to put defence under pressure. To do this, players have to put themselves under pressure by performing near to the defenders.
Players can only acquire the timing and confidence necessary for this by practicing under pressure similar to that they will face in games.
The building blocks for back play are handling, running and decision making and these skills should be practiced as often as possible.
PLAYS (Make up your own names).
“Winger In”.
*Aim: To threaten in close and cause confusion in the centres to create the wide space.
*Scrum Call: ' Beta OR Charlie -2'. Square OR Tighthead up – channel 2.
*Best: in attacking half.
*Explanation: 10 passes to 12 / 12 threatens and dummies on the inside to the blindside winger / 13 is already drifting wide and calling for the ball / 12 passes a short ball to 15 who has hit the space that 13 has just left. / the openside winger can track 15 or 13.
*Variations: [1] 15 can make an early call for the pass which then goes across him to 13 on the drift / the open winger will make his support run off 13 [ 2] 12 can wrap around 15 and threaten inside 13.
“10 Running”.
*Aim: to hold the defence in the midfield with a decoy runner before changing the angle twice and going wide.
*Scrum Call: 'Bull OR Cam – 2'.
*Best: on attack. Around halfway when the defence might not be as committed as close in to the try line.
*Explanation: 10 goes on a lateral run and dummy switches with 12 / 10 continues and switches with 13 / 13 is on an angle back towards the defenders / 13 then switches with the blindside winger who is running towards the corner flag / 13 links with 15 and 14 with one of these players who hits back on the angle against the run of the winger / 10 loops to the outside support position.
*Variations: blindside winger misses 15, hits the openside wing and wraps hard / 10 double dummies 12 & 13 and misses 15 hitting a short ball which goes behind 15 to the blindside winger.
“Hard Wrap”.
*Aim: to threaten the right hand side before threatening and wrapping hard on the left.
*Scrum Call: 'Barry – 2’.
*Best: In the attacking half with at least a 15 metre right hand blindside.
*Explanation: 15 & 14 line up to attack the right hand side / 10, 12, 13 & 11 are lined up on the left relatively close together and reasonably flat (depending on skill levels) / 9 passes to 10 / 10 cuts 12 & 13 to 11 / 11 runs in balance on an angle towards the drift defence / 12 & 13 are wrapping as the ball is passed by 10 / 10 passes and wraps hard to the very outside / 11 passes to 12 who is running straight or back towards the drift / 12 passes to 13 who is on the same line / 13 threatens hard and passes to 10 on the outside.
*Variations: 12 passes behind 13 to 10 / 11 receives a bit deeper and splits between two defender and pops it up to 12 in the tackle.
