Latest Posts
Forwards have to think on their feet
Brendon Ratcliffe | 10 months ago | 2 comments
Forwards are conditioned from a young age to make sure that they get to the breakdown, but sometimes it is the worst thing they can do
Read More...Topic: Breakdown
The Rolling Maul II
Brendon Ratcliffe | 10 months ago | 3 comments
When the perfect rolling maul is on the move it is almost impossible to stop. It is like discovering the secret of perpetual motion. You cannot tackle a player legally. You cannot get at the ball. There is not much of a front to drive against. The only option left is to…infringe.
Read More...Topic: Breakdown
Bringing a top lineout drive back down to earth
Brendon Ratcliffe | 10 months ago | 1 comment
Martin Johnson’s great Leicester lineout was a mighty hard thing to stop, but American Football provided a few clues
Read More...Topic: Set Piece
The Rolling Maul Part I
Brendon Ratcliffe | 11 months ago | 1 comment
Brendon Ratcliffe loves the rolling maul. If forwards are piano shifters, then the rolling maul is the Steinway of rugby.
Read More...Topic: Set Piece
When Lineouts Go Bad
Brendon Ratcliffe | about 1 year ago | 1 comment
A young Sean Fitzpatrick once copped a mouthful of abuse after missing Andy Haden at lineout practise. He soon found out the keys to a good lineout are a lot of hard work and a quick set-up.
Read More...Topic: Set Piece
Band of Brothers
Brendon Ratcliffe | over 1 year ago | 6 comments
Brendon Ratcliffe wants to know if your forwards are hard enough to survive the ordeal that he put his Northampton pack through
Read More...Topic: Set Piece
The Mana of The Scrummage
Brendon Ratcliffe | over 1 year ago | 3 comments
Brendon Ratcliffe, the Rugby Site’s professor of the dark arts, stumbles out into the sunlight in order to talk about the scrummage.
Read More...Topic: Set Piece
