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Attack articles

Want to teach your players attacking rugby?

We have got attacking skills resource for all levels of the from some of the world's best attack coaches to help including Wayne Smith, Joe Schmidt, Gregor Townsend, Dave Ellis and others.

  • Build an effective attack strategy like the best attacking teams in the world.
  • Understand different strategies and why they are effective.
  • Develop effective individual and team attacking skills and tactics
  • Different modified games to develop attacking skills

Plus we have categorised them by playing level to make it easier for you to find:

  • Y – youth
  • HS – high school
  • A – adult
  • All – suitable for all levels

How to win the #15/ #9 battle from midfield scrums

Law changes frequently have repercussions, or send out impact ripples well beyond the original intention – for better or for worse. As Nick Bishop highlights how the Defending #9 not being allowed past the mid-line of the scrum trial law change has also changed how the backs attack and defend.

Why teams are feeling the need – the need for speed – at the scrum base [part 2]

Nick Bishop highlights how the new law-trial requiring the defending scrum-half to drop back rather than chase up beyond the mid-point of the set-piece are having more of a positive impact than even the law-makers may have envisaged.

How to design and develop a ‘gadget’ move from lineout

Innovation can be the genuine discovery of something completely new, but far more often it represents the improvement, or streamlining of something already known.
Nick Bishop looks at how the ‘Teabag’ (lineout gadget play) has evolved as coaches ‘innovate’ the same concept from another angle.

How the new law trial at the scrum is creating new possibilities for the attack

Nick Bishop highlights some new ideas to create clean attacking ball from scrums encouraged by the latest law-trials, and (potentially) the scrummage returning to its former status as a potent attacking weapon.

How to get into shape on attack and use your ‘spares’ – the modern way!

The speed of modern ruck ball has now increased to a point where formations have had to become more flexible to maintain momentum and fan the flames on attack. Nick Bishop details why this has come about and its effect on game.

How to run the “I” formation and mask your intentions on attack

Nick Bishop details how Italy has extended the ‘I’ attack formation to great effect in their recent international matches.

How to turn a profit from off-the-ball work on kick returns

It takes a lot of hard work to create a platform to unlock a good opposing kicking game, and the chase which backs it up, on counter-attack.
Using Scotland’s 6 Nations performance against England at the weekend, Nick Bishop outlines what is involved and the potential returns from the off the ball hard work.

How to move the point of contact close to the goal-line

If you play it safe, it can often lead to the sporting syndrome of ‘tightening up’ psychologically. Typically, sportsmen turn to increased focus on the detail of their performance, a technical hypervigilance – and that only makes things worse.
Nick Bishop looks at the expectations of scoring a try close to the goal-line.

How to use ‘lightning quick ball’ at the Lineout Drive

The principles of LQB and KBA don’t have to be confined to the skills of offloading and quick ruck ball production in open play.

Nick Bishop, Leinster and soon to be Racing 92 analyst, starts the year using footage from the clubs’ recent match, how Lightening Quick Ball can be used at lineout time.

How to work around a dominant maul defender on attack

The ability to establish a dominant maul defender is key for the defence, and as Nick Bishops details it is equally vital for the attacking side to formulate alternate strategies to overcome that dominance once it has been proven.