Articles
Nick Bishop Here's what Nick thinks...
About Nick Bishop
Nick has worked as a rugby analyst and advisor to Graham Henry (1999-2002), Mike Ruddock (2004-2006) and latterly Stuart Lancaster (2011-2015). He also worked on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and produced his first rugby book with Graham Henry at the end of the tour. Since then, three more rugby books have followed, all of which of have either been nominated for, or won national sports book awards. The latest is a biography of Phil Larder, the first top Rugby League coach to successfully transfer over to Union. It is entitled “The Iron Curtain”. Nick has also written or contributed to four other books on literature and psychology.
“He is currently writing articles for The Roar and The Rugby Site, and working as a strategy consultant to Stuart Lancaster and the Leinster coaching staff for their European matches.”
Nick Bishop's latest articles
How Red Card defence spoiled the Red Rose party at Eden ParkWorld Cups are won and lost on small but significant tactical nuances as England’s Red Roses experienced in the Women’s RWC final.
Why it’s hard to overestimate the value of a hard YACKERNick Bishop explains What is a rugby YACKA and the important role they play in a team’s attack.
Targeting the key attacker in backline defenceThe importance of excellent backline defence was on show in the titanic contest between England and France at the Women’s World Cup. Nick Bishop breaks down France’s defensive strategies to successfully shut down England’s outstanding centre, Emily Scarratt.
How to build the lineout drive on your own termsUsing England’s successful Red Roses lineout Nick Bishop details 2 key features to building an effective lineout drive.
The absolute clarity about the ‘where’ and ‘how’ of the attackWayne Smith’s highly successful, and exciting, ‘where’ and ‘how’ attack clarity was very much in evidence during the Black Ferns recent group match against Wales, as Nick Bishop details in this week’s analysis.
How ‘Turnaround Tyrel’ learned his tall tight-head trade at scrum-timeNick Bishop highlights the value of the transference of knowledge between coach and a senior player to a less experienced player. Nick uses the recent example of All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax with forwards coach Jase Ryan and veteran prop Owen Franks.
How to use the ‘15 metre plus’ lineout throw to create attacking successThe Springboks recently discovered some interesting nuances of the lineout law. Nick Bishop details how they rapidly widened into fully-fledge defensive ‘loopholes’ in their recent Argentina Rugby Championship test match.
What is the theory behind restarts up the middle?Why did Australia and South Africa buck the trend and restart up the middle rather than to the corners in their recent Rugby Championship game? Nick Bishop details why and the problems it creates for the receiving teams.
How to get the most out of your turnover defence at the ruckNick Bishop looks at the creative solution All Black coaches have created to overcome captain Sam Cane’s reduced his effectiveness in the tackle area, as a pilferer of opposition ball, due to his neck injury.
How to use the tip-on pass without tipping it offThe tip-on pass off 9 can be effective when you draw the defender up on point opposite your forward receiver.
Analyst Nick Bishop examines how you can make even more effective.
