Articles

Set Piece articles

An effective set piece guarantees possession.

Watch some of the world's best set piece coaches and players including Mike Cron, Jase Ryan, Greg Feek, Richard Pryor, Victor Matfield, Bismarck de Plussis, Ross Filipo Geoff Parling and others to create effective and safe set pieces for all levels of the game including lineouts, scrums, kick offs, exits, and mauls.

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

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 the first Test against Ireland challenge the rules of scrummaging

Nick Bishop provides insight into how the The All Blacks got away with some scrum laws infringements in their 1st Irish test which contributed in their success.

Does New Zealand need a true lineout number 8 in the Kieran Read mould?

The previously unbeaten Blues lost a total of ten of their own throws to the lineout in their Super Rugby Pacific 2022 final loss to the Crusaders.

Nick Bishop details the key to the Crusaders’ successful lineout plan.

How to use the attacking lineout drive to split the defence

The maul remains one of the most contentious issues in rugby. Nick Bishop looks at the latest contentious development by a team, in this instance the ACT Brumbies, of playing as far ahead of the ball as possible at the maul.

How to shave the odds by narrowing the gap at lineout time

Lineout defence is becoming ever more important in the modern game, as the lineout becomes the by far the major weapon of choice for set-piece attack.
Nick Bishop details ways in which teams are successfully defending the Lineout.

Why the modern lineout peel is back to front

The times they are a-changing, and peels from the lineout are no longer confined to the open-side of the field. Nick Bishop explains why in this week’s analysis.

How to create breathing space for the lineout drive

By holding the receiver in the air for as long as possible, the receiving team forces the kick-chase either to mistime the challenge, or back off from it entirely and allow an easy receipt. Nick Bishop investigates if the same principle was at work during the lineouts in the recent Rugby Championship match between Australia and the world champions South Africa.

How to get the ball away from the scrum quicksand

What is the best way to avoid the scrum penalty/reset quicksand, and create usable attacking ball? Analyst Nick Bishop explains one option being used more by attacking minded teams.

How to attack the short zones from restarts

Like the Receiving team, the Attacking team can also take advantage of the kick-off ‘hang time’ as Nick Bishop highlights in this week’s Analysis and the ‘Race for the Space’.

How to cure the blight of scrum penalties in modern Rugby

Why have today’s scrums resulted in more penalties and less usable ball than in amateur rugby days. And it is not due to a lack of technique as Nick Bishop explains why in this week’s analysis.