Conditioning
Why a scrum-half has to be the fittest man on the team
The modern scrum-half not only has to be the fittest man on the paddock in terms of aerobic endurance, he also has to...
Insight & analysis
Articles
Deep dives on the modern game from The Rugby Site's contributors and coaches.
Attack
Attack, Attack and More Attack
The notion of the contest is becoming more difficult for the defensive side to manage in all areas of the game. Nick Bishop explores how ...
Defence
How the repeat involvement theory is stacking up for number 9’s
The use of the “spare man” in the backline has been debated since the dawn of the professional era. Using France’s current defensive syst...
Latest posts
Breakdown
How far can you clean out ahead of the ruck?
What is considered too far for support players clearing out? A ‘reasonable’ distance with ‘advantages’ as Nick Bishop...
Catch and Pass
How to use the reverse-pass to split the wood up the middle
Nick Bishop explores how a sussessful old move – the reverse pass, is gaining popularity to open new defences.
Set Piece
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 weapo...
Attack
How to run same-way attack with angled cleanouts
It is always nice when circumstances come together to make theory absolutely limpid, and crystal clear in practice. ...
Breakdown
How to find the right angle at cleanout time
Is the breakdown cleanout NFL blocking by another name? Nick Bishop provides some weight to Offensive Linemen techniq...
Defence
Why defence begins behind the goal-line, not in front of it
The new trial laws brought in on 1st August 2021 not only increased the effective attacking width of the field with t...
Attack
How to find scenarios to make the 50/22 work
The 50/22 kick is beginning to grow in value as the different scenarios in which it can be an Attack option are recog...
Attack
Why rugby news travels fast in the global game
A prop in the back field returning kicks in Australia Super rugby one week and in then the 6 Nations the next! Nick ...
Attack
Anatomy of a try: how kicking duels create countering chances
Why is defence and the kicking game so important? Analyst Nick Bishop explains why and how its lead to constructing ...
Attack
How to make a same-way attack really work
The most basic version of attacking in the professional era is the so-called ‘same-way’ or ‘around the corner’ attack...
Kicking
Is the box-kick exit going out of fashion?
How to successfully pressure the box? Nick Bishop illustrates how teams are now finding ways to pressure the box kick...
