Defence
What is the best defence at lineouts?
There are always plenty of ongoing debates on lineout defence. Analyst Nick Bishop considers the rationale for each d...
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
Attack
Is there a Renaissance in French rugby
On and off the field, French rugby appears to be in a Renaissance with 2 teams contesting the 2021 Champions cup fina...
Attack
Why the cross-kick is a quick fix for attacking width
The cross-kick (or kick-pass) is a low-risk way of moving the ball from one side of the field to the other in one mov...
Kicking
How to take your kicking game on an upward spiral
At the level of individual technique, some ‘amateur’ techniques which still give added value have been prematurely di...
Attack
How to look for the transition zones on attack
Against a defence which is still well-organized, one of the most reliable methods of attack is to seek out the so-cal...
Kicking
Can the new trial kicking laws add value to the game?
The pith of the new trial laws is to reduce the impact of defensive line-speed and the number of bodies in the defens...
Breakdown
Will ‘the new breakdown’ encourage the return of the counter-ruck?
Following on from his previous article, Nick details if these articles of rugby law are respected, alongside the requ...
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Breakdown
Is the breakdown really a ruck anymore?
World Rugby is still wrestling with the issue of what happens, and what should by law happen after a tackle takes pla...
Attack
When is the tip-on pass most effective?
The art of attacking is the art of creating and utilizing space. Pushing the ball ever wider to find the space is the...
Kicking
Where is the sweet spot for the box kick?
In most instances the touchline is usually the defence’s best friend’. However, as Nick Bishop points out there are ...
Breakdown
Why you have to go long in order to get wide
Before the start of the ground-breaking Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2020, a host of stringent new breakdown p...
Attack
Red Zone Kicking adds to No 9 Role
The new breakdown laws have resulted in more kicking especially from the No 9. This week Analyst Nick Bishop looks a...
