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 ...
Insight & analysis
Articles
Deep dives on the modern game from The Rugby Site's contributors and coaches.
Set Piece
‘Skrum, skrum, skrum’ part 2 – what the Boks want to do and how to stop it
RGR series has been rugby’s has been a massive clash of styles. None more so at scrum time. The penalty problem at the scrum has been hig...
Set Piece
Skrum, skrum, skrum: what is the future of the scrum after RGR 3? – part one
Refereeing culture and background clearly make a huge difference to the officiating of the scrum As Nick Bishop expertly illustrates a sp...
Latest posts
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...
Set Piece
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 highli...
Set Piece
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...
Attack
How to expose the ‘spare man’ in defence
Locating the spare defender is the short-hand for deciding the direction of attack on the next play. In this week’s ...
Set Piece
How to create breathing space on restarts
The concept of hang-time can be used as a strategy by both the kicking and the receiving team on restarts as Nick Bis...
Set Piece
Identifying weaknesses from restarts
Restarts are one of the biggest momentum-changers in the game of Rugby. In the recent Tri-Nations series in the game...
Tackling
Why tackling has become high stakes
The hold-up tackle is still very much on the cutting edge of team’s defences. Analyst Nick Bishop looks at how it has...
Set Piece
Changing perceptions at scrum-time: All Blacks-Pumas - the Sequel
The challenge facing the All Blacks’ coaching staff and players after the previous Pumas match was to reverse the per...
Set Piece
Why the All Blacks front row is in a bind
During their recent Rugby Championship match, the Argentenian scrum had the All Black’s scrum in a real ‘Bind’ as Nic...
