Breakdown
How to get on the right side of the referee at the breakdown
For defensive players in and around the tackle area, the challenge is to spoil and disrupt effectively while showing ...
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
Set Piece
The Source and a Solution to Wayne Smith's Frustration
The solution to the problem Wayne Smith needs to begin at source. Nick Bishop identifies a primary cause and solution.
Breakdown
How to make a second effort when all seems lost at ruck-time
Sports coaches are always on the lookout for ways in which a player can make a ‘double action’ or second effort, rein...
Position specific
What are the benefits of a big scrum-half in the ‘boot’?
Nick Bishop looks at some of the reasons which make a bigger unit at number 9 more desirable under the current laws o...
Kicking
Why ‘pocket protection’ is so important under the box-kick
The cross-fertilization of ideas between collision sports is on the increase. American Football Pass Protection desig...
Set Piece
Why teams are feeling the need – ‘the need for speed’ - at the scrum-base
Nick Bishop explains why he fully expects the SRP law-trial at the scrum to be implemented world-wide in due course. ...
Breakdown
How to get some ‘bounce’ into the kick-pass!
Attacking methods to get the ball quickly to the edge need constant refinement for the attacking side to be able to e...
Defence
How to recognize opportunities to attack wide versus a ‘jockey’ defence
Using some recent examples from Super Rugby Pacific 2023 Nick Bishop explains just why the more passive forms of defe...
Breakdown
Why the wide ruck can be a big Achilles heel for the attack
A ‘sweet spot’ exists where the defence can move over to the attack at the breakdown as Nick Bishop outlines in this ...
Attack
How the new law trial at the scrum is creating new possibilities for the attack
Nick Bishop highlights some new ideas to create clean attacking ball from scrums encouraged by the latest law-trials,...
Defence
How to cover the break on defence, and bring ‘chaos’ back to ‘structure’
How can the defence return from ‘chaos’ back to ‘structure’, and the odds shift in the defence’s favour from an attac...
Breakdown
How to get a second bite at the cherry at the breakdown
The recent changes in officiating guidelines at the breakdown outlawed a second move on the deck, and reduced the opt...
