Building a Backline - HS and A with Wayne Smith

Thank you so much for all you do.

This series summarizes why I subscribe and follow everything you all do at The Rugby Site.

Quality coaches, quality content, and useful for me coaching youth rugby from 7U through HS.

Thank you!

scott joyce USA

I watched this years ago and just revisited it as we are developing new halfbacks! Good stuff as usual!

Tamara Cowan USA

Good to see Lima at 9. Would liked to have seen passing off the left hand as well, but the building start and receiving points was excellent. It does take time to build god habits.

Andrew Douglas Marshall Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Really good teaching in this video, not just the actual skills, but the style in which Wayne asks questions of his guys. Even includes a young Julian Savea!

Kyle B Franklin USA

This is a great demonstration of how the most up-to-date attacking structure works, i.e. a shallow alignment of the backs closer to the gain line, putting more pressure on the defense. The idea of a steep backline at roughly a 45 degree angle has gone the way of the dinosaurs. This structure, emphasizing straight-line running and quick ball movement needs to be introduced to players at the younger age groups so that they don’t need to be retrained after being taught the steep back alignment by “old school” coaches.

Thomas McNeil USA

Simply and direct

Quique Llago Argentina

I think these first wave of Rugbysite videos are the classics as they are grounded in game-based learning and conceptual understandings. Th newer videos tend to be, shorter, mostly technical and separated from a games based approached. I wonder why the RugbySite strayed from its original unique framework?

Everett Konsmo Canada

So many key points from this video yet simple answers as to why players are or aren’t in position and consequently overrun player in front of run sideways, excellent delivery of what is often difficult to identify in players.

jeff stanway New Zealand

Great work WS.

Augstine Tato Australia

Common sense and fundamentals – my favorite way to introduce the game appropriate for all levels. The only thing that changes in the distance as your move toward a younger side.

OD USA

Very effective approach to setting up your back line depending on your players abilities and line speed of the opposition.

David Dudman Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Wayne Smith lays out an excellent but simple set of back line drills, which will help players to read opposition defences and organise back line attack play accordingly.

Gordon Spence Scotland

Very effective video – simple to follow and understand and easy to put into practice

Mike Parker England

so simple but affective , good stuff !

Danny Hutchinson Spain

Brilliantly simple, again the simple things executed well

Matthew Ratana England

I loved this info and great to see some young rugby stars. Could this video please be cut up for each progression as I ended up watching it all which was too much info at once for my brain. Cheers.

Jarrett McGregor New Zealand

Excelente… sin palabras… de nuevo excelene

Sebastian Suarez Argentina

This is a fantastic drill, I was having problems with spacing between 9 + 10 but this will go a long way to fixing that. Superb coaching tip.

Keri-John Lovell England

Very informative thanks

James Iopu Australia

a superb communicator. love the way he improves a players performance by getting them to ask why they can do for / need from their teammates

John Lawn England

Really enjoyed it, coach kept it simple and easy to understand. Thank you.

Jed USA

Really excellent and a good visual demonstration of some of Jim Greenwood’s backline principles.

JR Suber USA

great demonstration of how to put on a backline, very clear and easy to understand .. thank you ..

Hopoate Tupou USA

I agree with the staggered depart and each player having a trigger, but in the drills with the three different starting points for the defence the attacking line is so focused on getting the ball to the outside that they no longer move forward effectively.

Nigel Wales

im having a real problem watching any videos tonight, every one i have tried to watch has frozen on me what is the problem.

eddie bowes Ireland

Another fantastic demonstration from Wayne, if I could only aspire to these quality demonstrations, I try, maybe one day. His clarity of explanation and objectives achieved, a true masterclass, thank you.

Roger C Croft France

I’m a belgian trainer and it’s very interesting to see how you explain and train your players

Didier Desplanque Belgium

Just what I’ve been looking for !! It’s a joy to watch such excellent coaching delivered in a calm and specific way. Im delighted to have found your site and looking forward to watching many more sessions.

Many thanks,

Darrin

Darrin Crane England

This is gold.

Malcolm Knox Canada

Genius way to organise the depth of your backline. Easy to follow, challenging and effective.

Brendan Hope Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Really simplisic but effective stuff, I’ll will attempt this with my backline this week, as sometimes we over run attacking ball. The triggering of the players run is probably the most difficult for individuals to grasp. I will review this and report back on the success…..

Andrew Dacey Wales