These are my five key principles of the game. In RED. I hope you can see how what we've been doing in training supports my principles!!!???
Firstly we have to have the ball (gain & maintain possession) to be able to do something with it – this involves winning the ball from set phases - making sure that our lineout and scrum are working effectively, that we are winning the ball from kick-offs and that we are
competing for the ball in contestable phases. These contestable phases include scrums
(to a lesser extent) and lineouts, but more particularly, rucks and mauls and at the
tackle. It also involves keeping the ball when we have it, through effective ball retention methods. Going forward is simply moving towards the opposition’s goal-line, bearing in mind that the objective of the game is winning by scoring points. So the thing to bear in mind here is how well we are doing in terms of moving towards the target zone.
It’s not that effective if we are doing all sorts of fancy stuff behind the advantage line, the question is how well are we doing in terms of taking the ball forward. It’s OK to go backwards or sideways, if the end result is going forward. Do we have players running straight? Are they moving towards the opponent’s goal-line, whether quickly, or more slowly?
competing for the ball in contestable phases. These contestable phases include scrums
(to a lesser extent) and lineouts, but more particularly, rucks and mauls and at the
tackle. It also involves keeping the ball when we have it, through effective ball retention methods. Going forward is simply moving towards the opposition’s goal-line, bearing in mind that the objective of the game is winning by scoring points. So the thing to bear in mind here is how well we are doing in terms of moving towards the target zone.
It’s not that effective if we are doing all sorts of fancy stuff behind the advantage line, the question is how well are we doing in terms of taking the ball forward. It’s OK to go backwards or sideways, if the end result is going forward. Do we have players running straight? Are they moving towards the opponent’s goal-line, whether quickly, or more slowly?
Supporting the ball carrier is crucial if we wish to go forward. When a player’s progress is halted, supporting players are needed to be able to take the pass and continue the attack. Some questions to ask here are:
are our players supporting the ball carrier quickly enough;
are they supporting with depth;
are they communicating:
are they making themselves available through effective positioning?
are they making themselves available through effective positioning?
Continuity is about maintaining the attack. Clearly, effective support play is important to continuity, but so are running effective lines; recognising and using space; and efficient ball recycling when a tackle, ruck or maul takes place (which necessitates sound body position into contact and good ball presentation). So ask yourself if I'm performing these functions effectively are my team mates? What are you going to do about it if they're not? (But you MUST Stay positive!!!!!!).
Maintaining pressure is important both on attack and defence.
On of offence, this is about attacking clear weaknesses, or attacking in such a way that we create weaknesses whether through mismatches (e.g. backs running at tight forwards) or through creating space through your attack by committing defenders elsewhere.
On defence, pressure is created by having an effective and efficient defensive system which we all understand and adhere to. It’s about making first up tackles and continuing to make them. It’s about cutting down our opponent’s time and space by sound, pressurising defence. So again, ask yourself how well are we adhering to these principles of pressure, both on attack and on defence.
