Nice article
http://www.heavensgame.com/bob-dwyer-analysis/all-blacks-show-the-way-bob-dwyer-analysis
http://www.heavensgame.com/bob-dwyer-analysis/all-blacks-show-the-way-bob-dwyer-analysis
I’m travelling in Europe at the moment – on rugby business – and all the talk around the place centres on the quality of the All Black performance last weekend. Indeed the Springboks were totally outplayed by a focussed All Black performance, which was based on quickly recycled ball at the tackle contest and driving tackles which made it difficult for the Springboks to do the same.
For some years now, I have been posing the question to anyone who will listen, “Do you think that quick recycle ball at the tackle contest will help your attack?” The response has always been, “Of course!” My follow-up question, “Why then do you deliberately slow your own ball down?”, has been greeted with incredulity and perhaps some suspicion.
But this is indeed the truth of the vast majority of rugby performance and coaching around the entire rugby world, at all levels from schools to internationals. I consistently see high level coaches teaching “bridging” at the tackle contest, deliberately slowing down the reuse of their own phase ball.
At all levels, week in, week out, I see scrum halves conduct some weird sort of ritual behind their forward pack, with the ball sitting available at their feet. I saw Danny Care, England’s scrum-half, once take the time to pull up both of his socks, before deciding to clear the ball. Indeed, Will Genia – who was in world’s best form throughout the Super14 season – played in this way, in the recent (losing) test against England.
A couple of teams in the last year or so have made some progress away from this “stop-start” game and moved toward a fluent attacking game.
Those teams, South Africa and New Zealand, have clearly recognised the advantages of such an attack philosophy, and, importantly, the elements which are essential to successful execution of such a philosophy. Accurate support lines are vital – interestingly, superior speed and fitness are not essential; it’s more in the eyes and the mind, rather than in the legs and the lungs. Numbers, especially numbers of forwards, at the tackle contest is another necessary component. This quality was traditionally at the heart of All Black rugby but, until recently, had strangely disappeared from their play. Their (New Zealand’s) performances in the recent Junior World Cup final and in last Saturday’s test, surely have shown the world – hopefully, once and for all – that we have all been going down a false path and we need to urgently change course.
“Continuous Play” is a consistently recurring theme in my Practice Sessions. There is a world of difference between multiple phases of play - remember the Brumbies twenty recycles, going nowhere, in the Super14 final v the Crusaders, a few years back – and the sort of continuous play evidenced by the two New Zealand performances referred to above. This stunningly successful philosophy, with accurate execution, is distinguished by a continuity of pressure, both physical and mental, on opposition defences with a maximum of off-loads and mauls, a minimum of ruck ball and a total absence of “voluntary tackles”.
‘Driving the other mob backwards’ is an essential component of ‘ taking your own team forward’ and New Zealand were well on top in this area. Low body position and good leg drive, in numbers, gave the All Blacks the launching pad for their attacks – and, indeed, halted many Springbok attacks! Keiran Read’s development as a No.8, during his Crusaders’ Super14 season, has been most interesting and has added another dimension to the All Black pack. Tom Donnelly promised much last season and has progressed even further – they’ve been looking for a new lock for a couple of seasons now. Kevin Mealamu looks a lot more trim and focussed, and, consequently, is playing a lot better. I’m not convinced about the All Black scrum, despite the good results which they produced last weekend. Tony Woodcock still has his left hand on the ground a lot of the time and I saw Owen Franks slip his bind more than once, on the tight-head side. Richie McCaw spent most of the night in the front row of his scrum, presumably to help Franks. Alun Lewis and his assistants clearly saw no problem with any of these infringements – or did they remember that Paddy O’Brien will not tolerate any criticism of his old mate’s scrum.
The other outstanding factor which I took from the All Black performance, applied not to ‘ensemble play’, but to individuals. Quality footwork was in evidence right across the New Zealand team, from the front-row to the fullback. Half-breaks consistently picked up a half-metre or more through the tackle line and gave the ‘go forward’ that all attacks are looking for. This is an important and often neglected area of preparation, which all teams at all levels would do well to include. My website has a section entitled SAQ – Speed, Agility, Quickness – which is a comprehensive programme, with specific application to rugby. I instituted this programme at Leicester Tigers, way back in 1997, with outstanding results.
So much for the All Blacks. What about the Springboks?
They started the game well and exposed the All Black defence on the edges of the pack, but after Botha’s yellow card, they were well and truly outmuscled - and it is rare that we can say that. Significantly, there were other occasions of similar importance, effecting both teams, where yellow cards were not given!
I fear that they have a problem with selection. John Smit was way off the pace – again! Fourie du Preez has been impossible to replace, and surely there is a better three-quarter line in RSA than the one chosen last weekend.
There may be one plus for the Boks. Just as Burger’s suspension last year gave Heinrich Brussow his opportunity, Bakkies Botha’s suspension will open the way for Andries Bekker or Danie Roussow and they will serve the team better. There is no place in the game for Botha’s behavoir and it was far from a ‘first offence’.
