Trouble gettng the ball to our winger from first phase ball

PhilipCoach, Ireland

Have you considered overloading the defence, 2/3 quick rucks tight in and then spread the ball when you have sucked defenders into the rucks. Also, I suspect you know this - but it`s worth saying... depth gives you speed and time - so your players need just enough depth to give them time to react to what they are seeing. It`s great that you have speed on the wing, but they need a little space to attack, or a 2 v 1 for when the ball gets out there, your attack should be designed to create that space, and the 2 v 1 situations. I hope this helps and makes sense!

Ian StewartCoach, Ireland

Hi John, what are the vision and passing skills like of your 10, 12 & 13? If they have good vision and can pass off either hand then you may want to bring your speedsters into play in other ways to "fix" defenders?

Maybe try running your blind-side winger as 1st receiver from set play - send him hard and fast at the space between 10 & 12 and use quick ruck ball to send a full backline at a retreating and under-staffed defence?

Another alternative is to have multiple lines of runners, e.g. the 12 in a potential cut back or switch, the 13 on an "unders" line while the short-side wing tracks from blind to open as a potential receveiver of a pass behind the 12 or 13?

The pragmatic approach of course is to put a variety f kicks through or over the rapid defenders and force them to hang back a bit in case of the potential kick, or revert to forwards committing inside defenders first, so you have a mixture of defenders instead of a "clean" backline defence.

Hard to be specific on what to do without a good knowledge of the skills and abilities of the team you have. Hopefully something in that list may be of use.

All the best with it!

Ian.