Another new season had come upon us yet again. Some players came back training early, others didn't. The Development Cup always comes upon us with a bang and never a game played, that would be a must when we could actually challenge in the cup.
We submitted our name to the cup draw, but somehow the branch mislaid the entry and we missed the draw. It was only after some delicate negotiations, we were entered.into the cup. And are grateful to those involved in our reinstatement The Seniors were drawn against Moyne C.S., a team name recognised by Mark Daly, our 1st player to represent the school (and not a club) in the Leinster Metro team. They had just won the Development Junior Cup. It might be worth pointing out that the aforementioned Mark Daly would not be available to play in this match.
We had training that evening, just after finding out the draw. Word had got round there was a match in the offing, there were almost 30 bodies there. Seenan, Phillip Hall, Ali Awais and Eisse had rejoined, and we had some new recruits, we started with touch, and quickly moved on to scrag. Tempers began to warm and players were throwing themselves into charges, into tackles, into play.
Unfortunately there was no traditional 1st reciever (the outhalf), come to that there was nobody in the squad that could release a pass at the right time. A sad thing to admit, but just another hurdle to overcome.
The next training was called for the next Monday, ahead of our game on the Wednesday. The weekend was long, full of thought, how can we even match this team that comes from Longford with their abilities. How do we get a strategy to play that suits the team we have, a brave set of souls but none to generous especially when it comes to passing the ball out.
HHMMM ..... ARRGggghh ....... ehhhhhhhhhh.......... aaaaahhaahhhh !!!! SHOTGUN RUGBY!!
This is not a play, this is a way of play! This must be bought into by all players.
What it is
A direct, simple yet structured gameplan in attack.
Requires honest rugby players that will run a plan of attack
Why it is
There are so many different physiques needed for the different attributes that make up a rugby team, there are different personalities, different intelligences that make up rugby players, balancing these attributes are very important in deciding the strategy for your team. The group of players I have are, with some exceceptions, lads that like rugby cos its simple and cos they don't mind the contact. Well thats most of my lads covered (the exceptions are there to get out of school come match day).
The next training was called for the next Monday, ahead of our game on the Wednesday. The weekend was long, full of thought, how can we even match this team that comes from Longford with their abilities. How do we get a strategy to play that suits the team we have, a brave set of souls but none to generous especially when it comes to passing the ball out.
HHMMM ..... ARRGggghh ....... ehhhhhhhhhh.......... aaaaahhaahhhh !!!! SHOTGUN RUGBY!!
This is not a play, this is a way of play! This must be bought into by all players.
What it is
A direct, simple yet structured gameplan in attack.
Requires honest rugby players that will run a plan of attack
Why it is
There are so many different physiques needed for the different attributes that make up a rugby team, there are different personalities, different intelligences that make up rugby players, balancing these attributes are very important in deciding the strategy for your team. The group of players I have are, with some exceceptions, lads that like rugby cos its simple and cos they don't mind the contact. Well thats most of my lads covered (the exceptions are there to get out of school come match day).
What it is
Barring set restarts, when the ball is in play we are all the same player!!
Except for 9
The nine
- will service every ruck,
- will look up and out
- will not take and go
- will look back and in
- will only pass to players that are moving
- will pass flat
Everyone else is charged with one of 3 duties
- Carry the ball hard into contact
- Be 1st support
- Clear out
Players should organise themselves into pods of 3, 1 ball carrier 1 driver/stepover man, 1 safeman, in attack
Ball carrier to drive into the most contact that they can involve themselves with, driver to hit a stood tackle driving our man through, or stepover a tackle claiming the ball. Safeman should be available for offloads, but is more often employed being 3rd man into the collision and makes the ball safe by locking the ballcarrier by the shirt to the the stepover man
All players must be wary of taking the ball in to contact and being held up. Please fight to get to the ground. If you cannot get to the floor and a MAUL is established we then require all players to join the maul and Drive.
Only the 9 should pass.
This seems like the most strange ideas, in fact it defines this tactic completely. As a starting block we have some very brave lads, but not having enough rugby played to throw around a ball. They never passed in games, okay they did, but it was occasional!
On the other side players are sure that they are not going to recieve a pass and can get on with their other duties. They know that they will get the ball from the nine, as he is not allowed pick and go. This is something they could never be sure of befote .... getting a pass. Seems like an even stranger idea.
We should continue going the same direction until we get to the 5m line. There are other options, pass short or pass longer.
If after fielding a kick in play if any of the returners manage a few passes this is completly acceptable, time for fizzy rugby on the counter !!
In defence
Each player take a place in a line off the back foot of the ruck. When they advance with ball in hand, we push up, make the tackle, preferably just 1 tackler, (if so 2nd man should compete for the ball), 2 left and 2 right to protect from the pick and go, rest of the team line up covering the inside men 1st.
The 15 is the traditional full back, but he is assisted in the short court by 14. This means the 15 covers back as far as they can kick the ball, able to run onto ball is better, the 14 covers the wing furthest from the oh and needs to fall out of the line to cover dinks over the top & be 1st sweeper.
If after fielding a kick if any of the returners manage a few passes this is completely acceptable, time for fizzy rugby on the counter !!
tactics
lineout
At line out time we will take 5 players to the lineout, incl 9. 1 hooker, 2 lifters, 1 jumper and a 9. The jump happens where the jumper and lifters want it, hooker throws. We would want a few options
There is no need for a defensive line out tactic as we will not give them any lineouts
Hold for a bit, off set their defences
Up and down and let the lifting pod & hooker maul/attack up the middle
Flash it to 2 or 9
The rest of the team organise 3 pods, the pods again are the 3 lads but each pod lines itself in 1 of 3 positions.
Always kick left on all kickoffs
It keeps the right footed kicker keeping the chasing line in check
Ball cushioned by their weaker hand, chance of knock-ons
If they do secure ball, passing off weaker hand, real opportunity to ramp up super pressure
scrums
- blind on the 5
- inside the 15
- outside the 15
Always kick left on all kickoffs
It keeps the right footed kicker keeping the chasing line in check
Ball cushioned by their weaker hand, chance of knock-ons
If they do secure ball, passing off weaker hand, real opportunity to ramp up super pressure
scrums
A strong scrum, would do well in any style of rugby, we will want the scrum to secure our own ball, and take so opposition put ins. Off the back 8 should take the ball up often especially if it has worked earlier.
10 run a line in hard tie up backrow forwards, 12 1st reciever at pace close to the last ruck, break the line break free
Penalty decisions
If we are in the center of the park, Run
Side of the park kick for touch.
If you can kick for the posts you can.
So this is shotgun rugby,
