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NH teams look to make a statement against the All BlacksWorld champions New Zealand venture north in the coming days and they will look to extend an enviable record against Europe’s finest. The All Blacks have suffered just three defeats to Six Nations opposition on the 11 tours they have embarked on since Italy joined the northern hemisphere’s premier championship in 2000.
England, Scotland and Wales all have a perfect opportunity to bloody the nose of the world No.1 side in the coming weeks. But how?
Is the spiral kick becoming a rarity?Murray Kinsella recently spoke to Ronan O’Gara about the spiral kick, O’Gara “actually woke up the other night thinking about it. Who’s spiralling the ball now?” Is the spiral kick option becoming a rarity in the game with players not having the confidence to execute the skill under pressure?
USA v New Zealand: a stepping stone to build rugby globallyThe United States will play host to New Zealand at the iconic Soldier Field, the home of NFL side the Chicago Bears, on November 1 in a fixture that is as much a marketing exercise as it is a rugby match and one that it is hoped will propel the game in North America to unprecedented heights.
Murray is the key man for MunsterMurray Kinsella takes a look at how Munster coaches Foley and Walsh are building a game plan around Conor Murray. In Munster’s recent win over Scarlets Murray’s organisation abilities and decision making were key in a remarkable 27-phase passage of play culminating in a try.
Wayne Smith Trailer: The Frontal TackleHere’s the trailer for the latest in the Wayne Smith series, The Frontal Tackle. The feedback from our members has been loud and clear…outstanding content that is really making a difference to individual player and team performance.
In this video Wayne delivers another example of how, with some simple technique and mindset changes The Frontal Tackle can become an important weapon for your team a d turn defence into attack.
On the road with rugby charity Bhubesi Pride in AfricaRichard Bennett is a rugby missionary in the truest sense of the word.
Richard is the founder and driving force behind Bhubesi Pride, a rugby-based charity that organises annual rugby coaching expeditions for education and development in Africa.
The charity has visited ten countries to date on a quest to unite African children through rugby while addressing health education and life skills, empower local people with equipment, resources, training and knowledge and inspire sustainable development.
A closer look at the rucking rulesThe ruck is an interesting aspect of the game, and highlights the demands on referees at the top level.
With the speed of the modern game, and the fact that professional and amateur players will push the laws to breaking point to get an advantage, it’s certainly not an easy job.
Lancaster locked in until 2020For most people it’s difficult to know whether you will have a job next week – let alone 2020 – unless, it seems, you are Stuart Lancaster.
England’s head coach has just put pen to paper on a six-year contract extension with the Rugby Football Union in what can be seen as a ringing endorsement of his achievements both on and off the field since taking charge in March 2012.
Grenoble find French flair in a structured approachFrench rugby has always had something of an issue with structure. However, this season has seen something of a revolution in little old Grenoble, where the structured rugby being coached by Irishmen Bernard Jackman and Mike Prendergast has seen the club introduce their own brand of ‘French flair’.
Savea the trump card in a deck full of acesAnother year, another title for the all-conquering All Blacks.
Saturday’s clinical 34-13 victory over Argentina set the seal on a third consecutive Rugby Championship crown with one round still to play.
Steve Hansen’s side continue to set the standard with a brilliant blend of precision, power and flair perhaps best personified by the phenomenal talent that is Julian Savea.
Wayne Smith: Stay with itImportant message from Wayne Smith – a reminder about what The Rugby Site is all about and why we’re doing it.
It’s a message from a coach – to coaches.
Wayne Smith is passionate about rugby and has set high standards throughout his career as a player and coach. In this short message, he discusses his love of the game, and outlines his vision for The Rugby Site, and what you can do to contribute and grow your own expertise.
Wayne Smith Trailer: The Chop TackleI like to call this the “Chop tackle” because it creates an image of achieving “chop down” to the ground really quickly.
The aim is to isolate the ball carrier by driving them back in the tackle behind the gain line making it difficult for their support players to get back and clean out the breakdown.
Lam's Connacht thrives in Pro12Connacht have racked up three wins from three in the Guinness Pro12 so far this season, with their defensive strength having played a major role in that positive start.
Murray Kinsella analyses Connacht’s stunning 10-9 win over Leinster.
The influence of match analysis in the modern gameMatch analysis has a huge influence in the modern game.
Brendon Ratcliffe explains the history of match analysis, shares his first experiences with analysis software in the early 2000s, and shares his tips for getting video analysis started for your own team.
Premiership bosses hope money can buy happinessGraham Jenkins dissects the implications of Premiership Rugby’s new £5.1m salary cap and expanded home-grown player ‘credits’. Will the new cap keep the big-spending French and Japanese clubs at bay? And will England’s homegrown talent thrive? Or will the new rules see the emergence of a 2-tier league of haves and have-nots?
Mindset of Champions 7: Player MotivationOur Mindset of Champions series continues with an insight into how elite players focus and motivate themselves to continue improving and performing at the top of their game.
We delve into the truly world class mindsets of players like Leigh Halfpenny and Richie McCaw and reveal how they set high standards for themselves every day, their focus techniques before and during games and how they self-review after a match.
The mental aspect of the game is vital for players and coaches at all levels and can make the difference between good and great.
Second-best Springboks?South Africa ran the All Blacks close in The Rugby Championship this weekend, adding to their credentials as the second ranked team in the IRB rankings a year out from Rugby World Cup.
Maggie Alphonsi on her World Cup win and retirementMaggie Alphonsi, The Rugby Site contributor, talks to us about winning the World Cup, the drive that got her and the team there, and her thoughts on retirement.
New Wayne Smith Trailer: Contesting your own high ballThe second in this new series of rugby coaching videos from Wayne Smith is about contesting your own high ball.
“It’s a really difficult skill to develop in your players… but it’s a really great skill to work on because there is a great outcome if you can win the ball back.” – Wayne Smith.
Check out the trailer:
Premiership is the hot ticketWith the World Cup only a year away and the RFU keen to increase the fan base, The Aviva Premiership is in the spotlight. Will we see fast, running rugby and a torrent of tries?
Premiership clubs roll out artificial turfNewcastle Falcons’ decision to install a hi-tech artificial pitch at Kingston Park makes them the second club in England’s top flight to ditch a traditional grass playing surface. The new generation of materials promises a faster and more entertaining game, and safety concerns appear to be a thing of the past.
Don't cry for ArgentinaA desperately disappointed Argentina came agonisingly close to their first Rugby Championship victory over South Africa in Salta last Saturday. And it’s not about to get any easier with New Zealand and Australia and thousands of air miles looming in the coming months.
But Argentina are not complaining. They deserve their place in this most brutal of competitions.
Wayne Smith Preview: Receiving the high ballThe first in this new series of rugby coaching videos from Wayne Smith is about high ball work, and specifically about receiving the high ball.
Check out the trailer here:
Mindset of Champions 6: Coaching PhilosophiesNext up in our Mindset of Champions series, we look closely at the coaching philosophies of those who have taken teams to great success.
In this piece we hear from a variety of coaches including Sir Graham Henry, Wayne Smith, Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt on how they coach and develop teams, focus on the fundamentals and how they empower player ownership.
These insights are key for any coach who wants to continue developing themselves and their squads.
Bledisloe draw leaves Aussies with hollow feelingThe Wallabies denied the All Blacks a record 18th consecutive victory with a 12-12 draw in Sydney on Saturday night.
But Australia should have won.
A rare victory would have further fuelled the feel-good factor in Australian rugby generated by the Waratahs’ recent Super Rugby triumph. Instead, the Wallabies find themselves trudging to Eden Park, the graveyard of Bledisloe dreams since David Campese and Simon Poidevin spearheaded the series victory of 1986.
Coming soon: Wayne Smith on winning the ballAccording to Wayne Smith, at least 40% of tries scored worldwide come from turnover ball. In this new series, Wayne shows you how to win the ball off your opponent from high kicks and in the tackle.
Watch the preview here:
France 2014: Women's Rugby comes of ageThe Women’s Rugby World Cup has been a remarkable success, and things have never looked better for the women’s game. France 2014 has seen marked improvements from a number of different countries, in skills, physicality, and athleticism, as well as huge growth in spectator numbers.
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Cheika inspires Waratahs to historic Super Rugby victoryWith the NSW Waratahs’ victory in the Super Rugby final, Michael Cheika is now the first coach to have captured the most-prized domestic titles in both the southern and northern hemispheres.
Graham Jenkins looks at how Cheika’s unconventional approach and management team turned around the ailing franchise.
Mindset of Champions 5: Dan and Richie's CareersFollowing the previous episode on these great player’s lives, we hear from Dan and Richie on their career journeys. From first being selected to play for the All Blacks to their biggest accomplishments and which players they most respect as opponents.
Watch the preview:
