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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.
Danny Cipriani's instinctive attacking causes havocOn Saturday in the Aviva Premiership against Gloucester, Danny Cipriani brilliantly manufactured three scores in the opening 40 minutes. Then, much later in the contest, he scythed through to land his side’s fourth for good measure.
These video clips and screenshots demonstrate how his instinctive attacking excellence caused havoc.
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?
