Breakdown
Why it’s hard to overestimate the value of a hard YACKER
Nick Bishop explains What is a rugby YACKA and the important role they play in a team’s attack.
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Nick Bishop
Here's what Nick thinks...
About Nick Bishop
Nick has worked as a rugby analyst and advisor to Graham Henry (1999-2002), Mike Ruddock (2004-2006) and latterly Stuart Lancaster (2011-2015). He also worked on the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and produced his first rugby book with Graham Henry at the end of the tour. Since then, three more rugby books have followed, all of which of have either been nominated for, or won national sports book awards. The latest is a biography of Phil Larder, the first top Rugby League coach to successfully transfer over to Union. It is entitled “The Iron Curtain”. Nick has also written or contributed to four other books on literature and psychology.
“He is currently writing articles for The Roar and The Rugby Site, and working as a strategy consultant to Stuart Lancaster and the Leinster coaching staff for their European matches.”
Nick Bishop's latest articles
Defence
Targeting the key attacker in backline defence
The importance of excellent backline defence was on show in the titanic contest between England and France at the Wom...
Set Piece
How to build the lineout drive on your own terms
Using England’s successful Red Roses lineout Nick Bishop details 2 key features to building an effective lineout drive.
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Attack
The absolute clarity about the ‘where’ and ‘how’ of the attack
Wayne Smith’s highly successful, and exciting, ‘where’ and ‘how’ attack clarity was very much in evidence during the ...
Set Piece
How ‘Turnaround Tyrel’ learned his tall tight-head trade at scrum-time
Nick Bishop highlights the value of the transference of knowledge between coach and a senior player to a less experie...
Set Piece
How to use the ‘15 metre plus’ lineout throw to create attacking success
The Springboks recently discovered some interesting nuances of the lineout law. Nick Bishop details how they rapidly ...
Set Piece
What is the theory behind restarts up the middle?
Why did Australia and South Africa buck the trend and restart up the middle rather than to the corners in their recen...
Breakdown
How to get the most out of your turnover defence at the ruck
Nick Bishop looks at the creative solution All Black coaches have created to overcome captain Sam Cane’s reduced his ...
Attack
How to use the tip-on pass without tipping it off
The tip-on pass off 9 can be effective when you draw the defender up on point opposite your forward receiver. Analyst...
Leadership & Management
The theory of marginal gains in player development
The theory of marginal gains has been around for the best part of two decades. However, Nick Bishop highlights, citin...
