Articles
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
Why the English Premiership is ahead of the gameIt is not often that you can say, with confidence, that the UK is leading the world in rugby innovation. It is happening again now as Analyst Nick Bishop explains – not with developments in coaching, but in refereeing.
How to use late movement on attack close to the ruckWhile a great deal of time is spent, and rightly so, on improving the speed of ball delivery from a ruck, it is just as important to focus on the movement around it. As Analyst Nick Bishop explains most rucks create their own geography, and two sides for the attack to explore.
What is the best defence at lineouts?There are always plenty of ongoing debates on lineout defence. Analyst Nick Bishop considers the rationale for each defence pattern option.
Is there a Renaissance in French rugbyOn and off the field, French rugby appears to be in a Renaissance with 2 teams contesting the 2021 Champions cup final and close to winning the last 2 6 nations titles. As Analyst Nick Bishop writes, some of those uniquely French attack characteristics are beginning to work their way back into the mindset of both club and country.
Why the cross-kick is a quick fix for attacking widthThe cross-kick (or kick-pass) is a low-risk way of moving the ball from one side of the field to the other in one movement, without the need for top-drawer handling and passing skills. Nick Bishop looks at the types of kick-passes and their effectiveness.
How to take your kicking game on an upward spiralAt the level of individual technique, some ‘amateur’ techniques which still give added value have been prematurely discarded in the professional game. Analyst Nick Bishop looks at how in the hands of an experienced operator, the spiral punt can still be an effective attack option.
How to look for the transition zones on attackAgainst a defence which is still well-organized, one of the most reliable methods of attack is to seek out the so-called ‘transition zones’ between a forward and a back. Analyst Nick Bishop explains what is and why it is so effective.
Can the new trial kicking laws add value to the game?The pith of the new trial laws is to reduce the impact of defensive line-speed and the number of bodies in the defensive line, by increasing the value of the kicking game to the attacking side. Analyst Nick Bishop looks at how effective they are proving in this year’s Super Rugby.
Will ‘the new breakdown’ encourage the return of the counter-ruck?Following on from his previous article, Nick details if these articles of rugby law are respected, alongside the requirement to maintain a body position with shoulders no lower than hips, considers there is every possibility of a new picture of the ruck emerging.
Is the breakdown really a ruck anymore?World Rugby is still wrestling with the issue of what happens, and what should by law happen after a tackle takes place. In the 1st of a series of articles, Nick Bishop breaks down the issues and possible solutions starting with the ‘jackal’ – the defender who tries to pick the ball up immediately after the tackle has been completed.
