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
How far can you push the boundaries on the kick-chase?The aerial contest is a very important part of our game but when does the contest become dangerous play and an accident waiting to happen.
Nick Bishop analyses the aerial contest’s current form highlighting the recent Springbok All Blacks 1st test.
Why a tight forward needs more than one string to his (or her) bow!One of the main thrusts in the professional era has been to up skill the tight forwards so that they can become attacking threats in their own right, not just providers for the backs.
Nick Bishop highlights Ireland’s Dan Sheehan as a prime example of the modern tight forward evolution.
Why couldn't the ABs defend the short-side?Ireland had no difficulty in creating and exploiting short-sides against New Zealand throughout the entire series.
Nick Bishop illustrates how the Irish achieved this attacking dominance and gestures towards a much more deep-seated problem
How to use the kicking game against 14 menWhy use the kicking game against 14 men?
It is easy to see ‘run’ rather than ‘kick’ when your opponent loses a player to the sin-bin, but as Nick Bishop highlights from recent internationals, there are good reasons to kick.
How the first Test against Ireland challenge the rules of scrummagingNick Bishop provides insight into how the The All Blacks got away with some scrum laws infringements in their 1st Irish test which contributed in their success.
How to use the left-footed kicking game to your advantageA good left boot could help stretch the backfield defence to both corners of the field. The recent tour match between Ireland and the Maori All Blacks was an object lesson in the importance of left-footed kicking.
How to find the pressure points with the midfield kicking gameThe kicking game is employed in between the two 10m lines for attack purposes. However, as Nick Bishop explains, it only really works if you have a specific target in mind.
How to set the tackle trapNick Bishop highlights in this week’s analysis how by setting ‘tackle traps’ the attacking side can help the referee and the game as a spectacle.
Does New Zealand need a true lineout number 8 in the Kieran Read mould?The previously unbeaten Blues lost a total of ten of their own throws to the lineout in their Super Rugby Pacific 2022 final loss to the Crusaders.
Nick Bishop details the key to the Crusaders’ successful lineout plan.
How to use the attacking lineout drive to split the defenceThe maul remains one of the most contentious issues in rugby. Nick Bishop looks at the latest contentious development by a team, in this instance the ACT Brumbies, of playing as far ahead of the ball as possible at the maul.
