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 to get a second bite at the cherry at the breakdownThe recent changes in officiating guidelines at the breakdown outlawed a second move on the deck, and reduced the options at presentation for the ball-carrier. Nick Bishop details how coaches are adapting so players get a second bite at the breakdown ‘cherry’.
The Lineout Drive - Beauty or BeastIs the lineout drive a ‘blight’ on the game or one of the most fruitful areas for set-piece attack in modern praxis.
Nick Bishop provides some analysis from recent 6 nations matches.
How to get into shape on attack and use your ‘spares’ – the modern way!The speed of modern ruck ball has now increased to a point where formations have had to become more flexible to maintain momentum and fan the flames on attack. Nick Bishop details why this has come about and its effect on game.
How to run the “I” formation and mask your intentions on attackNick Bishop details how Italy has extended the ‘I’ attack formation to great effect in their recent international matches.
How to turn a profit from off-the-ball work on kick returnsIt takes a lot of hard work to create a platform to unlock a good opposing kicking game, and the chase which backs it up, on counter-attack.
Using Scotland’s 6 Nations performance against England at the weekend, Nick Bishop outlines what is involved and the potential returns from the off the ball hard work.
Why rugby has yet to find consistency in contact heightNick Bishop investigates why consistently refereeing a tackle height is proving challenging for match officials.
How to split the middle with your kicking gameIn open play as well as from formal restarts, the kick straight up the middle is becoming an increasingly viable option for the side in possession. Nick Bishop explains why this trend has recently started and how it is being executed in this week’s analysis.
How to move the point of contact close to the goal-lineIf you play it safe, it can often lead to the sporting syndrome of ‘tightening up’ psychologically. Typically, sportsmen turn to increased focus on the detail of their performance, a technical hypervigilance – and that only makes things worse.
Nick Bishop looks at the expectations of scoring a try close to the goal-line.
How to use ‘lightning quick ball’ at the Lineout DriveThe principles of LQB and KBA don’t have to be confined to the skills of offloading and quick ruck ball production in open play.
Nick Bishop, Leinster and soon to be Racing 92 analyst, starts the year using footage from the clubs’ recent match, how Lightening Quick Ball can be used at lineout time.
How to organize the roles of your forwards on attackNick Bishop examines the value to a team of coaching with ‘clarity of purpose’ highlighting the All Blacks 2nd half of 2022 campaign with new coaches Joe Schmidt and Jase Ryan clarifying effect.