Breakdown
How to make hay in the grey area at the defensive breakdown
To say that Leinster are playing closer to the line at the breakdown in recent times is an understatement. Leading an...
Insight & analysis
Articles
Deep dives on the modern game from The Rugby Site's contributors and coaches.
Set Piece
Skrum, skrum, skrum: what is the future of the scrum after RGR 3? – part one
Refereeing culture and background clearly make a huge difference to the officiating of the scrum As Nick Bishop expertly illustrates a sp...
Analysis
Will All Black smarts outperform Springbok brawn in the RGR series?
There is more at work in this series than just a contest between the two best teams in the world, it is a battle for the future of the ga...
Latest posts
Attack
Upwardly mobile or treading water? Are Razor’s All Blacks still on trend?
Has Scott Robertson’s All Black’s abandoned Sir Wayne Smith’s highly successful ‘counter attack’ principles? Nick Bis...
Leadership & Management
What is the best solution to an eight-man bench?
How to get best use out of an eight-man bench? Nick Bishop looks at how teams are balancing their bench to suit their...
Breakdown
What defines the impact and effectiveness of a Jackaler/Pilferer?
In this week’s analysis, analyst Nick Bishop breaks down the key metrics that define an effective jackaler/pilferer, ...
Attack
What the new ‘escort’ rules mean for aerial contestables
The new rules for ‘escort runners’ has created an unintended consequence and a far more open and less structured sit...
Attack
How to use the new scrum guidelines to free your attacking #9
Nick Bishop outlines how new rules for the defending 9 at the scrum have created more 8/9 attack options.
Set Piece
How to make a point with your 5m driving maul
A positive ‘red zone number’ relies on an effective 5m lineout drive. Nick Bishop explains what it takes to execute o...
Breakdown
How to implement the ‘double jackal’ on D
Nick Bishop details how under the 2020 breakdown guidelines the ‘double jackal’ has become an important antidote to t...
Attack
Why a counter-intuitive kick can be the red zone panacea
Using last weekend’s France vs Wales 6 Nations match Nick Bishop illustrates why it is important to open the mind and...
Attack
How to work a modern pod system with LQB
Modern pod systems have been transformed by the new breakdown guidelines. Nick Bishop looks what effects they are hav...
Set Piece
Why the new ‘escort’ rules will revive contestable kick-offs
Nick Bishop examines how the ‘no glove’ kicking defence has revived the interest in contestable kick-offs again.
Attack
Why more access to the high ball makes for a better game of rugby
Removing the ‘glove defence’ results in a much cleaner and quicker development of the play, as evidenced by Nick Bish...
