Articles

Latest Posts

How to organize the roles of your forwards on attack

Nick 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.

How to ‘spy’ on the number 9 at ruck and set-piece

One of the focuses of the professional game on defence is to ‘spy’ on the opposing half-back and minimise their influence on the game. Using examples from the recent Autumn internationals, Nick Bishop details how the ‘spy’ operates.

How to work around a dominant maul defender on attack

The ability to establish a dominant maul defender is key for the defence, and as Nick Bishops details it is equally vital for the attacking side to formulate alternate strategies to overcome that dominance once it has been proven.

How the Professor’s good teachings influenced the All Blacks at Twickenham

Deliberately or not, there was a transmission of essential I.P from the Black Ferns RWC coach Wayne Smith ‘the Professor’ to the All Blacks at Twickenham As Nick Bishop illustrates in this week’s analysisa

How Red Card defence spoiled the Red Rose party at Eden Park

World Cups are won and lost on small but significant tactical nuances as England’s Red Roses experienced in the Women’s RWC final.

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.

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 Women’s World Cup. Nick Bishop breaks down France’s defensive strategies to successfully shut down England’s outstanding centre, Emily Scarratt.

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.

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 Black Ferns recent group match against Wales, as Nick Bishop details in this week’s analysis.

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 experienced player. Nick uses the recent example of All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax with forwards coach Jase Ryan and veteran prop Owen Franks.

Defending a Midfield Scrum

Defence alignment is a ‘common’ mistake in community rugby. Made even more difficult for the defensive team from a midfield scrum as highlighted in this week’s analysis.

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 widened into fully-fledge defensive ‘loopholes’ in their recent Argentina Rugby Championship test match.