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How far can you clean out ahead of the ruck?

What is considered too far for support players clearing out?
A ‘reasonable’ distance with ‘advantages’ as Nick Bishop details in this week’s analysis.

How to use the reverse-pass to split the wood up the middle

Nick Bishop explores how a sussessful old move – the reverse pass, is gaining popularity to open new defences.

How to shave the odds by narrowing the gap at lineout time

Lineout defence is becoming ever more important in the modern game, as the lineout becomes the by far the major weapon of choice for set-piece attack.
Nick Bishop details ways in which teams are successfully defending the Lineout.

How to run same-way attack with angled cleanouts

It is always nice when circumstances come together to make theory absolutely limpid, and crystal clear in practice.
It is even better when they do it in such a way as to tie more than one theme together at the same time.
As Nick Bishops connects recent analysis with a recent super rugby match.

How to find the right angle at cleanout time

Is the breakdown cleanout NFL blocking by another name?
Nick Bishop provides some weight to Offensive Linemen techniques being employed in this week’s analysis.

Why defence begins behind the goal-line, not in front of it

The new trial laws brought in on 1st August 2021 not only increased the effective attacking width of the field with the 50/22 kicking rule, but as Nick Bishop highlights they also extended its depth.

How to find scenarios to make the 50/22 work

The 50/22 kick is beginning to grow in value as the different scenarios in which it can be an Attack option are recognised more clearly.
Nick Bishop details some recent examples in this week’s analysis.

Why rugby news travels fast in the global game

A prop in the back field returning kicks in Australia Super rugby one week and in then the 6 Nations the next!
Nick Bishop explains how it has come about and why?

Anatomy of a try: how kicking duels create countering chances

Why is defence and the kicking game so important?

Analyst Nick Bishop explains why and how its lead to constructing an effective attacking game.

How to make a same-way attack really work

The most basic version of attacking in the professional era is the so-called ‘same-way’ or ‘around the corner’ attack.
Analyst Nick Bishop details how to really make this attack work.

Is the box-kick exit going out of fashion?

How to successfully pressure the box? Nick Bishop illustrates how teams are now finding ways to pressure the box kick even with ‘caterpillar’ protection.

Why do you need ball-playing forwards to create width on attack?

Ball playing tight forwards are the ones creating space in which their backs can flourish. Analyst Nick Bishop details how and the positive results.