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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 one successfully.

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 the production of ‘LQB’.

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 keep all options open, including kicking, to overcome the ‘Offensive claustrophobia’ as it can it can offer the cleanest outcomes.

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 having on on current attack structures.

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.

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 Bishop in this week’s analysis.

How to shuffle the deck close to the goal-line

Analyst Nick Bishop illustrates how the ‘use it or lose it’ mindset now applied (under the new law), to “The ball is played or taken into in-goal by an attacking player and is then held up”, is promoting more attacking innovation.

How to exploit the ELV on defensive scrum-halves [from scrum] – part 2

Nick follows on from his earlier article on how the scrum has now became a favourite weapon of attack and the short-side was the red-hot area target zone.

Why the ‘Dupont’s Law’ change really makes a difference

The ‘Dupont’ law tweaks have already had a concrete impact on the value of the kick return, one which totally belies the relatively small scope of the word ‘tweak’ as Nick Bishop illustrates.

How to build your lineout drive attack in the ‘red zone’

Get creative with your limitations, to turn them into a strength appears yo be Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks mantra as Nick Bishop illustrates.

How to exploit the ELV on defensive scrum-halves

Nick Bishop evaluates the possible effect of the new ELV – shielding of the attacking scrum-half from interference at ruck and maul, introduced at the start of the RC2024.

How to use the use ‘the nail’ to generate LQB

With LQB at such a premium, Nick Bishop examines whether ball-placement after the tackle is a more reliable method of creating it than gain-line dominance.