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Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/08/2010 10:28:49
Posts: 16,
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Hi lads and lasses,
I've been reading for a while now but I have a question that's been bothering me for a while.
Why do top level SHs take steps before passing the ball from the back of rucks/scrums?
I can understand if the ruck isn't secure/ball isn't clean but it happens far too often for me.
Surely quick ball to the backline or a forward is better use of the ball than the potential of fixing a defending forward and going through the gap? Especially in high level rugby where the defensive patterns are set in place around the breakdown very quickly. 
Mike Phillips/Blair being on the Lions tour has brought this to the fore at the minute. 
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 22/03/2010 11:47:26
Posts: 10,
Visits: 70
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| I completely agree. With defences on top and space at a premium, I am always surprised when S/Hs do this. They tend to pick the ball up, stand up, shuffle two steps and then pass. Mike Phillips is a prime example. I have heard that it keeps defenders close round the fringes. I don't think this is a good enough reason to deny the whole backline time and space. Help anyone?
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 19/08/2010 13:43:47
Posts: 52,
Visits: 110
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I don't quite get it either. I can see if they are playing the ball to a pod or individual forwards attacking the edge of the ruck defense -- the SH occupies the ruck defenders and creates an opportunity, creates a gap or occupies defenders there.
But when delivering the ball to 10, it seems to put an awful lot of pressure on 10, by allowing the defensive line to come up and cut down the space while 9 is prancing around (and I used to be a #9, so I use the term "prancing" in the best possible way!  )
I wonder if it is used to hold a drift defense, as the defenders inside 10 can't drift off to help 10's inside? Just a guess...
Nipper
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/06/2009 20:39:09
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Visits: 132
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| I dont agree at all with a s/h who delays the ball to 3/4s. This will give enough time to get at attacking opponents , danger of HOSPITAL pass,not enough room for Individual SKILLS,and the worst is the ball and player BEHIND GAIN LINE Very Negative Rugby. Maurice Perera ex Sri Lanka player;
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Supreme Being
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 12/08/2010 15:25:53
Posts: 250,
Visits: 1,631
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| The step and pass has some relevence but is often a problem of poor ruck ball in the first place. A scrum half can only pass off the ground with relative clean, go forward ball. The run and pass is effective though in certain circumstances and every scrum half should have a number of passes in their armoury. I spent six weeks working on two bright Osprey U18 9s about two years ago. They had a firm skills base from the skills coach, but we worked on the variety of passes, with the ball coming from all sorts of places and from different pressures. What was interesting about working with these boys was their willingness to improvise and find solutions. They didn't rely on a stock pass. What they did do was pass, pass, pass and from different positions.
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 19/08/2010 13:43:47
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Dan, can you please give a little overview of a situation where the "scoot" and pass is a preferable option, and what they're trying to achieve with it?
I think many view this as a deficiency on the 9's part, but few realize that there's a deliberate tactic involved.
That said, there's a few high-profile 9's who overplay this option a bit.
Nipper
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 10/06/2010 12:40:18
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| Watched Mike Phillips play against The Sharks on Wednesday - his service was a lot crisper off the base and did not move away from the base proir to delivering his pass. IMHO I thought the back line was far more fluid. Jonesy
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 25/06/2009 11:19:32
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| How often to you see a ball at the base of a ruck perfectly positioned for the scrum half to make the classical sweep pass of the floor? Ball in such a position would invariably be classed as out and the 9 would be fair game. All too often the 9 has to dig the ball out anyway. The ruck has become such a shambles that there is no alternative ; until we see the ruck replicating the definition and illustration of it in the Laws, I can see no alternative, in most cases, to the step back and pass or the pick and dart.
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 19/08/2010 13:43:47
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It may just be me, but I think the confusing part is the lateral steps that 9s like Phillips take, rather than the backpedal to clear the ball from the back of the "muck".
Any insight as to the reasons for the lateral steps? I believe it's to engage and hold the ruck defenders, particularly the 3rd ruck defender who's targeting the 10, but I'm not completely sure.
If this is correct, it seems like a bit of a trade-off -- you engage the 3rd ruck defender, but allow the defensive line to come up and cut down the back line's space. You create space for 10, but cut it down for the rest of the backs...
Nipper
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 19/08/2010 13:43:47
Posts: 52,
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Question:
Was Philips' try on Saturday a result of the scrumhalf's technique of moving laterally to hold or attack the ruck defense?
Or was it just a recognition of the ruck defender "cheating" out and not holding his channel?
Nipper
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