Solid platform to aid All Black line-out woes
By Chris Barclay, 21 Oct 2009 Chris Barclay is a Roar Pro
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A focal point of New Zealand’s disappointing international rugby season, the All Blacks’ lineout, has hardly been put on a pedestal – until now.
The first training session ahead of the end of year tour to Japan and Europe featured a new innovation aimed at improving the accuracy of a facet of the All Blacks’ game that has lurched from solid to shonky and back again during Steve Hansen’s stint as forwards coach.
Head coach Graham Henry inherited Hansen’s brief when the tour party was released on Sunday and he had a new tool at his disposal — a platform system that allows the locks to be stationed at their optimum jumping height without the need for props to lift.
Jason Eaton and Tom Donnelly were the first players to road test the apparatus on Tuesday, they stood in stocking feet as hookers Andrew Hore, Corey Flynn and prop Tony Woodcock aimed at their outstretched arms.
The portable stainless steel platforms were devised by the same company that has kept All Blacks scrum guru Mike Cron equipped with cutting edge machinery.
Henry was tipped off to the use of platforms by assistant Crusaders coach Mark Hammett. Canterbury and the Crusaders use a fixed platform at their Christchurch training base.
It was also recommended by Canterbury’s Flynn, one of two specialist hookers on the tour.
Henry said the platforms were indicative of the measures teams had to take to keep up with lineout supremos South Africa.
Taking charge of the lineout for the first time since his reign at Wales between 1998-2002, Henry said attention to the set piece had changed dramatically.
“The lineouts got a hell of a lot more sophisticated. A huge amount of expertise has gone into lineout, a huge amount of analysis to make the explosiveness of the jump and trying to get people off the ground.
“Now video analysis works out the number of frames it takes to get a guy to the peak of his jump.
“(Victor) Matfield is the quickest in the world off the ground to the peak of his jump,” Henry said, saying the challenge was to somehow match the Springbok.
While the platform is static, it should help the hookers find their range before the lifters take over in the game.
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chochie said | October 21st 2009 @ 5:53am | Report comment
all blacks are making the biggest mistakes of their lives… im sure they’re gonna come out second best in Tokyo
hammer said | October 21st 2009 @ 6:46am | Report comment
Yeah right chochie – the wallabies have been unstoppable this year and the long break will do wonders for them
the wallabies will do well to win half their games on this tour – and there has been no signs that Tokyo will be 1 of them
Arky said | October 21st 2009 @ 7:14am | Report comment
half the games ? you must have a longer list of midweek games than me?
fox said | October 21st 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Now’s not the time to be cocky, chochie.
CraigB said | October 21st 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Im am trying to envisage the tool in questin here. From the sounds of thing the jumpers are standing on a box at there prime jumping height for the hookers to hit. Hardly cutting edge. I used to get the jumpers and lifters down to the goal post to mark their heights on the posts. Then just step out the distance to reflect a jump at 2,4,5 or 6. It isnt that hard and you dont need anyone at all so you can practise for hours if you want. If this is the answer to the AB’s lineout woes then god help them.
The problem with lineout work that people seem to miss that it isn’t about getting higher than you oppn anymore. Now you can lift the high jumping players are no longer the advantgae they once were. You just need to get a step in front of your oppn and catch the ball out in front more than above your head and your sweet. It doesn’t matter who gets up there first if you are in front then you should win the ball. When throwing to the front should start with the jumper starting his jump and the thrower just darting it at him. If hes in front of his man with arms out in front of the eys you will not get beaten. Throws further back require the jumper to jump in time with the thrower and that only comes when the lifters etc are all involved. Not cutting edge apparatus will help that.
Mungehead said | October 21st 2009 @ 10:32am | Report comment
You have to admire Henry’s guts. He’s taken the weakest part of the ABs game and made himself responsible for fixing it, at the same time leaving himself open to criticism if the ABs don’t improve across the board. It could be either his death knell or a master stroke. Only a marked improvement in the lineout without a corresponding decline in other areas will vindicate this audacious move. Whether it’s insane or inspired, only time will tell.
ohtani's jacket said | October 21st 2009 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Maybe the Wallabies will give the All Blacks a shock and contest the lineouts.
Who Needs Melon said | October 21st 2009 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Only if we get some of them platforms OJ. What’ll they think of next, eh? The wonders of modern technology. Wow.
ohtani's jacket said | October 21st 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Indeed. What will man think of next? http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/Abs_300x200.jpg
Stash said | October 21st 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
It makes sense to practice ball placement – new technology – what rubbish – it’s a glorified step ladder.
ABs lineouts have been horrendous for years – (which makes our win record even more impressive), so there is only one direction that Henry can go – upwards.
Calls and timing are important – but its the throw ins which seem to be the most mind boggling bunch of rubbish year in, year out. Even Oliver couldn’t throw the ball straight and to the man. ABS are normally such bad throwers that they resort to throwing the 50/50 to the front of the line-out. Its handwringing for supporters.
Did someone suggest that the rule book says that any player may throw the ball in – is this true?
ohtani's jacket said | October 21st 2009 @ 11:37pm | Report comment
Glorified step ladder. Love it!
chochie said | October 21st 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
wallabies will definitely win in Tokyo and complete the Grand Slam.. the elements that have been missing are now there, a good winger (digby Iaone), the rightful captain and the right playmaker Berrick Barnes provided Robbies Deans does swap him with Giteau.
ohtani's jacket said | October 21st 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Hell yes. With those sort of changes, there’s no way they can lose. The other teams might as well forfeit. What are the All Blacks thinking? They’re making the mistake of their lives playing Australia again.
Knives Out said | October 22nd 2009 @ 12:12am | Report comment
You’re a basketball fan, OJ. Did you ever see those adverts (I think in ‘Slam’ magazine, but I presume in other publications too..) for platform shoes that were meant to help improve your vertical leap?
ohtani's jacket said | October 22nd 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
I don’t read any basketball magazines, but anti-gravity boots may be the way of the future.
Ben J said | October 21st 2009 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
Matfield and co must be having a good old chuckle at this new “technology” No, what you need are at least 4 jumpers at say 6 foot 5 who can all contest the lineout. That is called “options”, then you must have a shrewd operator who is a master tactician that can decifer opponents calls. Add to the mix a hooker that can actually drop the ball on the preverbial penny. Hey presto, I just described the Springboks.