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Coaching techniques need to suit the game

Christian Lealiifano is targeting an upset against the Hurricanes. (Photo: John Youngs photography)
Roar Guru
2nd July, 2015
8

Australian Rugby has become obsessed with the so called ‘Australian Way’ which is supposed to be about running rugby. It is foolhardy, especially in the modern game. You have to have specific players coming through the systems at good rates to be able to carry out that philosophy over a significant period of time.

The best way to approach coaching a rugby team is to utilise the players’ abilities, strengths and physique, rather than committing to coaching them in a pre-determined way.

You are putting yourself under pressure before you have begun and it may not even suit the players that you have inherited if you choose this method.

I have seen youth teams suffer as they have committed to a playing style that doesn’t enhance their skills and get every player involved. That type of approach develops a limited player that doesn’t know how to adapt to various situations.

Too many coaches at the elite level are going about it that way, and they don’t have much else up their sleeves when ‘their way’ isn’t working on the pitch or key components pick up injuries. That way may also not suit the match referee’s interpretations.

There is so much analysis these days, and plenty of tools available to the interested observer. There are games available to look at even for the volunteer coach, and you have to be able to adapt to survive the long game as a coach no matter what the level.

Your team has to evolve and progress. Tactics have to vary for different opponents and the conditions.

France are a good example of a team that has no coaching direction and match tactics, bar a strong scrum and running over players. They appear to be a team that is thrown together with no real combinations by a mad man and told to work it out for themselves on the pitch.

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They boot the ball away aimlessly after a couple of phases so there is no continuity and evidence of any tactics to target opposition weaknesses. A lot of side-to-side attack in to touch as well. When the game is fractured they are deadly, but it doesn’t often occur, particularly in the Six Nations and in big cup matches.

This year certain players – Camille Lopez in particular – have come back from the Test side utterly confused and shot of confidence. Running around like headless chooks for their clubs.

That completely zaps a player’s confidence. Berrick Barnes had it at the Tahs and you could see how miserable he was on the pitch and appeared to not know what to do with the ball.

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