How often do we hear the groans and cries of “Don’t kick it!” from disgruntled fans every time the ball is kicked away.
It wasn’t long ago that the Waratahs were heavily criticised for the amount of possession they were giving away, embarking on an ‘aerial ping pong’ duel with opposing teams as spectators’ necks swivelled like clowns at Luna Park, waiting for the ball to be plugged down our throat.
For all we knew, we could have been in the stands at Wimbledon or the at the MCG watching that other football code, as we witnessed game upon game of the same low-risk, conservative game plan.
Thankfully, those sighs of frustration are now being replaced by raucous applause and cheers every time a line break is made inside a defensive half, as teams throw caution to the wind and adopt a counter-attacking philosophy that attracts more fans.
As a player, it’s the sort of game I want to be involved in as well. Like the common spectator, I prefer a faster-paced, high-risk style of play, where the ball rarely gets kicked into touch and teams attack phase after phase with the ball in hand.
We all want the same thing.
However, even as the disgruntled gentleman in the 22nd row has remained silent for the past umpteen months, there is more kicking now then there was ever before, as the rise of attacking box, long and short kicks are being employed.
So why aren’t we hearing all the negative connotations usually associated with putting boot to ball?
Teams like the All Blacks have shown you don’t need the majority of territory or possession to win matches. They are extremely comfortable with playing without the ball and backing their resolute defence and a ‘snatch and grab’ counter-attacking game plan to overcome teams, often in the final five to ten minutes of games.
In Round 2 of this year’s Super Rugby tournament, over half of the tries scored came from kicks – cross-field kicks, grubbers, chip and chase, you name it. Even Rebels flanker Scott Higginbotham got in on the act, as he pulled his pitching wedge out from his bag to put the ball on a plate for fullback Jason Woodward.
It’s a skill that is becoming more and more important, as defences become harder to crack. Gone are the days when you could put it through the hands to the winger and score in the corner. The modern rugby player needs to have options, an innate ability to change his mindset, and the footballing skills to deliver in the heat of battle.
Rather than aimlessly booting the ball downfield and hoping for a mistake from the opposition, contestable kicks are being employed in an attempt to get the ball back and it’s these types of kicks which keep us burying our heads in our hands every time the ball goes in the air.
Halfbacks spend countless minutes in training perfecting their box kick, wingers the same chasing them, and as a fullback, one of the most fundamental parts of my job descriptions is to be comfortable and combative under the high ball.
On top of this, restarts and kick offs are now referred to as the ‘third set piece’, behind lineouts and scrums. It’s why positions such as tighthead prop and flyhalf are so valuable in the modern game, as set pieces take up the majority of game time and are so important for teams to lay the foundation for the rest of their attack.
As well as this – and this is why I sympathised with the Waratahs when they were getting it from all angles a few years back – there is always a reason why and when teams kick the ball.
Each week, video analysts, coaches and players all gather and sift through countless hours of footage of past games of the opposition they are due to face on the forthcoming weekend. They identify strengths and weaknesses of their opponents’ game and where they feel they can take advantage and punch holes in their defence and nullify their opponents’ attack and key players.
In relation to kicking, a team like Wales might endorse a ‘blitz’ style defence, where they rush and attempt to suffocate a team’s attack. We often see this in teams that play Quade Cooper, to limit his time and space with the ball, as if given it he can tear teams apart. Kicking in behind this strong line of defence early in games forces defences to rethink their mindset. It’s all part of being smarter than your opponent.
Adaptations to the rules of the game have also reduced the amount of negative kicking taking place. Not being able to kick the ball out on the full when the ball has been passed back into your 22m area has seen the rise in amount of time the ball is in play, which is ultimately what we all want to see. It’s why the amount of time taken at scrum time – to reset, stand, then reset again – is frustrating for players and supporters alike.
I’d like to see that rule being taken even further to not being able to kick the ball out on the full at any stage, but I’m not sure if the IRB, or my lungs for that matter, would be able to cope with it.
Players have also caught on to the fact a penalty advantage is a ‘free play’ – like a zero tackle in league, they can use it to try something (like a chip, cross field kick), and know that if it doesn’t come off they can always come back for the penalty.
This has led to the sight of the 10 dropping back in the pocket and having a shot at drop goal diminish as teams go for five instead of three.
However, and we Aussies don’t need to be reminded of this, a drop goal can win a Test match, or even a World Cup was it? I don’t remember.
The bottom line is that teams will do anything to win matches, even if it means kicking the leather off the ball and upsetting their supporters.
We play the game to win, and will do anything to get the desired result.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
Cheers Adam, however those of us who have watched our provincial and national sides kick themselves out of contention for quite a few years now tend to come down quite hard on any attempt to praise the kicking game. To make things worse we have not had dominance in the lineout either so the touch lines have not helped at all. The definition of an !d!ot is "someone who keeps trying the same thing expecting a different outcome" and that would describe quite a few game plans. BTW the above definition has a cooling off period of three attempts, after that - it's true.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Not being able to kick out on the full would result in more kicking and as soon as I was in range I would be bombing into their 22 all game.
Agree Adam, sadly we see few of them come off these days. The Sharks had a brilliant try from a line out in week one. There was another this weekend that was sublimely taken, can't remember who scored it though, probably getting too old now. ;)
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Hear Hear. Listen to this man, he knows what he is talking about.
Adam D'Arcy
Expert
All relevant points as well as great coaching tips! I agree that you have to be able to lay the foundation of a solid rugby game before you can choose to be clever/tricky with small kicks etc, however was explaining that these kicks (even outside NZ) are being employed early on in games to counter act the strong defensive structures of teams so that the structure can be more effective. The main thing you are coached is to always kick on the front foot, not when your going backwards, even if you are getting pressurised heavily, take time and work to get into a position where your kick can be more effective.
Adam D'Arcy
Expert
Thanks for your insight. In regards to the body type of players changing, I wouldn't think it would as quick line outs are always taken and forwards will always need their size and strength for set piece and the general physicality of the game which is getting tougher and tougher. It would however place a heavier importance of the use of replacements, and coaches would have to juggle this, like league had to do when the new interchange rule was introduced a few years ago.
Adam D'Arcy
Expert
agree 100% with the chances of scoring diminishing after more than 3 phases, that's why such an emphasis is placed on set piece as its a chance to attack against a set defence that has to be back 5 metres at scrum and 10 at lineout. There is nothing better than working on a set move at training and it coming off in a game.
jeznez
Roar Guru
exactly - the complaints about the Tahs were less about the amount of kicking and more to do with the fact they were dumb kicks. * Work the ball a few phases and then once you have left the 22 kick it? Might mean you were having a go but if you do that every time - then its dumb. * Play a few phases and build an overlap then kick? That is dumb * Kick the ball down the middle of the pitch instead of aiming for touch - could be an intelligent move but if you do it without an organised and committed kick chase - then its dumb * Get in a kicking duel when the opposition has much bigger and more accurate kickers than you do - dumb * Have your halfback continually box kick when he is no good at it? Dumb Kicking is part of rugby and when executed well is a critical part of the game plan - but that doesn't excuse poor kicking, whether that is poor skills, plans or decisions. If a team consistently kicks badly then they will be criticised. And rightfully so. That Waratahs era of play does not warrant defence - the kicks were bad and Barnes was at the heart of it.
Markus
Guest
Took the words out of my mouth, aimless is definitely the key word. Seeing your team soak up 10+ phases in defense in their 22, force a turnover and clear it 70+ metres down field and into touch is fantastic to watch. Seeing your team's tactical kicking amount to nothing more than kicking quality front foot ball directly down the opposition fullbacks throat and hoping for the best, as was the case with the Waratahs during those years, is the stuff aneurysms are made of. I'd say aimless anything is horrible to see in your team. Aimless hit-ups one pass off the rucks, that result in over 20 phases of possession with no gain or even losing ground, or aimlessly spreading it your wingers every single phase only to see them well marked and ushered into touch is just as frustrating to watch as any other aimless play.
Mick the Clown
Guest
I do not mind kicking so much. - A good clearing kick from your goal line is a thing of beauty. What I think most people object to is AIM-LESS kicking. When the ball is kicked away because there is nothing on, the support does not know its on the cards. Typical of the Wallabies throughout 2011-2012. Or George Smiths Wallabies career with regular aimless kicking grubbers through the line when no-one knew it was on. Or Genia's box Kicks through out the WC It is the Aim less kicks that everyone objects to
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
You mean go back to normal shapes and sizes don't you. By going professional we have introduced the sculpted and cut. By allowing replacements the same. Muscles and the mental agility to play fast Rugby can be mutually exclusive and this (if true) has dumbed down our game.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
As you indicated in your article: IF your possession-based and/or counter-attacking games are locked-up, solid, formidable and on tap then you can afford to kick the ball away because there will always be an opportunity. IF however you have been coached outside of New Zealand then those skills are not on tap and any attempt to emulate their tactics will lead to years of bitter disappointment. Your team has to be able to play full on Rugby first, then you can toy with the opposition. part. def: solid Rugby. Fast ruck ball is everything - never get isolated; anticipate what the halves need and do it with speed; expect the ball at all times - hands always ready, btw knock-ons always have a tiny bit of fear behind them - do whatever it takes to secure the ball, so your mates don't call you chook; you will be tackled - expect it - don't get owned, getting the ball back is the most important thing, not two more wrestled inches; all turnovers are a team failure; kicking away good possession is just another way of saying - that's it I'm tired mentally - no more ideas coming; when you have a two try advantage forget all the above and let the opposition have a go (? yeah... right); &c.
Steve
Guest
Please don't eliminate kicking. I agree that we don't want to get to the point of rugby league where there's about 70 kicks per match but it's still an important skill.
Turnover
Roar Guru
Not being able to kick the ball out on the full is an interesting concept. We may end up changing the body types of players though without meaning too because keeping up with the play would require a higher level of fitness and greater mobility.
Rugby is a living entity that evolves all the time, most teams pressurises opposition with some form of a rush defence, that means the space is behind the rush defence. At some point teams will again use more sweepers or find other ways to close doen the space brhinf them and then teams will adapt and find a new variation on an old theme, much like the All Blacks have shown with evolving the kicking game SA have been accused of for more than a decade. What has been interesting is that statistics have shown your odds of scoring tries after the third phase dimishes your chanes of scoring a try by each additional phase, and added to that teams win more games these days with less than 50% possession than teams who have more possession. It is also evident from watching rugby these days counter attacks are the best manner to score tries as this is the best time to attack unorganised defences.
Johnno
Guest
I like kicking, or attacking kicking. So many fans seem to want just hit-ups and running, kicking is a skill-set of rugby, that is exciting. Field-goals, a big frans steyn boot, love it.