NRC coaches need to be bold and go for it

Thanks Andrew. Good pointers Noticed in at least couple of games this week - 101 scrum resets at 5m, as the teams get more serious about winning ie not losing. Not innovative - I think they need to read your article. I believe the first round of innovation is founded on a base game, where the team captures and flawlessly delivers best practices Secondly, they differentiate by adopted new methods based on the base game Finally, they transform the game by introducing methods that others dont have the capability to handle Though they dipped badly in the 80s Cowboys were already one of the best franchises in the game. NRC teams are at a stage where they are setting their base game.

Randwick rugby club were the great innovators and encapsulates the wallaby aura. Not now but the legacy sees Aust great coaches now

There is a link between individuality and creativity. There is also a link between creativity and environment. In other words an environment conductive to creativity produces creative people. In the context of the NRC that environment would include management, coaches and players from the CEO down to the water boys. We need to look at creating the right environment or the right culture. New Zealand is a good example of both.

Agreed. The basics are important though, and as I was at the wallabies game last week it's apparent that we need the basic skills. The NRC should provide that and allow some gambles as well.

Don't get me started on runners coming from depth or my pet hate of 1/2 backs waiting at the back of a ruck and pointing to the player they want to pass it to just in case the defence didn't already know. I would love to see a simple 5/8 to inside centre run around just like mark ella on the grand slam tour. So hard to defend against if done at speed.

Thanks Sheek, I've read with interest a few of your articles and thoroughly enjoyed them. I've been posting for a few weeks under "RT" but decided it was time to have a go at writing myself. I have had the opportunity to be coached by some good coaches in my time Dave Brockoff, Rupert Rosemblum, Michael Hawker, Jake Howard, Matt Williams, Steve Tyunman and a couple of kiwis of note but by far and away the most visionary I have ever come across was Geoff Mould. His simple flat line quick passing theory was hard to play but when it came off not many teams could defend against it. One thing I do know is that a coach, like a good CEO has to have a vision and has to get his staff (players) to buy into that vision. I have been surprised lately when talking to a few Super rugby players I know about how much disharmony there is in certain franchises and even at wallaby level. Some teammates not even talking to each other. I think one of the reasons teams succeed, in fact the major reason, is the spirit of camaraderie that comes with everyone putting in their best effort. It came as no surprise to me this year to hear waratah players speaking so highly of the spirit in the team. I love the story about the senior all blacks sweeping up the sheds at the end of each game. It makes it so much harder to dislike a team with such great culture.

We need more coaches who question things. Why do teams do that? Why don't teams do that? The Tahs for example, obviously practised their timing on kickoffs. Filey lifted the ball up, paused, then kicked. It was a clear routine, and it was the time it took players to just about reach the half way having started from their won 10m line. That's one innovation. I watch thinking why do teams pass it to stationary ball runners? Why can't they time their run? Well, again, the Tahs started to this year. I watched my kid's team this year (14s, some very good players) and thought they could seriously improve their attack and be unstoppable if they could just: - have a half back who can take a step or two sideways to commit forwards to him and decide whether to pass (and who to) or run himself - and they do have a half back good enough, they just need to teach him the pattern - have the option of a forward runner to pass it to, the 5/8 to pass behind to, and an inside forward runner - that's 3 players in motion, and possibly one on the other side - andd they have at least 4 good forward running options - get 3 forwards to the breakdown as the attacker hits the ground, then clear the ball as soon as those three forwards get past the ball or knock the defending challengers to the ground - have the 12 propping at the defensive line and pipping to the very good 5/8 looping around with god quick backs outside Get this good, not perfect, and no defence at that age could stop them. And their players are good enough to do it. I'd love to get my hands on them once a week for 3 weeks, and I reckon they'd get the hang of it. They have good coaches there, but I think they have to work so much on the basics that they forget to arrange these simple but effective patterns of play.

I remember watching the Brumbies around that time thinking this is how teams play when the hooter has gone and they need to retain possession indefinitely, but the Brums do it all game. It's amazing how well teams used to go after the siren doing that, whereas now teams are used to it. Whilst it was innovative, I don't think it was risky or that attacking. I do agree though that it was the blueprint for how most teams play today.

Andrew, Excellent opening article from a 'newbie.' Very impressed indeed & thoroughly enjoyed the read. Agree with the sentiment. Most modern coaches are too obsessed with "protecting" their contracts. Consequently, they coach conservatively.

Thanks Sheriff. Maybe the idea would be to have look back at some previous back row moves from scrums. Have a look at the Boks v WB's 1992 at Ballymore for a terrific backrow move. I have some ideas for the NRC lineout particularly given the ruling that non straight throws are allowed if the opposition don't contest. I just don't know if the refs would call them up for "not in the spirit of the game".

Andrew, if Abbott can give his lackeys As or A+s you deserve an A++ for your first effort. You make an excellent point. I think that every coach should try something new. The question is, " what is new?" May be we will get back to dribbling the ball as was done in the early days!

We are on the same page. He did not invent pick and drive. I could have gone on indefinitely, but yes, he had players in motion at different angles, etc. His innovation in thinking was doing away with the idea that backs attacked and defended, while forwards fought for possession constantly. In his system, everyone attacked, defended, and committed to breakdowns with equal ability and responsibility. We now take that for granted.

Cheers mate, first pass at an article. Didn't know if it would get published so I was pleasantly surprised. It seems a real contradiction to me that the more professional rugby becomes the more conservative the coaches become. I don't think it has to be a lose pretty or win ugly argument.

Great read thanks Andrew. I think that you have an excellent point and hope to see more innovation in the NRC as it progresses!

I see what you're saying but I think macqueen's idea of keeping possession included players running good lines, passing and supporting each other not just hitting it up from the side of each ruck and going backwards or making just 1/2 a metre. Have a look at how many players the all blacks commit to the breakdown.

The greatest innovator in the modern era - Rod Macqueen. Revolutionised lineouts by splitting them into two jumping pods - get yourself some video of Saffa Super sides in the 90s trying to work out what the hell is going on with the Brumbies leaving a huge gap in the middle of the lineout, it's gold. Revolutionised kick offs spreading backs and forwards equally across the field so the opposition didn't know where to place their catchers. Introduced the idea of the field being in vertical corridors, split forwards into attacking pods, and confounded everyone by showing how to play a fast game with width, but where you retained possession almost indefinitely. The modern game we watch now is largely his brainchild.

Yes....definitely a great opportunity to innovate.