Beating Drift Defenses 1

8/3/2019 Beating Drift Defenses 1

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BEATING THE DRIFT

By

PHILIP COPEMAN

The author has been coaching rugby and gridiron since 1989 and played gridiron as an

Offensive Tackle. He is currently assistant coach for defence at Primrose Rugby Club inCape Town. He has a website atwww.ironrugby.com if you wish to look in greater detail

at his ideas.

In the diagrams,D is the full-back (or diveback in gridiron terms). Fis the fly-half.

The drift defensive system, born and bred in rugby league, has weaknesses that, whenproperly exploited, will show it up for what it is a crude, one dimensional system that is

easily beaten. It is the most widely-used defensive system and all coaches will come

across it, but it can be beaten.

Some of the solutions presented here require a major coaching commitment and are a

departure from the methods familiar to many rugby coaches. You should examine theideas and decide what is possible for your team; this is not an all or nothing proposal.

Definitions

I use a number of terms which context may not be familiar to all rugby coaches.

Rugby: Rugby Football Union.

Option rugby: This is my term for the normal rugby attack, which lines-up theplayers from the set piece or loose scrum and in which each player passes the

ball outwards. In his turn, each player has the option to kick , run or pass if he sees an

opportunity.

League: Rugby League.

Football: Gridiron.

Handoff(Gi): This is not to be confused with a rugby hand-off. This is a gridiron termand involves the receiver being given the ball hard into his stomach. It is pushed there,

not passed.

The drift: Drift defence.

Channels: I use the gridiron numeration for channels - odd numbers on the left, evennumbers on the right. So Channel 2 is the inside channel on the right of the scrum or

maul.

The run and shoot: This is an offensive system found in a number of sports, particularlyGridiron and Lacrosse. Emphasis is on ball retention, with the big play only made at a

suitable opportunity.

The Impi defence: The defence that I recommend as an alternative to the drift. It isbased on the methods of the 19th century African warrior, Shaka Zulu, has three levels

and forces play towards our forwards rather than away from them as the drift does.


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A hit: The process of coming into the tackle with a straight back, head up and across the

opponents body from a lower angle than your opponent and driving him upwards andbackwards.

Man-on-man defence.The traditional Rugby Union defence is man-on-man where the defender tackles his

opposite number. Each player shades his opponent from the inside, pushingthe offense out to the side line. If the opposition brings an extra man into the back line,

then the defenders all move over one. The last outside man, unmarked, gets covered by

the fullback.

Forwards get out of the set piece or loose play as fast as possible and make their way tothe breakdown point as fast as possible to try to retain possession. This system worked in

the amateur days, but in the modern game, with forwards often joining the backs in

second phases, it becomes complicated to organize who does what. The man-on-mandefence has given way to the drift in the top level game.

The drift gives an efficient means of countering any extra man that may enter the line.

It is easy to organise and reshuffle according to the way the attackers line up. It also

pushes the attack out towards the sideline where, hopefully, it runs out of space. If a new

player enters the offensive line, the player originally assigned to the gap where the newplayer enters takes on the new player and each defender outside that plays man on man.

All defenders, particularly the forwards, are drifting to the outside. This can happen over

two or more phases. It is typical of League patterns, which are based on six downs withearly attacking from short, sharp plays up the middle. As the number of downs develops,

the plays become more adventurous and move wider.


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History of the drift.Until a few years ago many rugby coaches did not put much emphasis on defence andsome still don't! Fifteen players, if spread out across the field, can cover a great deal of

space.

Laws have been changed to create more space for attackers: there is the ten metre law,

with all forwards included in the line out; full binding for all forwards in the scrum; lawsto help quick rucking; and the advantage law to keep broken play going and to encourage

continuity after turnovers. These, along with the full back and forwards joining the

attacking line, can present many problems with overlaps. This in turn makes it morelikely that defenders will misread their role.

Rugby League has been dealing with overlap problems for some time.With only thirteen

players on each side, there is more space to attack as defence is more thinly spread. TheAustralians, who have a strong domestic game of League, were the first to introduce the

drift and it put a new emphasis on defence. This culminated in the top two defensiveUnion teams, England and Australia, battling in the final of the 2003 World Cup.Countries like New Zealand and South Africa, who were weaker on defence and have a

less significant internal League presence, are finding defence a lot harder to implement.

As the offensive systems develop in the future, I believe the drift will be shown up as

one dimensional. There are many improvements that can be made to the way we defend.

The defensive systems of gridiron are based on complex systems to cope with the fact

that the attacking side can block defenders out of the game as their receivers run into thebackfield to receive a forward pass.

Weaknesses of the drift. The drift is a defence that spreads itself out to handle all options. To beat the drift

we need a plan to attack them at specific points of weakness. We need to initiate

and execute offensive moves from a published play book.

The key to setting up the drift is to make sure that the job of marking the attackingfly half is left to the open-side flank. This means that in a set piece scrum, they

are giving up defenders in the middle to bolster the outside. So the first point ofattack is the inside channel and our attack will introduce a running back

League is a game played at a faster pace with fewer stoppages than Union.Leagueplayers tend to be of uniform size and smaller than the biggest Union players.

Crudely put, everyone is a centre or an open- side flanker. League players are

generally good tacklers whereas Union players are often chosen for a variety ofskills other than tackling. The drift offers a spread out defence but there will

usually be weak defenders.

In League there are a limited number of downs with no kicking at the beginningof a set of six, though pressure increases throughout the set to achieve something

without handing possession back to the opposition. In Union, with no requirement

to hand possession back to the opponents, we must develop a strategy to retain

possession of the ball.


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Current thinking in attack is to line the backline deeply to give it time to developand for the backs to run onto the ball, thinking that plays right into the hands of

the drift. As much as it gives us time to form a play, it also gives the defenderstime to get organised. It brings the contact line into our back field. We need to

line up in a shallow formation and attack the advantage line. There are no rucks and mauls in League. Basically one attacker hits the line and,

when he is stopped, he rolls the ball back through his feet. In Union we can pile

on pressure. Once we have found the weak points we must run our strongest

runners against these weakest points and we must bring our backs and loose

forwards into run support so that we hit them effectively with a double team.We must force the contact.

All defences have channels, holes and lanes. The drift lines up in a single linegoing sideways. Each defender is committed to his outside man. The drift is

vulnerable and huge lanes are created if you develop the inside cut.

League is based on a six down system that results in a monotonous style of play;there is a sequence that usually goes along the lines of, hit, hit, hit, swing, swing,kick (or similar variations). In League there are no kicks in the early phases so

there is no need to have depth to the defence. The defenders in the drift defence

line up in one flat line and run outwards. The drift is, therefore, vulnerable to achip kick over the defenders heads, particularly when this is directed inside. We

must have a ready kicking game.

League is a predictable game. All players and spectators know where the ball isgoing - down the line. So the drift lines itself up, almost knowing what will occur.But we are not obliged to run from formations that the defence expects. Don't give

the drift what it expects. The defence feeds on order- choke the drift with chaos.

Use a published playbook.The playbook is chosen by coaches and senior players. The aim of the attacking plays

must be to run our strongest runners against their weakest defenders as often as possible.We must have a clear system for quickly calling our resources into play and directing

support.

Currently the way we play against the drift is to run the ball down the line depending

on how the defence reacts. What I am suggesting is a far more structured approach wherewe take the initiative. We take the decision- making away from the individual and put itback into the hands of the captain and the management. The emphasis is that we must all

know where the play is going and these patterns must be carefully practised and ingrainedbefore going into a match.

The current thinking in rugby gives too much leeway to individual flair. This is based

on the belief that a really good player can size up the situation and take advantage of

the gaps in the defence. In Football we call this the option offense. Each player eitherplays it or passes it out, leading to a predictable flow. Offensive players react to the

defence and to their own teams unpredictable movements. This means that support is


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slow to come to aid the point of contact. The offense slows down and becomes

predictable. The drift thrives on this predictability.

Winning Points

Plays are chosen by coaches and senior players. Plays are practised extensively. Captain or scrum-half calls the plays. Signals can be suitably coded so as not to be understood by opposition

All the players in the team and the club must know the play book. If a player gets

promoted from a lower team, he must immediately fit into the plan. If a player changes

position or fills in for an injured or occupied player, he must automatically understand hisnew assignment. The offensive captain (usually scrum-half), in particular, must know the

playbook.

As long as we execute our plans properly, it is difficult for the opponents to change adefence that players have learned. If they have learned the drift, they are going to play the

drift. The play book should be based on simple principles. I have used the following

conventions: blue for left and red for right; channels running to the left are odd numbersand channels to the right are even numbers. The breadth of these obviously varies by the

stage of the game, but these channels remain the same for set phases as well as broken

play.

The numbering system identifies where we will carry the ball. The hole the we want tohit has odd numbers on the left and even numbers on the right. The left-side gap between

forwards and the fly half is 1 and on the right it is 2; left side between fly half and centre


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is 3 and on the right it is 4; left side between centres is 5 and on the right it is 6; left side

between centre and wing is 7 and on the right it is 8. That gives you the first of a two-numbered signal.

Each ball carrier in the formation is given a number. A simple way is to use the seconddigit of the backs shirt number. For example, if you wanted the inside centre, number12, to run up the 3 hole (between fly half and inside centre), that play would be a 32.

Backs are the primary runners. If one (or more) is caught at the tackle, ruck or maul, aforward would take up his place and carry out his assignment. For example, if a flanker

were standing in the inside centre position because the centre was caught up, then hewould be the 2 Back. The principle is that every play is planned and executed

according to a script. Every Offensive player must know his assignment in the play and

must execute it at full pace.

A Trad Right-Red 42 Double means that we want to stand in a traditional line formationout to the right, Trad right. We want the inside centre (number 12, runner 2) to run into

the 4 hole between their fly-half and centre and we want a simultaneous hit from asupporting runner that is the Double. Learning the playbook can take months, so the

sooner you start the better. Watch any great NFL team and you will see the offensive

players moving in synch, their legs moving together like dancers.

Identify the weakest defenders.

I know this sounds obvious, but coaches do not do this and it takes a definite game plan.

In the drift there is no place to hide a weak defender. It borders on bullying, but theseweak links must be exposed and exploited with no mercy. Many rugby players have to

cover a wide range of skills other than defence and, even at the highest level, there are


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players who do not tackle well or at all. At club or school level this will be worse than

at top level, so coaches must exploit the weakness.

At the higher levels this is a simple matter of watching the opposition game tapes. At

lower levels where we do not have these facilities, we need to test the opposition out andmake these decisions very early in the game. There should be a clear communication

between the coaches, the captain and the players.

This is not the same as devising a plan to sidestep, switch, sweep or dummy around a

weak defender. Take the contact directly to the weak defender and expose him tothe confrontation again and again. If a player can't tackle, he can't tackle and nothing is

going to change that in the game. The more we attack the weak defender, the more we

destroy his and his teams confidence.

In the single line defence that is the drift, there is no place to hide. When all is

said and done, the drift requires tacklers and even the weak defenders have theirassignment. If they try to move the weak defender to another place, our strongest runnerfollows him.

Winning Points

Pick the weakest defenders and run at them. Interact with the coaches who can see this easier. Double-team for maximum effect. Don't always try to run around the weak defender. Follow the weak defenders if they are moved. If you find a weak spot, stay their until they fix it.

Their only solution will be to substitute the player or put up a double team defence.

The moment they double up on defence, they ruin the drift and they allow an overlap

opportunity somewhere else. So I propose that our runners are coached in confrontationaltechnique that enables the maximum hit on the weak defender. By delivering a hit onto

the weak defender we are not going to offer him an opportunity to jump on your back

and pull you to the ground. By forcing the contact, we effectively take him out of theplay.

Introduce a Runningback.

A runningback is a speedy back who is able to run in the inside channels and is strongenough to confront heavier forwards when the situation demands it. In the modern game,

scoring opportunities rarely develop from the first phase from a scrum. Yet this is one ofthe best opportunities to attack the drift. The defensive forwards are obliged to bind into

the scrum and the open-side flanker is forced by law to be bound. By wheeling his side

away, you cause pressure on him to cover the inside channel. Most teams try to exploitthis by having the number 8 pick up from the base of the scrum or have the scrum-half

break round into this channel. However, most self-respecting flankers are quick enough


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to stop this slow, lumbering attack. A runningback, particularly from scrums, is another

matter and is likely to cause a lot of problems for the inside channel of the drift. If theyhave to use another back to cover this channel, then their whole defence is in tatters.

Winning Points Wheel scrum to put defending flankers and scrum-half out of play. Runningback starts 6 metres behind the number 8 or loose scrum. Full speed handoff(Gi) rather than a pass.(The ball ispushed/placedinto the

runners stomach.)

Runner must focus on defenders. Open-side flank and fly-half converge as blockers or cleaners. Head up leaning forward, feet are under the shoulders, ready for contact. As there is no passing, runner concentrates on moving up field Play strikes near the scrum and our forwards use the advantage of prior

knowledge to reach contact point before defenders.

Contact point is beyond the advantage line. Defensive forwards must enter themaul from behind the last defender and will initially have to run back to do thislegally..

A runningback is a very special player. In the NFL they earn a million dollars a year.What we require is a very fast, explosive runner who can get over the advantage line

and either cut through the defence or deliver a substantial hit, holding up the defender

until support arrives or driving and spinning through the contact. Usually a smaller

player, he must be able to stay on his feet after the contact.

Winning Points

Hit the line running at full speed. Inside arm is up to receive handoff(Gi) in stomach.(Ballpushed/placedinto his

stomach.)

Keep the eyes focused on the defence. Tuck the ball away for safety. Run with a wide stance, legs pumping. Scrum-half is responsible for ensuring the ball is placed correctly. The handoff(Gi) isnot to be confused with a short pass. A handoff is a much

faster process, although it does require practice

The advantage of not having to look for the ball means you can focus on thedefenders. This advantage must not be under-estimated.

By using fakes, delays and reverses, you can hit their line at a number of angles. The

scrum-half and running back have to become a really special combination. In football, therunning back has become so powerful that the authorities have had to put restrictions on

him. For example he cannot run forward until the play has begun. There is no such

limitation in rugby, which means that a running back can line up six metres behind thescrum and be moving at full speed well before the defending forwards are allowed to


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unbind. But too much of current rugby thinking ends up with the lumbering No 8 picking

up from a standing start the pick and drive. I am proposing something far moredynamic, a fast back line player who gets behind the defence in next to no time.

I come from a long history of playing Gridiron Football, where a running back is such avital part of the game. It seems strange to me that rugby has yet to effectively use this

weapon. The key goal is to get the play over the advantage line and into their backfield.By going close to the scrum, we are able to put our open-side flank legally in a position

between their retreating, defending forwards and our attacking runner.

This pressure up the middle is the key component that ruins the drift, which starts

by giving up defence in the middle. They leave the open-side flank to cover the fly-half.

But we will present a big challenge - an explosive back who is running fast and probably

past the defending open-side before he can break off from the scrum.

Attack the advantage line.The problem with lining-up the backs deep and having them run onto the ball is that is

takes time. The drift uses this time to run up past the advantage line and cause the pointof contact to happen in ourspace. The results are horrendous. Besides losing metres,

we essentially put all our forwards offside and they have to retire to enter the game. We

need to bring the contact line right up, preferably over the advantage line. To change thisrequires a mental change. We need to change from an option offense that developsplays

to a run and shoot offense that executes plays. With practice these plays can beperformed faster. However, each phase must be completed and a new one begun before

the defence has had time to bring up support.

Winning Points

Line up flat against the advantage line.


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A static fly-half who acts as a distributor. Men in motion before play begins. Usually only two passes per play. Execute swiftly.

The fewer passes in an offensive play, the better. Every pass takes time and riskserror. Skip passes and switches do little good. In the end these are only effective if they

are done right at the last moment before contact. In the end, only one man carries the

ball over the contact line; everything until that point is just distribution.

I propose a stationary fly-half, where the other backs run onto the ball. The fly-half isnot a runner, he is the distributor of the ball. The moment the defence starts to charge at

him, they risk over pursuit and can open up the inside lanes. The fly-half can even initiate

his own run if the defence has over-committed. By standing still, the fly-half makes an

easier target for his scrumhalf. If fly-half and scrum-half are both long passers, twopasses can cover virtually the entire width of the field. Effectively, the running play can

be delivered to any desired channel in just two passes.

The standing fly-half is also better placed to drop kick or chip to his receivers. Current

offensive thinking has him chasing down his own kick into the box, but this is better

achieved if the target receivers are running onto the ball.

I also propose men in motion. The backs (or attackers) begin motion before the ball is

released. As long as they do not cross the offside line they can build up both sufficientlateral and forward speed to execute complex offensive plays. This will help them to

stand flatter and still get the play off in time.


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Force the contact.

The drift comes from League where there is no need to concentrate defence in oneplace as the attackers can only ever produce as much pressure as their single best

runner. There is no supporting pressure and no marauding loose forwards who pile into

the maul to add drive to a break. In the run and shoot offense, we run against theweakest defenders, use the set plays in the playbook to give advantage and use flat

positioning to bring support to the contact point faster than the defence can get there.

Whereas the option offense has attackers standing wide, waiting for the offload, our

approach is the opposite. Supporting players are not waiting for the ball. We knowwhere the breakdown is going to happen. The supporters will be piling in quickly

behind the ball carrier.

Option rugby has the runner trying to sidestep the defender and offloading if hemakes contact. The typical tackle that a drift defender makes is from the inside out,

with his head behind the tackled player as he drags him down to the ground. I amproposing that the runner knows that the contact is coming and he sets himself up for it.The defender is not prepared for a force that does not try to avoid him, but instead comes

straight at him.

In the ideal hit, the runner cuts into the defender and delivers a positive blow to the

defender that floors the defender and allows the runner to continue. In the second best

option, the runner holds up the defender and the supporting attacker comes in to finish

the job.

There are a number of techniques to coach the runner in the breakdown, the dip and

the hit and the spin. These are Football techniques to help break a tackle. The runner ismoving quickly and, as he sees the defender cross his legs, he cuts back inside, breaks

down his stride into short choppy steps, dips down to a low angle and makes contact

with his shoulder, keeping his legs wide and driving forward.

In addition to the techniques for the runners, the supporters can add assistance by using

scoop blocks and bull rushes. All these techniques centre around keeping the headup with eyes forward on the emerging situation.

Defenders in the drift are not used to contact being forced on them. They expectthe attack to move the ball out sideways. The most common error that they make

in moving sideways is to cross their legs. Defenders that cross their legs will usually miss the tackle. A cross-legged defender is no match for a direct hit.

Use the inside cut.

Defenders in the drift are chasing the outside man. Our current attacking strategies spend

too much time trying to run around the outside of the drift. The failure to achieve this


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consistently is what has made the drift so popular over the last few years. Its key

weakness can be exposed by cutting inside and running at the defender. Defendersdefending the outside either cross their legs to get to where they want to be or they face

outwards. If the runner does cut inside, the defenders are forced to turn around to make

up the distance lost. This is why you so often see defenders in the drift with theirbacks to the offense, a result of this over pursuit.

All defences have channels, holes, lanes and angles of pursuit. Channels are the straight

lines, holes are the gaps between the defenders, angles of pursuit are the curves and the


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dark areas are the lanes. Holes and lanes exist in space/time rather than in space alone.

They are there only for a short moment.

In the classic man-on-man defence, defenders would take on a man, but in the drift,

defenders defend a channel. The fly-half runs forwards and outwards to the insidecentre, the defending inside centre runs forwards and outwards to the outside centre (and

so on). In the diagrams below, the channels are the first straight line that the defendersrun. They then break into an angle of pursuit and do anything they can to close down the

attack.

As defenders run down a channel, holes develop between them and they are not

necessarily in a horizontal plane. If a defender runs in front of another defender, he

creates a hole for a cut. The drift teaches defenders to come out in a line. Unfortunately

for them we do not arrive at the same time in each channel, so there is always a verticalgap to cut inside or out. So a hole always exists momentarily in time. Holes can also be

created by blocking the defender backwards or sideways.


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A lane is the area that a runner can run in before he meets a defender. This too isdependent on time, as defenders move to close you down and tackle you. Lanes are as

narrow as the hole at the contact point but they widen as you get past the defenders. Inthe diagrams the lanes are the dark shaded areas. Because the drift defenders are coming

outwards, the natural tendency is to run away from them and go outside. This way of

thinking is dominated by the option rugby that pervades the current offensive thinking.Each runner is obsessed with linking to his next man down the line. The problem with

this thinking is that the drift is onto it. The drift is moving forwards and outwards. By the


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time that you have used up precious seconds making your break, the next drift defender

has moved down the line to close off your option. The real opportunity lies in cuttinginwards and putting the defender into a position of over- pursuit. Players have to be

taught to cut inside.

While the drift continues to remain as a single line, these lanes will always exist. To

shut down these lanes efficiently requires a defence with line, linebackers andsecondary. The drift does not offer this. It will always remain vulnerable to the inside

cut.

Have a ready kicking game.

In League, the early phases usually consist of short, controlled passes. As the number ofphases approaches six they swing the ball out for more adventurous plays. However we

all know where the ball is going and the defence spread accordingly. The basic character

of the drift is a long line that spreads out across the field where each player has an outside

tackling assignment. If we pressure them up the middle with a running back, we attackthe advantage line by lining up shallow. As we cut inside, they are forced to stand up to

the advantage line and to pursue us.

The moment that they do this, we must have a ready kicking game. This is not the

same as a scrum-half getting the ball and then, in his wisdom just booting it into the

box. I am talking about a calculating, stationary fly-half catching the ball and, after onestep, chipping the ball over the heads of the defenders so they have to turn around 180

degrees to follow the ball.


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The notion of a stationary fly-half goes right against most current rugby thinking, yet he

can chip the defence and recover his own kick. Option rugby plays right into the hands of

the drift. In the time that it takes for the fly-half to settle, make the kick and then start tochase, the defenders turn around and have an equal (if not better) chance to get to the

ball. I am proposing using informed receivers, who run to precise, predetermined

points. The stationary fly-half helps to perfect this accuracy. The receivers start frombehind the fly-half so there is no need for him to charge downfield to put anyone onside.

The drift usually keeps players back in the wing position to cover the kick to the side

line. I am not proposing to kick for touch as this effectively gives them the ball. I amproposing that we kick to our own receivers. This type of play is inspired by a Football

pass over the top to a tight end or running back. As the forwards are also informed of the

kick, we are able to bring up resources to quickly recover the ball. This is not the up-and-under game played by amateur rugby in the 1980s. We are not in the business of

kicking the ball to them. Possession is paramount.

Retain possession of the ball.

In League there are a limited number of downs and there is usually no kicking in the

beginning. The drift merely has to keep the attack busy for a few phases then they are

suddenly under pressure to get something done or give the ball back. Inherent in the driftis the weakness that it is passive. All we have to do to deal with it is make sure that we

dont mess up and give them back the ball.

What is not obvious is how we do it. Look at any game for a few minutes at any level and

watch what happens when the ball is turned over. It is rare that the defence forces an

error. It is almost always the offense making a mistake, along the lines of knock on,

forward pass, losing the ball forwards in a tackle, players becoming isolated and not


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having enough resources at the breakdown. You would think that these are simple things

to overcome, but in truth even players at the highest levels are specialists and can notperform all skills perfectly.

Winning Points Focus on the defenders, not on your support. Go into contact firmly holding the ball. Let the best runners carry the ball. Prize possession over yards. Support must focus on cleaning not on waiting for the offload.

In my experience there are very few players who can actually carry a ball and retain

clear thinking in a contact situation. Plays must be called from our playbook that give theball to our best carriers and the other players must perform the supporting role.

Our plays have very few moving parts. The reality about passing the ball is that, in theend, only one player can carry it over the contact line. Before we hit the contact line let us

make sure that we have full control of the ball. Let the carrier have enough time to

concentrate on the defence. If we are hitting them at their weakest points, then that is all

the advantage we need.

We need to be as fast as possible to get the ball to the ball carrier, who then holds onto it

until he is brought down. The support, in an ordered and planned manner, recycles theball which is then given to another designated carrier who runs until he is brought down.

This is the essence of the run and shoot getting our best players running against

their weakest defenders and when they move to cover us, shooting into the holes that

have been created in the defence.

The biggest weakness of the drift defence is that it avoids contact. So as long as we

don't do stupid things, they won't be coming after us for the ball. They are happy to runbehind us as we carry the ball outwards. We don't always have to meet their contact.

We can at any stage carry the ball back to the other side. The draw play is an extreme

version of this.


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We can run their forwards all the way out to the side of the field by passing the ball out

to our wing who stays back, giving himself space by not running on the ball. Ourforwards do not follow the ball but remain on the far side of the field. Then, as all the

defensive players approach him, he either kicks it over their heads to our forwards, or

he passes it Football-style over their heads in a backwards pass to one of forwards or, ifpossible, with a good arm to our far wing.

Don't confuse the draw play with the traditional rugby move where the wing runs down

the sideline and, in a last desperate attempt when he is out of options, he hoofs it infieldand hopes for the best. I am talking about hanging back and making a delayed, calculated

draw play.


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Choke the drift with chaos.

I come from a Football background and it is always strange to me why rugby players

always line up in the same offensive position. Sure, this does help them to order

themselves, but it also gives the defence time to straighten out and put themselves inplace. We are under no obligation to stand in the traditional formation. We do this

because we believe that we can pass the ball out to the outside and magically a gap willopen and we will run around the defence.

Man in Motion means putting players into motion before the ball is out of the ruck, maulor set piece. The offside rule merely states that you must be behind a certain line. You

can line up on one side of the field and, four seconds before the ball comes out, you can

sprint thirty metres across the field to line up in a completely different formation. You

can even start from way back and hit the line running at full speed as the ball comes out.The drift will struggle to realign itself in half a second.

Set plays like line-outs and scrums should be the biggest scoring opportunities becausehalf the defenders, the forwards, are bound into the set piece. Yet it is the broken play

pieces that cause the real scoring opportunities. This is because in the broken play, the

drift breaks down and can't form into order. So why not let us present them with chaos

right at the start?

Line up in varying formations like the Slot, the Split and the I formation and set men

in motion before the ball is out. It is very confusing for the drift to deal with an attack thatis not in a straight line. In particular, there is no need to keep our strongest runners in one

position. We should be rearranging our formation so that our strongest runner runs

against their weakest defender. Make it their problem realigning their drift toaccommodate us.


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The various formations give greater options for plays that send the ball off in

unexpected directions. It requires a full explanation and the style and creativity of

coaches, knowing the strengths of their players, will allow a suitable playbook to bedrawn up for the team.


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Documents

Beating Drift Defenses 1