Monday, January 17, 2005
Mini-Unit Skills:Rucks
Note: This Mini-Unit Skill has previously been referred to as phase play, it is now changed because play frequently continues beyond two phases.
Outcome
To maintain continuity of play by recreating time and space in which to mount an attack.
Key Factors
• Anticipate the position at which the ball carrier will be held or tackled.
• Run on a line so that play can be moved into.
• Move into play running a line that is parallel to the touch- line.
• Bind with team-mates.
• Drive into a position in the formation between two players.
• Drive with the back parallel to the ground and the head up.
Rucking
• Drive forward as a bound unit while delivering the ball.
The key factors for phase play apply to rucks, however, because in Law the ball is on the ground at a ruck, the following additional key factors apply to rucking.
• Drive as far forward as possible without becoming isolated.
• Fall parallel to the goal-line so that the player’s body is between the opposition and the ball.
• Place the ball towards team-mates.
• Bind as a front row and drive past the ball.
• The remaining forwards bind and drive as a scrum past the ball in sufficient width to protect the delivery of the ball.
Explanation
Rucks
It is better to ruck the ball when quick ball will give an advantage. This occurs if play has moved forward to or beyond the gain line.
In this situation the pace of the attack should be maintained to prevent the opposition from regrouping.
Other similar situations occur if there is lateral space to move into i.e. enough space across the field for a further attack in the same direction before reaching the touch line.
To form a ruck the ball carrier goes as far forward as possible. The further forward the player goes the easier it is for support to be provided and the more difficult it is to defend.
However, the player must avoid being isolated as once the tackle is made the ball will become available.
Consequently support must be immediate to form a ruck creating space for the attack to continue.
Once the ball carrier is on the ground the player may play the ball immediately after which the player is out of play.
As the area is likely to be congested a pass could concede possession. The best option is to place the ball on the ground on the attacking team’s side. By accepting the tackle and turning so that the ball carrier’s body is parallel to the goal-line the ball carrier ensure there is no obstacle to getting the ball back.
As with the ball carrier other players on the ground are out of play and should be penalised if they interfere with play while on the ground.
To prevent players falling on the ground they should bind with each other and drive past the ball. They should have a body position that enables them to withstand the impact of their opponents who will be contesting the ball in the same way.
To achieve this they should approach the ball in a crouch head up, back straight. They should be running parallel to the touchline so the drive is directly down the field.
Upon approaching the ball they should sink low and drive up and past the line of the ball.
As they drive past the ball they should make contact with at least one opponent forming a ruck and creating space because there is now an offside line.
As soon as the ball is available the ruck is over and the offside line no longer exists.
This means that the scrumhalf/halfback must be quickly at the breakdown.
Later arriving for forwards may delay the delivery of the ball however they may be needed to give more control and power to push the front row past the ball.
Ideally the ruck should be formed similar to a scrum as this is the best pushing formation and it also has sufficient width to protect the scrumhalf/halfback in making a pass or in performing other options.
Ideally the ball should be delivered while the forwards are driving forward. If it is delivered when the ruck becomes stationary the defence will have had time to regroup and the attack will be less effective.
Outcome
To maintain continuity of play by recreating time and space in which to mount an attack.
Key Factors
• Anticipate the position at which the ball carrier will be held or tackled.
• Run on a line so that play can be moved into.
• Move into play running a line that is parallel to the touch- line.
• Bind with team-mates.
• Drive into a position in the formation between two players.
• Drive with the back parallel to the ground and the head up.
Rucking
• Drive forward as a bound unit while delivering the ball.
The key factors for phase play apply to rucks, however, because in Law the ball is on the ground at a ruck, the following additional key factors apply to rucking.
• Drive as far forward as possible without becoming isolated.
• Fall parallel to the goal-line so that the player’s body is between the opposition and the ball.
• Place the ball towards team-mates.
• Bind as a front row and drive past the ball.
• The remaining forwards bind and drive as a scrum past the ball in sufficient width to protect the delivery of the ball.
Explanation
Rucks
It is better to ruck the ball when quick ball will give an advantage. This occurs if play has moved forward to or beyond the gain line.
In this situation the pace of the attack should be maintained to prevent the opposition from regrouping.
Other similar situations occur if there is lateral space to move into i.e. enough space across the field for a further attack in the same direction before reaching the touch line.
To form a ruck the ball carrier goes as far forward as possible. The further forward the player goes the easier it is for support to be provided and the more difficult it is to defend.
However, the player must avoid being isolated as once the tackle is made the ball will become available.
Consequently support must be immediate to form a ruck creating space for the attack to continue.
Once the ball carrier is on the ground the player may play the ball immediately after which the player is out of play.
As the area is likely to be congested a pass could concede possession. The best option is to place the ball on the ground on the attacking team’s side. By accepting the tackle and turning so that the ball carrier’s body is parallel to the goal-line the ball carrier ensure there is no obstacle to getting the ball back.
As with the ball carrier other players on the ground are out of play and should be penalised if they interfere with play while on the ground.
To prevent players falling on the ground they should bind with each other and drive past the ball. They should have a body position that enables them to withstand the impact of their opponents who will be contesting the ball in the same way.
To achieve this they should approach the ball in a crouch head up, back straight. They should be running parallel to the touchline so the drive is directly down the field.
Upon approaching the ball they should sink low and drive up and past the line of the ball.
As they drive past the ball they should make contact with at least one opponent forming a ruck and creating space because there is now an offside line.
As soon as the ball is available the ruck is over and the offside line no longer exists.
This means that the scrumhalf/halfback must be quickly at the breakdown.
Later arriving for forwards may delay the delivery of the ball however they may be needed to give more control and power to push the front row past the ball.
Ideally the ruck should be formed similar to a scrum as this is the best pushing formation and it also has sufficient width to protect the scrumhalf/halfback in making a pass or in performing other options.
Ideally the ball should be delivered while the forwards are driving forward. If it is delivered when the ruck becomes stationary the defence will have had time to regroup and the attack will be less effective.
