This time of year is when all coaches globally begin to truly earn their
pay, with the North already in the midst of their domestic competitions, while
the Six Nations is just around the corner – the first
tier-one Tests to be played in 2014.
Next tournament off the rank is
Super Rugby, still regarded as perhaps the eminent tactical nursery in world
rugby, something that the participants Test nations results back up as being
largely true – a one (New Zealand), two (South Africa) and three (Australia) in
the world rankings show how efficiently the players are being honed earlier in
the year via the South's premier 'domestic' competition.
That period, when All Blacks,
Springboks, Wallabies and the cream of local talent, with an increasing number
of foreign stars, showcase their wares, is when Super Rugby truly shines.
To
kick, or not to kick, that is the question?
The boot has become an
increasingly important weapon in Super Rugby over the years, which is a minor
surprise considering that ball in hand attacking periods over the tournament's
strategic history - think of the Blues running attack of yesteryear, the Brumbies
guile and now the Chiefs (and once upon a time Crusaders) ability to
counterattack.
But slowly the number of kicks
is increasing due to the effectiveness of defensive screens and the fact that
nothing will ever stop the coaching cliché “that the ball will always beat the
man” an adage that applies even in the air.
What
about this defensive absorption business?
The Chiefs, and then later in
the year the All Blacks, took pride on the fact that a team could take them
down to the lower depths of hell and subject them to fearsome heat for 79
minutes, and then as if they just finished the Haka and were fresh, find this
level which at this stage of the rugby timeline has been beyond any other Test
– or Super Rugby – outfit.
However sooner or later the finest
blockades must crumble, be they the walls of Troy
Run son, RUN!!!
The crediting of running rugby
remains an elusive thing, with the All Blacks having a handy claim based on the
ball in hand exploits of the incomparable ‘Originals’, although the
Wallabies and the likes of Ella and Campese could have a say, while even the
modern day Springboks enjoy throwing monster ball handlers towards the
defensive line cause penetrating stress.
This could change over 2014
Super Rugby, for while attack is always a big part of the competition, it is no
longer the rule.
Running rugby is something
inherent with risks, despite the fact that all champions need to have the
ability to strike in this manner. Turnovers, lack of support or the wrong
decision by the man carrying the ball – the reality is that in rugby if you want
to minimise risk you become defensively orientated, as fans in Cape Town
Will
the ruck focus change for those hungry back rowers?
Flooding of the breakdown has
its advantages, for it can cause the chaos where only the strong survive, but
modern rugby (at least right now) doesn’t conform to that principle, where
coaches instruct players to hold the defensive line first and foremost.
Throwing bodies into the
breakdown is now a measured and controlled thing, but even here approaches
vary, with Australian and New
Zealand
The
scrum won’t be quite as premeditated in 2014...
Super Rugby
will adopt the call where a referee will give, shall we say a more subtle
indication that the ball is to go into the scrum, while keeping a studious eye
on a straight feed, which ensures there will be adjustment in the scrum
engagement again.
"Yes nine" will be no
more.
Grumble as some may; the reality
is that scrum changes are being implemented for the all-important aspect of
player welfare while ensuring that the stability of a collision is managed. One
thing doesn’t change, front rows and coaches that are purists still find a way
to gain some form of domination.
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