New to rugby - questions

[Oooooo]

A few things...

Firstly when you hear "inside" and "outside" in various contexts ("inside the man", "run outside him" etc) which side does each refer to, inside to the left, outside to the right?

Running angles, does this mean running against the direction the ball is moving across field, to offer an alternative option and maybe catch the opposition flat footed?

Lastly, I'm playing on the wing at the moment, my main issue is positioning, especially during set plays. Simple for you guys I'm sure, but I'm brand spanking new to this.

Cheers guys.

 

[Teh Mite]

Think of "inside" and "outside" the same way you would about a corner in motorsport - "He dove up the inside" or "gone the long way around the outside". It's all in relation to the space to either side of the pitch and where the breakdown is: If the ball is in the left half of the pitch, the right would be the "outside" and vice versa. As the 12 and 13 (and the flankers as they are blindside/shortside or openside for that matter) swap routinely, it's a dynamic position which never rigidly sticks to the left or right.

"Running angles" can mean anything, but usually it means you (or someone else) is coming into the play at a different direction to the rest of the team. The idea being you can receive the ball at pace on a different direction for what the defence is drifting to cover and punching a hole through the defensive line. When done to perfection (easier said then done), this will often lead to a try.

As a winger, it's an easy job: Stick to your wing! Once you get a head for the game, you'll learn the right times to come and look for the ball or when to stay out wide, but as a beginner do the basics and listen to your team mates: The outside centre and fullback should regularly be talking to you and directing the line, so listen to them and it'll come naturally. Unlike the centres or the flankers though, you are given the left (11) or the right (14) wing, so make sure you keep it! Also remember you will interchange whenever the fullback goes on a run, so always be prepared to drop back and cover if the Fullback is ahead of you on your side of the pitch.

Good luck with the game.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Foooook!?!, I typed a shitload on winger advise and it seems to have been stolen by the internet gremlins. Will get back later on.

 

[Oooooo]

Cheers Bullit.

I'd be interested to read your advice that got deleted stormer.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Cheers Bullit.

I'd be interested to read your advice that got deleted stormer.

Just some basics for wingers that should become 2nd nature in no time.

Defense
- try to keep your direct opponent ever so slightly on your outside shoulder as an inside break is more dangerous as the player then has caught your entire drifting defense off guard
- this also counts for when your opponents have an overlap; move out with the ball and force them to pass rather than get caught on the inside. Rather take care of your man and trust the cover defense and fullback to do their work than get ruffled and create openings. If there is a massive overlap and the ball is too fast for your cover defense rushing up on your man is the better option than trying for the intercept
- listen to your center and fullback as coordination is their job
- if the fullback is not at the back and the opposition get a turn-over it is the job of the blindside winger to play sweeper for chip kicks and kick-throughs that might get chased.
- if you are the blindside winger and your man runs across and into the line, cover him
- if the opposition boot the ball up and the fullback is there to take it, you should be right there next to him to either be an option to pass/offload to if he decides to counter, chase the ball if he decides to kick or support him at the breakdown if he gets caught out.

Attack
- well apart from set plays and the general down the line stuff I always found going across from the blindside to join the line very effective in school rugby. Especially if you can manage an offload from this position it makes defending very hard for the opposition and schools teams are generally not organized enough in defense to handle the resultant man through the line which is either you or the player that gets opened up by your joining the line.

 

[Oooooo]

Thanks stormer, really helpful advice. So as long as I make sure I'm in position if there's a turnover ball, to cover my man, or if my team decide to switch play so the balls approaching my wing, coming in from the blindside to join the line and look for work, is perfectly ok? This is one thing I was a bit unsure on, because much of the play last time out was through the middle and I wasn't sure whether I had to stay pinned to my line, or whether I could go and offer up options when the ball was being sprayed around, primarily from scrum half to outside centre then back again.

Thanks again bullit, useful motorsport analogy. I'm presuming blindside and inside mean pretty much the same thing, as does openside and outside? In that case do flankers always swap depending on the location of the scrum? Also, am I right in thinking loosehead and tighthead props are never interchangeable?

 

[lynam1104]

yep you got losehead and tighthead are not but the flankers will also the inside blindside thing is right to.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

As to the inside/outside; I've always thought abbout it in terms of the outside is to the side that is closer to the touchline and inside is the side towards the centre of the field.

This is dependant on where you are as an individual and the inside/outside could vary for each player.

Getting confused myself here but IMO the blindside is then the side closest to the touchline and openside has more field and these can also swap depending on where the point is taken from.

Usually blindside/openside is for scrums/breakdowns etc and not any one player.

In any case that is my understanding and it could be faulty.

Loosehead and tighthead is are set positions and literally refers to the position of the prop's head: 3 people scrummming against 3 people means that 2 of each team (tighthead prop and hooker) will have opposition player's heads on both sides and 1 in each team will have an opponent's head only on the one side of his head, hence loosehead.

Flankers are also set but the actual roles and naming means precious little IMO; you will even find that countries differ WRT the naming/numbering or roles of flankers.