Like the penalties quickly played 5m from the goal line, rugby teams are becoming more and more creative in trying to score tries from the first phase of play. We are thinking in particular of Barbariansspecialists in surprising techniques to create differences in opposing defenses. THE Toulouse Stadium has also distinguished itself in this area, relying on the power of its international second line: Emmanuel New.
Beyond the quickly played penalties, we notice a large number of first-hand registered essays. Actions generally concluded by players from the back lines, often wingers, who complete the movement thanks to their speed, which allows them to exploit the spaces created by a collective movement. This essay style has obviously always existedparticularly among large teams All Blacks, but different points help explain the increase in this category of testing.
More aggressive defenses
Before detailing the offensive desire of the teams to score quickly from the first phase of play, one of the main axes of this development returns to the evolution of defenses. This is what almost all international selections offer, notably the double world champions Springboks. THE defensive lines go up extremely quickly on the first ball carrier after the conquest phases, to try to put pressure andprevent the opponent from developing his movement.
A effective tactic in the event of a successful tacklebut which can quickly turn into clear opportunity to test in the event of a lost duel in defense. The test of Damian Penaudduring the historic victory (53-10) against theEngland, illustrates these words. Following a magnificent movement from the XV of France, after a touch, the winger Antony Watson seeks to fill the gap created by the Blues, by making an attack on Ethan Dumortier. The Lyonnais nevertheless manages to transmit the ball to the wings with a one-step pass, which allows Damian Penaud to complete this great action.
These ultra-fast climbs can be explained by this desire to quickly recover the ball, but also to prevent powerful players from gaining the advantage line quickly. To gain ground in defense when facing centers like Bundee Aki, Manu Tuilagi or even Semi Radradrait seems essential not to let them get started following a throw-in or a scrum.
Although risky in the event of a missed tackle or bad read, this type of defensive climb seems logical to avoid losing too much ground. And to suffer against a team likeSouth Africawhich relies heavily on players like Damian De Allende to fix the opponents in the center of the field.
The advantage of the foot pass
Like the Bordeaux duo Matthieu Jalibert / Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the opening halves do not hesitate to make kick passes for their wingers from the first phase of play. A feature that is generally found facing inverted defensesquickly cutting the exteriors with spikes from the players on the wings. This tactic is all the more effective with supersonic wingmen like Immanuel Faithful or even Matthis Lebel. This is also one of the specialties of Scottish number ten Finn Russell.
New features on the way
First-hand testing is also due to new movements made after winning the ball in touch, with combinations between forwards and three-quarters. One of the tactics that we find regularly close to the opposing goal lines consists of carrying out a maul feint. Instead of staying at the heart of the ball carried to try to move forward collectively, the relay runner breaks out of the grouping to attack free zones around the maul under construction.
This is often the hooker or a flanker attacking a space around the openside flyhalf or the scrumhalf’s area in the channel. This tactic obviously depends on the profiles of the players, it will be more effective with dynamic heel profiles as Dan Sheehan, Peato Mauvaka or Pierre Bourgarit.
If we add to this the 50/22 rule, which now allows teams to get more touches in the scoring area, the opportunities to score first-hand tries logically increase.
Combinations evolved, but still existed
It is difficult to unanimously assert that current rugby produces more first-hand tries than previous generations. However, the transformation of player profiles and the modification of the rules causes notable differences, whether at the defensive level or in other sectors such as offensive kicking. Teams like All Blacks have always made rugby fans dream of innovative with unusual movements, like this test from the back Christian Cullen. A combination that took place during a meeting between the New Zealand and Australia during a Tri Nations match. The three-quarter line of the New Zealanders was notably composed of Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga et Andrew Mehrtens.
