Ruck and Learn

This week's coaching feature, Ruck and Learn, sees Richard Hill complete his two-part explanation into what makes a good back-row.

This week's coaching feature, Ruck and Learn, sees former England flank Richard Hill give an insight into what makes the perfect back-row forward.

Renowned as being one of the greatest flankers in England's history, Hill's work often went unnoticed but in the same breath the quiet man received praise from team-mates and opponents for what he brought to any side he represented. We're delighted to have the big man blogging for us again and if you truly want to know how to be a top quality back-row forward, read on…

Planet Rugby and RuckingBall.com bring you this technical piece in collaboration. For more coaching articles or to talk to Martin Corry, Jamie Roberts and our other experts, please visit RuckingBall.com Those signing up before 10th June using referral code PR will get a free upgrade worth £18 ! Those signing up after June 10th, using code PRC, will automatically enter a draw to win £200 of Samurai training kit.

Last week, England back row star Hill gave us the overview of the flanker's role in the modern era. This week, Richard looks at how you can improve your game and the various qualities needed to be successful in the back-row.

Playing in the back-row is all about work-rate and winning the ball. As I mentioned last week, few other positions have the ability to positively effect a game, purely as you should be always where the ball is, giving you a chance to compete, challenge or carry.

I believe there are 5 key qualities required:
• High work rate – you should be one of the fittest players on the pitch
• Effective – be disruptive and destructive, creative and dynamic
• Intelligence – give options, run lines
• Support play – be available
• Team work – organise and secure

Let's look at some simple game scenarios:

The attacking scrum:

Listen and be acutely aware where you could be required immediately to support/secure/recycle possession or your role in 2nd phase.

However, your primary role here is to ensure that you scrummage, otherwise your ear will forever be chewed off by props telling you of your responsibility to winning the ball! Commit to your role of pushing your prop in the required direction by driving him and ultimately scrum forward. As a flanker, you may need to channel the ball back to the eight and need to maintain your balance to do so. If your prop is in difficulty, you will have to remain down until the ball is out. Be aware of what's happening and adapt. When the ball comes out into the first phase play, you now move to where the breakdown is likely to be or react to the situation as it plays out in front of you, and as a team mate recognises an attacking opportunity or, as will happen at times, a mistake.

At that first phase move, your role is simple- get to the ball. That might be a breakdown, it might be kick chasing, but essentially you are there to be available. If you're the first there, make sure the ball is secured in ruck or maul; if you're the second or third to arrive at the ruck, decide what is more use to your team- if the ball's secured, work around the fringes to become a carrier or distributor.

As the phase play continues, again, decide if you need to win, support, or carry. Whatever you do, be there to offer an option and make a difference.

The defensive left hand scrum:

This relies a lot upon communication. My personal preference is the following procedure. Basically as a blindside, you need to be the guardian of that narrow channel. Nothing must get past you. You should be the first tackler off, using the 16th man to defend (the touchline) and allowing the 8 to pick up anything coming inside. If your prop is in difficulty or the loose head prop goes forward, then this may vary as you're forced to stay and scrummage- this then needs communication with your 8 for him to step out slightly wider and cover the narrow, with you covering the inside hole. If you're open, then you are now working closely with the 9 dependent on whether he stays tight or wide to the scrum. You must then adopt the opposite decision, either filling inside shoulder or 9, or work hard to fill the inside hole of 10. Then everything you need to do is about pressuring that 9/10/12 channel, and forcing them to do what you want to do- if you pressure on the 10/12 side, then the 8 should again pick up anything switching back in. If you want to get the opposition to drift across, then you'll run a tighter, straighter 9/10 channel to pressure. It all depends on how you want to defend and what options you want the attacking side to take.

In both attack and defence, it's also common place for one of the back row to cover a kick to touch. For example- you know your 9 has called the box kick off first phase- one of the back row needs to drop back to cover the return kick. Equally, in defence, if the open flanker is getting up hard in the face of the 10/12's, then a relief kick is on the cards- be aware and make sure one of the back row is covering that kick to touch.

Support play:

The key here is to have a clear understanding of the team strategy. As noted before, in first phase, know the game plan and know where that breakdown is going to occur. Understand the phase calls and be there to support. There's a degree of trust required here as you'll need to be preemptive in terms of attacking lines if and when you get the ball, execute well- you should be able to beat a man one on one, or to ensure continuity. Whatever happens when you get the ball, understand there's no such thing as bad ball until you make it that- it's all about your decision making.

Tackling:

Physical fitness in every respect is the key to becoming the tackling machine your side wants from you!

I had a simple mantra when tackling – 'Perform the very best technical tackle you are able to'. The definition of the best technical tackle differs according to the game conditions- let's examine a few of the options:
• low tackles- to me the most important tackle to master and the one that will be most used in your rugby career. Perfect this and then move on to other techniques. Executed with good technique, powerful leg drive with support from team mates you will be able to dominate the gainline. Back up on feet to recycle self back in to play
• the big hit- generally higher up on the body, with the intent of driving the man back. You'll be looking for the second man in to take the ball as you make the hit. Power, leg drive and timing are keys here.
• wrap tackle- a tackle designed to take both man and ball to ground. Be careful under the new laws as this is rendered less effective now as you'