The Principles of Attack

By Anthony St. Amant, Outlaws Head Coach, FWRC Assistant Coach

You're at your first international match, it doesn't matter where the seats are, this is epic. You're watching in amazement at the accuracy and intensity of the game before you. The excitement brings you to your feet, as well as thousands of others in the venue. Set piece then one phase later your team scores and the stadium erupt in cheers and raised arms. The thrill that is rugby is rooted in attack. Big hits are awesome too, but a fluid and dynamic attack is like gazing at the cosmos, it's a wonder to see. The spectacle you witness is not by happenstance, it’s by design. The principles of attack are Gain Possession, Go Forward, Provide Support, Maintain Continuity, Apply Pressure and Score.

Gaining possession could be done after a kick, a kickoff, a penalty, or a turnover. Coaches should take the time to prepare for how their teams will gain possession of the ball and how they'll react to having it. Does your team have ferocious flankers that hunt for the ball like bloodhounds after a bobcat? Or do you have a skillful back three that can make a kicking team pay in broken play? You can't score if you don't have the ball, so how will you gain possession of it?

For a player, attack is exciting because it's an opportunity to advance the ball with a kick to space, a silky sidestep, or by running powerfully through a defender. The options are at your disposal and it's up to you to move the ball forward whatever way suits you. Ball carriers inevitably show their personalities through the way they decide to advance the ball and contributing to the game in this way is what makes it fun. Moving the ball forward shows a player's, and a team's, creativity. Tony Brown, from the Highlanders and Japan's national team, is the master at set piece razzle dazzle. Let your players have fun and be creative to advance the ball forward.

Providing support is crucial. At the international level, most scores from set piece happen within two or three phases. It's a game plan around being creative in attack but also maintaining possession of the ball through support. Who's assigned to the first ruck after your strike play? Consider your personnel and anticipate a tackled player that will need supports help for your team to maintain possession of the ball.

To maintain continuity in your attack, you might consider (again) the personnel of your team. Skillful ball carriers can offload when a tackle occurs, and this might be exactly what you want as the second or third phase in your scripted attack. Another focus of maintaining continuity is the ruck speed, or how quickly you can begin the next phase of attack after a tackle. Professional teams aim for sub two seconds to continue the attack after a player is tackled.

Rugby is about applying pressure. Through your attack you've gained possession, you're going forward with support and continuity. You are effectively applying pressure (considering you're making, or breaking, the gain line). Sustained pressure can only be endured by the defense for so long. With effective attack comes scoring, the final principle in attack. After the conversion attempt, there will be kickoff. Then what to do with the possession will begin again.

Next time you're at an exciting professional match, or watching a game on your television, hopefully you'll see the intention in the attack and the principles at work. I promise it'll be just as awesomely thrilling and wonderful to see.