Rugby coaching tips for your fly half to create more space

When your scrum half does not have the longest pass from the base of the scrum then it is up to your fly half to use all his skill to "create more space", not just for himself, but also for his outside backs.

We know the wider the fly half can stand the better. This is because he can make the opposition flanker have to travel further to tackle him, it opens up space on the inside and it makes the opposition fly half less likely to drift.

Here are five ways for your fly half to create space, despite a shorter pass from the scrum half.

The fly half can create space by the angle he runs, the speed he runs, and the depth he runs from.

There are two angles the fly half can take from the scrum half pass.

1. Towards the pass

This is the most unusual line to take and, therefore, one which is worth using on the odd occasion.

The space is created on the outside shoulder of the fly half. The flanker will have to hold his line to tackle the fly half and the opposition fly half will probably be set for some form of drift, if not just a straight run.

Taking the ball straight and angling in is even more effective. A pass or switch from the fly half to a player running back into the space left can be very effective.

2. Straight run

This is the simplest way of creating a space, but can be defended easily if the opposition is well organised.

The fly half deliberately runs at the gap between the flanker and the fly half. As one or both step to make the tackle, the fly half passes into the space.

Assuming a shortish pass from the scrum half, this is not going to be that effective, mainly due to the small gaps between flanker and fly half.

This article is from the Match Day Tactics manual, which will help you to banish some of the worries of match day through modern methods and techniques.