The 1-3-3-1 attacking framework

All the players know the options and where to run, with regards to defence, allowing the ball carrier to make better-informed decisions, reacting to the opposition’s defensive actions.

Macro shape

Linking small attacking shapes to a wider attacking framework will give the whole team an understanding of where their own players will be to exploit defensive mismatches or errors.

It is essential to state that the main rationale of employing an attacking framework is to create scenarios where the attack has quick ball, overlaps or mismatches.

Several different attacking frameworks are used in the professional game, which shows the spread of the forwards across the pitch. The most used framework is a 1-3-3-1 system. 

As highlighted in the diagram (below), a 1-3-3-1 framework has one forward in the wide channel (15m lines), on both the left- and right-hand side of the field, and six forwards in the middle of the field, split into two working pods of three.

Selecting players for these roles should see more athletic players in the wide channels to exploit the extra space given, and more powerful players in the middle pods to combat the tighter defensive setups.

Having an attacking unit split across the field allows a team to attack in several different ways. The wide forward channel gives you constant width to play around a team, the forwards in the middle of the field allow for a more direct attack to play through a team and the spread across the field allows for a kicking game to play over a team. 

It is vital for all forwards in this framework to interact with the backs to run, kick or pass into the space available.

This framework provides the outside backs (wingers) more freedom to work off their wing and look for attacking touches in the middle of the field, as the wide forward will continue to maintain width in attack.

The forward pods in the middle of the pitch provide more numbers around the ball to be direct and play through an opposing team. 

Tight connections between the individuals and the pods allow for a short passing game at the defensive line to create one-on-one collisions and close support play, which, in turn, should create gain-line winning rucks - but, more importantly, quick ball speed to play off.