Magic hands and core to the try line

You can keep your ball carrier dangerous by following these three principles.

Use them as reference points so players can review their own performance.

1. BODY SHAPE BEFORE THE PASS, RUN OR KICK

Players should have their ’core to the try line’ as they run with the ball. This engages the defenders because the ball carrier is running forwards. It also means the ball carrier can pass, run or kick at any given time.

2. PARALLEL HANDS

Players should aim to keep their hands above their tummy button. The key is to finish off the pass with high hands.

When I was at the Ospreys, we called it ’throw the magic’. The fingers are pointing at the target as if a spell had been thrown to the receiver. I have found players respond well to this type of imagery.

3. BALANCE

Work hard on the players being balanced with the ball in hand.

They are on their toes before receiving the ball and, when they pass, they use the correct weight transference between the inside leg to the outside leg. This is linked to the support principles.

ENGAGING THE DEFENDER

The ball carrier takes on the ball, with their core facing up the pitch. As they pass the ball, the core faces towards the corner flag as they release the ball. Crucially, they should not turn their body and move across the pitch until after they have passed the ball.

As soon as the ball carrier moves across the pitch, the defence sees them as a reduced threat. They cannot perform the run or kick functions so well either. We want the defender to think they will have to make the tackle at all times.

GET A SECOND TOUCH ON THE BALL

Handling the ball does not finish once the pass is made - players need to work after the pass.

There is a clear sequence for the ball carrier: catch, pass, follow. We tell the player to “get your second touch”.

In the words of the great Australian fly-half Mark Ella: “If I touch the ball once, there’s a chance someone will score. If I touch it twice, the chances are the person I pass it to will score. If I touch it a third time, I will score."

Therefore, in practices, players have to work once they have passed the ball. However, they cannot make that transition to follow the ball until they have made the pass itself. The ball carrier must engage the defender first.