Angle busters

You may have heard of terms like ’ins and outs’ or ’unders and overs’. These simply refer to angled runs onto the ball.

They can be used as part of a set move, or just run off-the-cuff from ruck or maul ball. You can take this play up a level by helping your players realise how and when to execute these plays.

A different catch and pass for each angle

Angling in 

A run that cuts back towards the passer needs the catcher to take the pass onto their chest. There are two reasons for this: 

1. The chest is facing the pass, so it will naturally go into this area.
2. Because the catcher might be taking a tackle at the same time, or the defence may be close to the pass, any reach for the ball exposes the catcher. They need to gather without stretching for the ball.

The pass itself can be quite firm, but ideally it should be a push pass, not a spin pass. 

A push pass will turn the ball, so that its pointy ends are facing towards the ground and sky. That is much easier to take when running into the ball.

Angling out 

Here, the receiver runs in and then out. Since the run is away from the pass, the pass will be in front of the attacker. Also, the pass has to be hard and can probably be a spin pass.

Timing the run

Where you can really add value as a coach is by developing activities where players time their angles onto the ball in chaotic situations.

Late angles

To make an angle work, it has to surprise the defence.

Change of pace

The player can jog one way and then change as they accelerate a different way.

Out of sight

For an angle in, the player can start very wide and come towards the play. If they are flat enough, the passer can choose to hit this play, or go behind them.

If the player comes from far enough away, and to the side, the defender – who is looking in as well – won’t see them up until quite late. They will be focused on the attacker in front of them instead.

INSIDE SHOULDERS GAME

• Play normal touch rugby. When a player is touched, they can pass within one second or go to ground.
• A touch can only be made with one hand, which is the ’outside shoulder arm’. See how, below.
• When a tackled player who can’t pass immediately goes to ground, another attacker has to run over the ball before it can be played.
• If the ball is passed to the right from the ground, the defenders can only use their left hand to make a touch. If it is passed left from the tackle, then they can only use the other hand. That remains the same until there is another tackle and a player goes to ground.

Possible outcomes

• Defenders will be weak on the inside, because they cannot use their inside arm/hand to make a touch.
• Defenders will overcompensate and stay too far inside their opposite attacker.
• Either way, an angled run is likely to break the line.

THE SKILL