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Tag Archives: ruck

What The Stats Tell Us

USA Rugby U20s came 1st in the Junior World Rugby Trophy in June but what do the other numbers tell us about where Youth Rugby is in America.

USA Rugby

The IRB statistical analysis of both, the JWRT & the JWC 2012 have been released. There are mixed feelings among sports fans as to how stats portray sport. As more and more sports become professional, the use of stats become more prevalent. Statistics don’t lie and allow athletes and coaches to measure the performance of athletes and teams. As a coach, stats are hugely important as they allow coaches to identify areas of relative strength and weakness. This allows coaches to allot proportional time in training to areas in most need of improvement. Importantly, stats also allow coaches to evaluate an athlete’s contribution to the team.

From an USA Rugby perspective – these stats give us an insight into how we performed as a team overall. It is very useful to compare our results this year to our stats from the 2011 JWRT. It is very satisfying to see the massive improvement within youth rugby in the US.

The IRB reports provide in-depth statistics from the tournaments. I have selected some individual stats, which I will break down.  Looking ahead to USA Rugby competing in the Junior World Championship in France in 2013 and what we can learn – this is an examination on where USA youth rugby is.

 

USA Rugby: Points For / Against

USA Rugby at the JWRT Points For and Against

The JWRT was a high scoring affair. The stats indicate that running rugby is on the rise and this is giving way to more tries scored. Conversely some naïve defending at times by all teams contributed to the high try-scoring rate. It also signifies that some teams backed their set piece and opted to kick for the corners as opposed to taking a shot at goal.

All the competing teams in the JWRT 2012 improved on their scoring average from the 2011 competition, except Zimbabwe who have unfortunately been embroiled in problems since the tournament.

USA are the most changed side. We scored on average 16 points more in 2012 than in 2011. In defence we did even better by cutting our average points against by 17 from the 2011 competition.

 

USA Rugby: Source of Tries

USA Rugby U20s in the JWRT Source of Tries

This is an important stat for a coach as it allows us to dedicate proportional time to these facets of play in training. From these stats we can see that lineouts provide teams with the most tries. An effective and functioning lineout is a prerequisite for a successful rugby team.

33% of all tries scored in the JWRT 2012 came from lineouts. In the Junior World Championship 2012, lineouts were also the most common source of tries with 30% of all tries scored from lineouts.

 

USA Rugby: Kicks at Goal

USA Rugby at the JWRT Conversions

Canada leads the way on conversion success percentage. USA tops the charts in our successful percentage of penalty kicks. This is an important area to analyse, as I believe that developing rugby nations overlooks the kicking game. I quickly realised this when I coached high school rugby for the first time last season. The apparent weakness in this area is a concern. Maybe players are neglecting kicking practice and do not fully appreciate the importance of both kicking out of hand as well as place kicking. This is a fundamental skill within rugby and is a very important element within the sport.

USA Rugby U20s Madison Hughes Kicks during the JWRT Final

Perhaps it is due to the rise in popularity of 7s rugby that has seen a decrease in players’ kicking skills. Possession is key to 7s rugby so kicking the ball away is not a common occurrence. In 15s rugby, a competent kicking game can be the difference between winning and losing games.

I would urge any aspiring player, backs in particular, to practice kicking on a regular basis. That skill alone could help propel your rugby career to new heights.

 

USA Rugby: Ball in Play

USA Rugby U20s in the JWRT Ball in play statistics

 

It always amazes me how little time the ball is actually in play during a game of rugby. I remember it feeling like a lot more! We can see that the ball was in play on average  1min 28s more than in the corresponding tournament a year earlier. This means that players must be conscious of this and ensure that their fitness allows them to perform for this extra time.

It is very interesting to me to review these stats particularly. USA played in the two games with the lowest ball-in-play time against Tonga and the highest ball-in-play time against Japan. Our tactics against Tonga were to ensure we did not give them many opportunities to counter attack. Pacific Island nations are extremely dangerous from counter attack. This means that we wanted to kick the ball off the pitch as often as we could and compete for the lineout. This tactic worked well for us as we recorded a 22-11 victory over Tonga. Slowing the game down by kicking to touch allowed our defence to get organized.

The final against Japan was the game with the highest ball-in-play percentage. At the time, it seemed like an eternity!

 

USA Rugby: Breakdown Retention

USA Rugby U20s in the JWRT Breakdown Retention

 

USA improved in this area by 3% from the 2011 JWRT. This is a significant increase considering that the were on average 11 more rucks and mauls per game than in 2011.  Having the ability to win possession at the set piece and also to retain it during open play forms the backbone of attack in rugby.

USA Rugby U20s during the JWRT Final

USA were not a predominately forward orientated team. We scored 7 tries through our forwards and 9 tries through our backs during the tournament. In comparison, Russia scored all 8 of their tries through their backs.

Coaching the breakdown area is hugely important, as it is the most contested area of the game.

 

USA Rugby: Lineout Success

USA Rugby U20s in the JWRT Lineout success rate of 91 percent

There were on average 24 lineouts per game in the JWT 2012. This is up from 22 from the previous year. The top tier competition – The Junior World Championship saw on average 27 lineouts per game. These numbers demonstrate the significant role that lineouts play in modern rugby.

The reason lineouts are the most potent attacking set piece is because of the options teams have when forming the number of players in the lineout as well as the fact that the back lines have to retreat ten meters from the lineout. This gives the backs more space to attack than from any other set piece play.

USA Rugby U20s win the lineout against Tonga in their opening match of the JWRT

Personally, these statistics are satisfying. To win any championship, a team needs to ensure its lineout is fully operational and accurate. USA U20s lineout success percentage went from 56% in 2011 to 91% in 2012. A year ago, we were the worst performer in this area and this year we had the highest lineout success percentage out of the both, the Junior World Trophy and the Junior World Championship.

There are many ingredients to a functioning lineout. We employed a basic calling system that was easy for all forwards to understand their individual roles in the lineout. Allied to that we had a great lineout leader in Pierce Dargan and accurate lineout throwers in hookers, Cameron Falcon and Mike Te’o.

 

USA Rugby: What happens next

From a USA Rugby U20s point of view, it was a very encouraging season. We went undefeated all season and won promotion to next year’s Junior World Championship in France. We are under no illusion that it will be extremely tough competing in the tier 1 tournament. However, this is an incredibly exciting time for the development and growth of the rugby here in the US. Now that rugby is an Olympic sport, I suspect we will continue to witness it’s explosive growth.

Last season was fantastic and very rewarding, but it is over now and the new rugby season is just about to start. Armed with these stats, we will look to improve and continue developing as a rugby-playing nation.

Captain Will Magie leads out his USA Rugby All-Americans in the JWRT final

 

For the complete statistical analysis of the IRB JWRT 2012 please click here

Click to watch the USA Rugby U20s winning performances in the JWRT.

 

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach USA Rugby Technical Coach

Gavin Hickie, USA Rugby U20s Forwards Coach, is a former Ireland A & 7s, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com

 

 

USA Rugby: Eagles run Kenya close in Hong Kong Sevens Bowl Final

USA Rugby make a strong showing in the Men’s Sevens Bowl final.

USA Rugby

An electric Kenyan side stormed back in the second half of the Hong Kong Sevens Bowl Final to edge the USA Rugby out 12-14. A 28-14 win over Scotland in the Bowl Semifinal earlier in the day gave the USA Rugby Eagles momentum that they carried into the final, but couldn’t finish Kenya off.

The first half saw USA Rugby work extremely hard on defense, holding Kenyan ball-carriers up in contact and counter rucking well.

Rookie Rocco Mauer got over for the Eagles first after gathering a slick flick pass from his captain, Shalom Suniula, and burning down the touch line for 60 meters.

Mauer and Suniula played a key role in the next USA score stepping and bunching up Kenyan defenders on the right side of the field and then stretching them out left. Colin Hawley kept good width and depth and strolled in untouched, but worked to score under the posts.

Up 12-0 at the half, the USA Rugby Eagles were simply out played in the second period.

USA Rugby Eagle Andrew Durutalo halted by the Kenyan defense at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.  Photo credit Ian Muir.

Andrew Durutalo halted by the Kenyan defense. Photo credit Ian Muir.

It began when Humphrey Kayange splintered the USA Rugby defense with an excellent angled run. Suniula nearly cut him off before he got to the try line, but the tall Kenyan stretched out and scored his team’s first points of the game.

Kenya pinched the ball from the Eagles to start their second scoring move. Kenyan and American bodies were piling up in the ruck and a quick pass released Willy Ambaka Ndayara for a try. With the successful conversion the Kenyans took a 14-12 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Late in the game the USA Rugby team worked their way deep into the Kenyan half and made an aggressive call to quick tap when the Kenyans were penalized 15 meters in front of their own posts. The Eagles backed themselves to score and button the game up, but couldn’t breach the defense. Kenya got a turnover eventually and kicked the ball a mile into the east stands to end the game.

Despite the loss, the USA Rugby team showed improvement over the course of the three day IRB Sevens tournament.

The Bowl Semifinal win against Scotland showed a glimpse of the type of rugby the Eagles aim to play; entrepreneurial and instinctive, featuring a high work rate on and off the ball.

Alex Magleby Coach of USA Rugby Eagles Rugby 7s Team and coach at Dartmouth College

Alex Magleby believes there were improvements

“We’re working hard to get the culture right on the field,” said USA Rugby Head Coach, Alex Magleby of his team’s improvement. “It’s a work in progress, but we now have a good foundation to work from.”
The 2012 Hong Kong Sevens was historic for the Eagles for two reasons. First, 22 year-old Zack Test broke the all-time record for USA tries on the IRB Sevens Series, tallying 48 scores in his young career. Second, the Scotland win was Magleby’s first as head coach after taking over for Al Caravelli earlier this month following the performance in Vegas 7s.

The USA Rugby plays next weekend in the Tokyo Sevens from March 31-April 1.

 

USA Rugby Hong Kong Sevens results

Hong Kong Sevens Bowl Final
USA Rugby 12
Tries: Mauer, Hawley
Cons: Suniula

Kenya 14
Tries: Kayange, Ndayara
Cons: Ocholla(2)
—
Hong Kong Sevens Bowl Semifinal
USA Rugby 28
Tries: Hawley, Palefau, Test, Punimata
Cons: Suniula (4)

Scotland 14
Tries: Cairns, Fleming
Cons: Gregor (2)

Press release from USA Rugby

USA Rugby

Sevens Rugby is an Olympic Event from 2016

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach USA Rugby Technical Coach

Gavin Hickie, The LineoutCoach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com

 

 

Heineken Cup Results – More Surprises in Round 2

Heineken Cup logo 1

The 2011/12 Heineken Cup is up and running. The main surprises to date have been Northampton’s disappointing form in the competition as well as Ronan O’Gara’s incredible match winning drop goals!

Due to the layout of the competition, teams will play against each other twice over the next two weeks. This always promises to be a season defining period for many of the competing teams.

Lineout Coach  picks from Round 2

 

 

Castres Olympique 24 27 Munster

Unbelievably, Munster’s fly half, Ronan O’Gara scored another last minute drop goal to win the game for his side. Munster are looking dangerous and with O’Gara’s current form, I expect them to beat the Scarlets. Unfortunate news about the injury to Munster winger, Doug Howlett broke this week. Howlett will miss the rest of the season, but this gives the exciting Simon Zebo a chance to shine.

 

 

 

Gloucester 9 – 28 Harlequins 

‘Quins are on fire this season. I have huge respect for Harlequins after the club endured a tough few years. Connor O’Shea deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround in Harlequins’ fortunes but so too do the players. The ‘Quins squad are a tight bunch of guys and the news of winger Ugo Moyne signing a new contract this week, will have given the whole club a boost. Harlequins sit top of the Aviva Premiership with 10 wins out of 10. Huge challenge awaits them over the next 2 weeks as theyface the mighty Toulouse.

 

Heineken Cup Results – Round 2

 

Pool 1  Castres Olympique 24 – 27   Munster

Northampton Saints 23 – 28   Scarlets

Pool 2  

Cardiff Blues  24 – 18   London Irish

Edinburgh  48 – 47   Racing Métro 92

Pool 3  

Leinster  38 – 13   Glasgow Warriors

Bath 16 – 13   Montpellier

Pool 4  ASM Clermont Auvergne  54 – 3 Aironi

Leicester Tigers  20 – 9 Ulster

Pool 5  

Benetton Treviso 26 – 26   Ospreys

Biarritz  15 – 10   Saracens

Pool 6  

Gloucester Rugby 9 – 28     Harlequins

Connacht 10 – 36   Toulouse

Heineken Cup Team Logos

Still time to enter the LineoutCoach  Heineken Cup Competition – get Tweeting!

 

Heineken Cup Fixtures

 

Friday, 9 December 2011

Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh, Pool 2, 20:00

Harlequins v Toulouse, Pool 6, 20:00

Ulster v Aironi, Pool 4, 19:30

 

Saturday, 10 December 2011

Castres v Northampton, Pool 1, 13:30

Connacht v Gloucester, Pool 6, 13:30

Racing Metro 92 v London Irish, Pool 2, 15:40

Saracens v Ospreys, Pool 5, 18:00

Scarlets v Munster, Pool 1, 15:40

Treviso v Biarritz, Pool 5, 13:30

 

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Bath v Leinster, Pool 3, 12:45

Clermont Auvergne v Leicester, Pool 4, 15:00

Glasgow v Montpellier, Pool 3, 12:45

 

Friday, 16 December 2011

Biarritz v Treviso, Pool 5, 20:00

Edinburgh v Cardiff Blues, Pool 2, 20:00

Ospreys v Saracens, Pool 5, 20:00

 

Saturday, 17 December 2011

Aironi v Ulster, Pool 4, 13:30

Gloucester v Connacht, Pool 6, 15:40

Leicester v Clermont Auvergne, Pool 4, 13:30

Leinster v Bath, Pool 3, 18:00

London Irish v Racing Metro 92, Pool 2, 15:00

Montpellier v Glasgow, Pool 3, 15:40

 

Sunday, 18 December 2011

Munster v Scarlets, Pool 1, 12:45

Northampton v Castres, Pool 1, 15:00

Toulouse v Harlequins, Pool 6, 15:00

 

Heineken Cup

Who will lift the Cup in 2012?

 

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Aironi v Clermont Auvergne, Pool 4

Glasgow v Leinster, Pool 3

Harlequins v Gloucester, Pool 6

London Irish v Cardiff Blues, Pool 2

Montpellier v Bath, Pool 3

Munster v Castres, Pool 1

Ospreys v Treviso, Pool 5

Racing Metro 92 v Edinburgh, Pool 2

Saracens v Biarritz, Pool 5

Scarlets v Northampton, Pool 1

Toulouse v Connacht, Pool 6

Ulster v Leicester, Pool 4

 

Saturday, 21 January 2012

Bath v Glasgow, Pool 3

Biarritz v Ospreys, Pool 5

Cardiff Blues v Racing Metro 92, Pool 2

Castres v Scarlets, Pool 1

Clermont Auvergne v Ulster, Pool 4

Connacht v Harlequins, Pool 6

Edinburgh v London Irish, Pool 2

Gloucester v Toulouse, Pool 6

Leicester v Aironi, Pool 4

Leinster v Montpellier, Pool 3

Northampton v Munster, Pool 1

Treviso v Saracens, Pool 5

 

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach

Gavin Hickie, The LineoutCoach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leciester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com

What makes a good lineout session?

Lineout – your technical guide to this set piece play.

Lineout

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Rugby World Cup: Ireland V Wales Preview

Rugby World Cup Preview with Lineout Coach

A short video on the upcoming Ireland V Wales Rugby World Cup Quarter Final: Ahead of the Celtic clash of two of the Six Nations teams Gavin Hickie looks at the teams and the tactics we can expect. 

 

Rugby World Cup 2011 logoRugby World Cup

Follow it all on Lineout Coach

 

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach USA Rugby Technical CoachGavin Hickie, USA Rugby U20s Forwards Coach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com about the Rugby World Cup #busy

Rugby World Cup: Ireland V Italy Analysis

Rugby World Cup – Set piece analysis

Earls scores for Ireland against Italy in the Rugby World Cup

Birthday boy Earls scored twice

Ireland Rugby LogoIreland are through to the Quarter Finals of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Huge credit must go to Irish coach, Declan Kidney and every member of his squad. Ireland went into the tournament with four straight loses. Now, the Irish team have recorded four convincing wins and have qualified top of Pool C. Credit must also be given to the outstanding support the Irish team are receiving in New Zealand. Every Irish player has spoken of the incredible support for the team. Don’t underestimate the influence the crowd can have on a result. They lift the player’s spirits and inspire confidence within the squad. To all in New Zealand, keep up the great work!

Italy Rugby Logo

The set piece always plays a vital role in any game of rugby. This game was always going to be won or lost up front in the set piece and that is how it turned out. Both sides were evenly balanced at half time. The loss of Italian tight head prop, Martin Castrogiovanni early in the second half swung the game in Ireland’s favour. Castro’s injury saw him replaced by Lo Cicero, who cannot play at tight head. This meant that loose head prop Perugini was forced to play at tight head. This was a monumental disaster for the Italians as their scrums simply fell apart. No rugby team in the world can hope to win a game without functioning scrums and lineouts. It is certainly not possible at this level.

Lineouts offer the most effective form of attack for a rugby side. Ireland utilized their lineout plays extremely well in the second half and the results were apparent. The Irish team scored two tries from exactly the same lineout move, from exactly the same place on the pitch. This was a rehearsed move that the Irish squad must have worked on throughout the week leading up to this game.

 

Rugby World Cup Analysis: Here is the breakdown of Ireland’s set piece:

 

Rugby World Cup: Ireland had four lineouts in the first half

  1. On halfway. Full man lineout. Outcome = Kick
  2. On Italian 22m line. 6 man. Outcome = Earls almost in at corner. Lineout to Italy
  3. On Italian 10m line. Full man lineout. Outcome = Lineout to Italy
  4. On Italian 10m line. 5 man lineout. Outcome = Penalty to Italy (Penalty reversed

Rugby World Cup: Ireland had six lineouts in the second half

  1. On Italian 10m line. Full man lineout. Outcome = Missed drop goal
  2. On Italian 10m line. Full man. Thrown to front. Outcome = TRY (BO’D)
  3. On Italian 10m line. Full man. Thrown to front. Outcome = TRY (Earls)
  4. On Italian 22m line. Full man. Outcome = Scrum (Kearney Held Up)
  5. On Ireland 10m line. Full man lineout. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland
  6. On Ireland 22m line. Full man. Thrown to front. Outcome = Kick

 

Rugby World Cup: Lineout analysis

The loss of tight head prop Martin Castrogiovanni saw Italy fall to pieces in their scrums and lineouts. As a prop, Castro obviously had a massive role to play in the scrums but any change of personnel in the lineouts can and did cause major disruption for the Italians. 

 

Rugby World Cup: Ireland had three scrums in the first half

  1. On Italian 10m line. Outcome = Kick
  2. On halfway line. Multiple phases. Outcome = Kick
  3. On Italian 22m line. Outcome = Scrum to Italy

Rugby World Cup: Ireland had four scrums in the second half

  1. On Ireland 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland
  2. On Italian 5m line. Outcome = Turnover to Italy/Against the head
  3. On Ireland 22m line. Outcome = Free kick to Ireland
  4. On Ireland 5m line. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland

 

Rugby World Cup: Scrum analysis

Ireland are four wins from four and are oozing confidence. The team have generated tournament momentum by winning. Winning is a habit and Ireland are in the habit of winning at the moment. However, so are Ireland’s next opponents, Wales. These two sides are the in-form European rugby teams and another massive clash is in store next week. 

Rugby World Cup on LineoutCoach

LineoutCoach video analysis service - give it a try!

 

 

 

Rugby World Cup: France V New Zealand – ANALYSIS

Rugby World Cup: set piece analysis

Rugby World Cup

McCaw is the first Kiwi to win 100 caps…

According to the I.R.B. rankings, this game saw first place, New Zealand against fifth place, France. Before the game, there was plenty of talk about how both teams might want to lose the game in order to finish in second place in the group. That rumour was quickly dispelled soon after kick off.

All Blacks legend and player of the century, Colin Meads sent out an ominous warning to all the teams looking to lift the Webb-Ellis Trophy. Meads reportedly declared that the All Blacks will go unbeaten and ridiculed the idea of All Blacks losing on purpose. Meads’ declaration proved true as the All Blacks secured a bonus point with the first play of the second half.

New Zealand ripped the French apart. France are well known for being a scziophrenic team. They have the ability to be sublime in one game and shockingly poor in the next. If anyone has the capabilities of beating the All Blacks, it is the French. However, the French will not beat many teams playing with the lack of intensity that they displayed today. The French fell off too many tackles and lacked the conviction needed to compete against the world’s greatest rugby team.

This rugby world cup game also marked a very special occasion for All Blacks legend, Richie McCaw. I played against McCaw in 2001 at the under 21’s world cup in Australia. New Zealand won that competition and later that year, McCaw made his senior debut against Ireland. Today’s game against France, saw the flanker become the first Kiwi ever to represent his country one hundred times. An incredible feat!

New Zealand gave a masterclass in set piece execution.

 

Rugby World Cup: Set piece analysis

The All Blacks had a total of 9 lineouts in the game.

Rugby World Cup: The Kiwis had 7 lineouts in the first half and were clinical from these set pieces.

  1. 5 man lineout on the halfway line. Throw to the tail. Overthrow but results in TRY
  2. Full man lineout on French 10m line. Throw to tail. Inside pass to Jane. TRY
  3. 5 man lineout on NZ 10m line. Throw to tail. Outcome = TRY
  4. Full man lineout on French 10m line. Throw to tail. Outcome = Kick
  5. Quick lineout.
  6. 5 man lineout in NZ 22. Throw to front. Outcome = Kick
  7. Full man lineout on halfway line. Outcome = Kick

Rugby World Cup: 2nd Half

  1. 5 man lineout in French 22. Throw to middle. Outcome = Knock On
  2. Full man lineout in French 22. Throw to middle. Outcome = Drop goal
Rugby World Cup: Lineout analysis
New Zealand scored 22 points from their lineouts in this rugby world cup game. This is proof that executing lineouts effectively results in scores. A well run lineout is a potent weapon as the Kiwis displayed.


New Zealand had 11 scrums in the game.

Rugby World Cup: 1st Half                                                                                              
  1. On NZ 5m line. Outcome = Kick
  2. On halfway line. Outcome = Scrum to NZ
  3. On French 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to NZ
  4. On French 10m line. Outcome = Scrum to France
Rugby World Cup: 2nd Half
  1. On NZ 10m line. Outcome = Kick
  2. On French 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to NZ.
  3. On NZ 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to NZ
  4. On French 5m line. Outcome = Penalty to France
  5. On NZ 10m line. Outcome = Kick
  6. On NZ 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to NZ
  7. On French 10m line. Outcome = Penalty to France
Rugby World Cup: scrum analysis
New Zealand sent out a warning shot to all other rugby playing nations today. Nothing less than lifting the Rugby World Cup will do for the New Zealand public. The pressure is on the All Blacks, but it feels like it is their Rugby World Cup to lose….      

More Rugby World Cup on LineoutCoach

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach USA Rugby Technical CoachGavin Hickie, USA Rugby U20s Forwards Coach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging on lineoutcoach.com about the Rugby World Cup #busy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Rugby World Cup: The Breakdown – Analysis Ireland V Australia

Rugby World Cup – upset Down Under.

Rugby World Cup: Ireland V Australia

Rugby World Cup Ireland eliminated the Australian set piece…

Ireland beat Tri-Nations Champions Australia in the biggest surprise to date at the Rugby World Cup. Huge credit goes to the team and management for this fantastic win. Want to see how Ireland won the game?….

Here is the breakdown…..

Ireland did not let Australia get any useful possession from scrums or lineouts. This is the reason Ireland won the game. If a team cannot win clean ball from a scrum or lineout, they cannot build their phases, plan their attacks and execute as according to plan.

 

Rugby World Cup Set Piece Analysis

Australia had 10 lineouts in the game. 5 in the first half.

Australia Wallabies Rugby LogoRugby World Cup: This is what happened in each of their 5 lineouts;

  1. Full man lineout. Thrown to back pod. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland
  2. 5 Man lineout. Thrown to pack pod. Overthrow 
  3. Full Man Lineout. Thrown to front pod. Outcome = Held Up – Scrum to Ireland
  4. Full Man Lineout. Thrown to front pod. Outcome = Scrum to Australia
  5. Full Man Lineout. Thrown to back pod. Crooked throw.

Out of 5 lineouts in the first 40 mins, Australia had 1 positive outcome. This shows great Irish lineout defence along with poor set piece execution by Australian forward pack.

 

Ireland Rugby LogoRugby World Cup: 2nd Half Lineouts

  1. Quick Lineout on Australian 5m line. Outcome = Kick to touch. Irish lineout
  2. Short man lineout. Messy ball back to Cooper. Outcome = Kick away possession
  3. Full Man Lineout. Crooked throw. Turnover. Irish scrum.
  4. Full Man Lineout. Thrown to front pod and mauled. Outcome = Irish Scrum.
  5. 4 Man Lineout. Thrown to back pod and moved off the top. Outcome = Irish Penalty.
Out of 5 lineouts in the second 40mins, Australia gave away two Irish scrums, kicked away possession twice and gave Ireland a penalty. No team can win a game with these statistics from their lineouts.

Rugby World Cup: Lineout Analysis 
This analysis shows that from 10 lineouts during the game, Australia achieved only 1 positive outcome. This is due to the outstanding defensive work of the Irish pack combined with the below standard set piece execution by the Australian pack. 


Australia Wallabies Rugby LogoRugby World Cup: Australia were awarded 4 scrums in the first half
  1. Solid Australian scrum. Outcome = Kick away possession. 
  2. Reset. Scrum collapse. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland.
  3. Australian scrum under pressure. Outcome = Kick away possession.
  4. Australia under pressure. Ferris drives Genia back. Outcome = Scrum to Ireland.
Out of 4 Australian scrums in the first 40 mins, Australia kicked away possession twice, gave Ireland a scrum and a penalty. 

Ireland Rugby LogoRugby World Cup: 2nd Half Scrums
  1. Solid Australian scrum. Outcome = Kick away possession.
  2. Scrum collapse. Reset. Outcome = Penalty to Ireland
  3. Attacking Australian scrum on Ireland 5m line. Outcome = Australia scrum
  4. Attacking Australian scrum. Bow intercepts. Outcome = Australian lineout.
Out of 4 Australian scrums in the second 40 mins, Australia kicked away possession once, won a scrum, conceded a penalty and won a lineout after Tommy Bowe’s intercept.

Rugby World Cup: Scrum Analysis
The scrum analysis shows us that out of 8 Australian scrums, the Wallabies could only manage 1 positive outcome. The single positive outcome resulted in another scrum for Australia. This eventually resulted in Tommy Bowe’s intercept and charge downfield.


The Irish pack completely cut off Australian ball possession at the set piece. The Irish front row along with O’Connell, Ferris and O’Brien played like men possessed. Australia sorely missed open side flanker, David Pocock, and hooker Stephen Moore. These two late withdrawals forced Australian coach, Robbie Deans into starting flanker McCamlan and hooker Polota-Nau.

Ireland ensured they caused as much disruption to the Australian set piece and starved the Wallabies of the ball. Memories of Gordon Hamilton out sprinting Wallaby legend, David Campese to score a try and put Ireland ahead with only minutes to go at Lansdowne Road in 1991 were at the fore watching last night’s game. Ireland were only minutes away from a Rugby World Cup semi-final place in 1991, until Michael Lynagh scored the late, winning try for the Australians. The Wallabies went on to the win that World Cup. The ghosts of Rugby World Cup 1991 have been laid to rest.

The whole Irish squad and management deserve huge credit for limiting Australian ball possession. Irish defensive coach, Les Kiss deserves a special mention. Ireland were outstanding in defence and aggressive at the break down.
Ireland sit top of Pool C with 8 points. 2 wins out of 2 and in pole position. The Irish have 2 remaining pool games against Russia and Italy. Ireland will need to build on their historic victory over the Wallabies which has shaken up the Rugby World Cup and presents all sorts of unexpected potential quarter final match ups. 

It is too early for Ireland to think about Rugby World Cup quarter finals but with 2 wins out of 2 at the Rugby World Cup, Ireland can build on their tournament momentum. Ireland could well prove to be a very difficult team to beat. Who knows where that may lead….
More Rugby World Cup coverage on LineoutCoach.com

Gavin Hickie LineoutCoach USA Rugby Technical CoachGavin Hickie, USA Rugby U20s Forwards Coach, is a former Ireland, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now based in California and taking rugby to the USA. He writes for RugbyMag.com and other publications when not coaching for Belmont Shore and blogging about the Rugby World Cup on lineoutcoach.com #busy

Irish Times

Former Leinster Captain Liam Toland writes for the Irish Times

Excerpt from The Irish Times

Brave USA effort won’t be enough to cope with Ireland

….”There is an appetite for rugby in the US through its colleges and coastal towns but the US simply don’t back a sport that doesn’t make money independently (TV etc).

Hickie hopes to give back to US rugby what he gained from his time at Leinster and Leicester before injury struck; through coaching in California. Tough job!”….

Read the full article HERE


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