AKA: "The Playmaker"

Key Factors
1.   Decision Making You will be judged on your skills and your decision making. You should direct the game depending on conditions and the strengths and weaknesses of those around you (including the opposition). You’re responsible for using possession to the best effect for the team. Good quality quick ball is better for releasing your back line at pace and varying the point of attack to our strongest point/their weakest point. This may be with a passing movement using the line or could be a kick for field position. In a defensive field position you will tend to stand deeper to give yourself more time to allow an easier kick under pressure. If they are getting close or charge your kick down, then stand deeper. You should be in constant communication with the scrum half who is your main playing partner during the game. If 9 and 10 play well and understand each other, the team is far more likely to play well and win (more enjoyable).

2.   Kicking is a hugely important part of your game both in attack and defence. Practice all types of kicks used in various positions on the pitch. Give yourself space in defence by standing deeper. Ask the scrum half to pass directly at your chest to enable you to catch and kick in good time and be able to use either foot if you are coming under pressure from one side. A skilled fly half will kick for position or touch with a blend of safety and courage. Missed touches will allow the opposition to attack and could lose the game, so go for distance with a reasonable margin of safety. With a dominant pack, you can kick for position (diagonal kicks to the corners) and allow the forwards to take the game to the opposition, before securing quick quality ball for you to release the backs. Forwards really appreciate a fly half who can kick skilfully and take territorial control with well placed kicks. Be conscious of the opposition wingers and full back. You can exploit any weakness if you spot an Achilles heel. Communicate this to your centres/wingers and apply some pressure (kicks or passes).

3.   Passing The people you usually pass to include the centres, wingers/fullback, back row forwards but could be anyone. You are a link between all these people and often it will be your choice as which play is best. As a passer you and the scrum half should possibly be the most skilled on the pitch. Your passes will allow the players around you to do their jobs with confidence in space and with pace. You should be able to vary your passing from long accurate spin passes to players (centres/full backs) hitting gaps at pace, to short popped passes to players running close (centres/back row blind side wingers) and anything in between. You should be able to draw defenders before passing the ball to create more space out wider. If you want the ball to go wide pass the ball early to allow players time to get the ball out. If you simply pass the ball and the defender to the next player, the defence will outnumber the attackers and the move will be closed down. It is important to run straight as you give the ball to hold the defence. You will sometimes have to take the scrum half position if the No 9 is trapped, so don’t neglect your spin pass from the ground. If the forwards are under pressure, but the backs are dominant you should get the ball away to the centres/wingers quickly and accurately to give them space to play and win the game.

4.   Tackling you should be lining up to tackle like the centres. Teams often try to target the fly half who is a skilled player and sometimes is physically lighter than neighbouring centres or back rowers. The fly half can be seen as a potential weakness to target. It is important to tackle effectively and stop all comers in this area. If you put in a couple of solid effective tackles they will soon be probing for other areas. If you are tackling heavier stronger players use your speed and tackle early and low and avoid the bulk and upper body strength. Hit hard, grab and slide down the legs to get them to the ground as early as possible (Wilkinson/Michalak spring to mind). If you are strong you may wish to go higher and drive the ball carrier back with a good chance of getting hands on the ball, but this is usually left to back row forwards. Stopping ball carriers on the tackle line is the priority, and then regaining feet and getting back in position asap.

5.   Positioning in defence When the opposing back line attacks, you should position yourself on the inside shoulder of your opposing fly half and lead the defensive line up as quick as reasonably possible. Never take a dummy! Centres will use you as their reference point when aligning themselves to defend.  If you go up quicker or slower than the centres, gaps will appear. If you all go up quickly as a line you will get the opportunity to close them down and apply pressure. Too much pace will allow a good player to wrong foot you, so make sure you are covering the space before committing too heavily. Once you have the player in your sights, accelerate and hit hard as you can. If your opposite number passes the ball out you can squeeze up on the opposite centre. If he cuts inside the inside centre you will be there ready to tackle. This will often end up as a two-man tackle, you and the centre. This is regularly seen in professional rugby; players in the centre straightening up to be met by 2 or 3 tacklers.

6.   Running the ball. Be prepared to run the ball if a gap opens up. If you are quick and you see an opportunity where you can make some yards accelerate through the gap. Look for support before you get isolated. Forwards/centres/wings should be close if you take this option. Practice running skills. Very often this will be down to instinct and can be combined with other skills. A good player shaping up for a pass will instinctively throw a dummy when they see the opposition move out of position. Attack spaces and let others near know your intentions. There are plenty of opportunities to pass and support the centres and wingers or take passes off forwards on the rampage. Let them know you are there. If your running is a strong asset, use it, if it isn’t, look to your other talents of kicking and distribution and bring in the players around you.

7.   Conclusion Read the game and take control, communicate with the forwards and the backs. You, with the scrum half, are the oil in the machine and if you play well so will the players around you. When a penalty is given, let the scrum half know where you are. He will be looking to get the ball as quickly as possible and you are one of his first options. If the opposition are dozy and we are alert, we can run in tries and have some fun.