The Wingers and Fullback, AKA: "The Glory Boys"

Key Factors

1. Positioning. You will be judged on your abilities in open space. Positioning is 90% of the job. You have to be constantly aware of your position to cover the likely plays (often more than several plays to consider at any one time). Although there are differences, the back three are a unit that works together with similar skills. You should be constantly be aware of each other’s position and communicate your intentions when necessary. When the ball is kicked deep, you should all be looking to support the ball catcher and make the correct decision. Safety under the high ball is a basic skill for all these positions, competent kicking is also a major advantage. Sometimes you have to cover different options and mind read the opposing fly-half to put yourself in the right position. If you feel he will kick for touch or position try to anticipate and intercept. You can give yourself time and therefore make better decisions. Wingers on the blindside should be in a flat position for scrums in defence, and deeper position for lineouts where the forwards will take any runners near the line. On the openside you will lie deeper in defence than the centres to take any diagonal kicks. Be conscious of the wind, this will dictate how deep you need to lie. If they elect to run you will have time to take a flatter defensive position by the time the ball comes wide. Who takes the last man will be decided between the wingers and the full back prior to the game. As long as everyone knows the agreed plan the defence will work- communicate.

2. Focus Wingers and full backs can spend long periods of the game with little actual involvement. You have to remain focused and ready and in optimal position. The few chances you get have to be taken. You have to be in the right place, at the right time, going at the right pace. Correct timing and position will allow you to take your chances. If you take your chances the whole team will involve you more and more. As cruel as it is, you are in the open and missed chances and mistakes will be obvious and your supply of ball will dry up. If you are confident, focused and feel sharp you have the best chance of making an impact when the opportunities come. In this case, the team will provide the ball in abundance. Wingers in particular are finishers, so do your best and go ‘hell for leather’ for a score. No other player on the field is given this message, so enjoy it.

3. Using possession The people you usually receive passes from include the centres, half backs or each other, but could be anyone. Communicate with your centres and half backs. Let them know if you can see a clear chance, overlaps etc. Try to read the game of your team mates. If you have a centre who is good at making breaks get to him as quickly as possible to support. He may beat two players and then be looking for support. As a ‘finisher’ it is your job to finish what he has started. A skilled centre will make space to release his wingers, rather than simply passing if nothing is on for himself. If you want it call for it.

4. Continuity As a passer you should be highly able, particularly in drawing the defence and then releasing other players into space. You will often draw the defence creating space on the inside or the outside and a simple pass will move the ball back into space. In joining the line from full back or the blindside, you will be coming into the centres at pace. In this position you need to commit opposition players and pass or if the space is there, go through it. In space you can afford to give a well timed pass before your opponent is tackling you; a late pass out of contact has higher risk and may result a poor pass and the movement will fail. Once you have passed make yourself available again. A good winger or full-back can be involved several times in a play if he keeps going.

5. Running skills, pace if you have it, use it. Sidestep/swerve useful for all players essential for wingers and full backs. Move your opponent around. Stop him by running straight then accelerate wide. Pull him wide then cut inside, Use a hand off to push him away as he makes a tackle. If you are stronger than him use it to break his tackle on your terms. Try to get him off balance, be closer or further away than he expects. Do it on your terms! Change of pace can also help in this. Practice makes perfect so practice this. Don’t neglect your hand off, this is most useful when breaking tackles and keeping players away from the ball. Enjoy!!

6. Defence is vital; Try not to get sucked in if they have an overlap. Unless you are on your own line, you can play for time and allow your team mates to cover the deficit inside. If you rush up and take the ball carrier he will feed the extra man who will continue unopposed with less chance of the cover getting to him. Bide your time and wait for the players inside to catch up. On your own line this will simply let the ball carrier score so you have to take the ball carrier as hard and as early as possible if there is a clear overlap. Your aim in this position is to tackle him before he has a chance to pass or hit him so hard he drops the ball or throws a poor pass. Positioning is very important in defence. If you are quicker than your opposite number you can ‘show’ him the outside and tackle him from the side or behind. If he is quicker he will be away. If you know he is quicker, line up a little wider so he has to run further to get round you. In this situation you are more likely to be sidestepped but less likely to be out paced so keep your wits about you. Any potential overlap should be spotted and covered. If you see one developing call for extra cover. Defending in open play is different, too much pace will allow a good player to wrong foot you, so make sure you are covering the space before committing too heavily If you have the player in your sights cut down his options and take him out as hard as you can. Go low and take the legs, even a powerful runner cannot run if his legs are held together. Like the centres you will have a psychological advantage if you can close your opponent down and tackle him hard.

7. Moves Moves are a waste of time unless the handling and running skills are already well developed. Simplicity and execution are the key factors. No move is good unless it is done accurately with everyone fully aware of the aims of that particular play. Any move involving multiple blind passes and players’ coming from all directions has high risk and is often a disaster when the defence is organised. Miss moves, switches and variation of running angles and length of pass are simple and easy to execute. Full backs and blind side wingers coming into the line can make a huge impression if the pace and timing is right.

8. Read the game and take control of the outer midfield. If the opposition are dozy and we are alert, we can run in tries and have some fun. Be conscious of the opposition centres, wingers and full back. You can exploit any weakness if you spot an Achilles heel. Communicate this to your fly half/centre/wingers and apply some pressure (run, kick or pass).