Simon Geoghegan.

I think every Irish kid growing up in the 90’s wanted to be Simon Geoghegan once they picked up a rugby ball. Geoghegan is a living legend, yet in the amateur era he received only 37 caps in a playing career that was plagued by chronic injury and the surgeon’s scalpel.
In a [...]

Respect the Ball.

Leinster’s defeat to Munster at the RDS on Sunday evening held a valuable lessons for any players watching, young and old.
Respect the ball.
Don’t throw it away. Don’t give cheap turnovers. Don’t get yourself into an exposed position where the ball is easily snatched by the opposition. Don’t force the pass.
These are simple lessons, but they [...]

3 things to look at next time you have a session.

 Watch your language

I am always amazed at the ease at which coaches and players resort to cussing their way through a game, team-talk or training session. It achieves nothing. It is wasted energy.  It promotes inarticulate interaction among the entire team set-up and perhaps most importantly it shows a lack of standards and willingness to [...]

Set Moves are dead.

“Moves” in the conventional sense are dead. Video analysis has rendered the playbook obsolete. No longer can players rely on their 10 to be the playmaker and leader of the line. From now on leadership and initiative will have to come from every outside back, 12 to 15.
This is a good thing. Ask your back [...]

Stop players trying to read your mind. Tell them what you think.

To often I fall into the trap of deceiving myself. I assume the player knows what I think of him, how I feel about them. In fact it is the opposite. They have no idea. Next time you take a training session ask a player. I would suggest that there is a strong chance he hasn’t [...]

Shaun Edwards and constructive criticism.

The Times online carries an interesting insight into the head of Shaun Edwards. When Nigel Melville resigned as head coach of Wasps the reigns passed onto Warren Gatland and Edwards. Their first game ended in a convincing defeat to London Irish and lot of reflection. Wasps were about to reach their tipping point. and begin a [...]

The Philosophy of Heyneke Meyer.

It is very interesting to hear and see how other coaches work. You can always pick up that bit extra to keep you moving forward as a coach. Personality tests is definitely a new one!
Heyneke Meyer, the Super 14 winning coach is big on man management. Everyone is different so you [...]

Pay attention for penalties!

 

I have to thank the guys at rugbydump.com for this one! I would imagine most players would ball watch in a situation like this; medium range penalty with the ball most likely to go dead, someone like Cliff Mytton is a bit of a rarity. Yet its a two way thing, the [...]

Bulldog.

Do you ever wonder why kids are fat, lazy and unhappy these days? When I was 10 my primary school decreed that all children would refrain from running in the school yard. No running, no jumping, no fun. No football, no basketball, no action. By nature we were active. By force we were reduced to [...]

Adjusting your wings to the ELV’s.

Coaches have a strange habit of sticking weaker players on the wing. This is strange for a few reasons. The wing is more exposed than any other position and any mistakes made here are often both glaring and costly. This is not good for a struggling players confidence. Lashing a weaker player onto the wing [...]