19/11/2013
The Aim of the Re-start:
Let’s start with the real basics here, for the kicking team the aim of any restart is for that team to recover the ball from the kick off cleanly or to put the opposition deep in their own defensive third thus forcing them to eventually kick either to touch or in field so you get the advantage of the throw in to the line out or a free carry and a chance to attack.
Teams spend a great deal of time working on defensive systems – to try to create turnovers – an emphasis on restarts can have a real impact on possession – if you can get your own back -it’s a turnover!
A couple of things to think about when taking a restart; have calls for different parts of the field you may want to kick so your chasers know where it is going. Never pre call a restart, make your call when you get to the centre spot as you don’t really want to kick to their best catcher who’s probably been practicing receiving restarts all week.
Plan to kick to:
·Space to move the receivers around
· A perceived weak link
· A miss match in size/ability.
This gives you the best chance of winning the ball back.
There are a variety of restarts but we are going to look at a few basic options and the detail behind executing them well:
1.1. The traditional short restart.
This is a good option for a team with players who are strong, fast aerial challengers and should be considered as a forward pass! The kicker should be aiming for the ball to land within 5m of the opposition 10 m line. Hang time is crucial, you are looking not for maximum hang time as is the popular misconception but the OPTIMUM hang time- enough time for your chasers to get there and as little time as possible for the opposition forwards to form a catching ‘pod’ of two playing s lifting a catcher.
Executing this is about choosing the right players to chase and also knowing that a second wave of chasers should be behind the primary chasers; a) to pick up any loose or dropped ball and b) to apply pressure to the opposition if they get possession. It is also an idea for a player, usually the wing to run around behind the opposition pod/catcher to cover any loose ball that may get tapped back.
1.2. A restart directly up in front of the kicker
This is a great option to win the ball back. You can subtly put your best chaser next to 10 to chase and look to win the ball. The advantage of this kick is usually the receiving team have a single player directly in front 12/7 this allows a one on one contest for the ball with the advantage with the chasing player. There is a big emphasis on the kicker to get optimum height so the chaser arrives at the same time as the balls lands. A normal chase would consist of one player competing for the ball, one player behind the chaser looking to secure ball or tidy any tap back and one player in behind the opposition jumper again to cover any ball getting knocked down.
1.3. The Long restart:
This generally is the most common option especially if the conditions are windy/wet or the ground is heavy underfoot making it hard to get the height. As the kicking side you are looking to get the ball high and as deep as possible towards the corner and use your chasers to force the receivers to clear to touch on your terms. A reasonable gain from this type of kick off is often a line out anywhere from the opponent 10m line to their own goal line or catching the ball somewhere in field.
Two aspects of this type of kick are worth considering;
Firstly, the hang time, there’s a good 40 m for your chasing forwards and wing to cover, therefore the longer the hang time generally the better. The very best sides will work out exactly the optimum hang time for their rushing chasers to get to the landing point of the kick and aim to have those chasers there as the ball lands, thus hopefully being able to get high into the air after overcoming the momentum of the run.
Secondly, if you cannot get the ball back your objective is to allow the opposition as little time and room as possible to secure the ball and to make a kick to ‘touch’. The risk to any team running the ball from deep is any error and you risk ‘turn over’ ball or a set piece deep in your own half.
Those are the basic restart options used by most teams. However a good side always has a number of variations of the two major options; in really wet conditions a useful alternative is the hard hit diagonal grubber kick, skidding low into the opposition defensive line up. It can be very difficult to gather the ball and get control. A knock on is often the result in a good attacking scrum position.
Receiving the restart
Defending against these kicks is about getting your key catchers to the ball as quickly as possible. Some teams try to get a couple of players gently lumbering innocently in the way of the rushing chasers. This can sometimes help but its high risk with sharp referees. The aim is to get your players under the ball early then use lifters to gain a height advantage from a static position, if time is allowed
