dobduff11
Trevor Allan (34)
Whether you are watching the game at the ground or on the couch watching at it on the tv Line Breaks are one of rugby's most exhilarating features.
The purpose of this thread is to point out the regular line break occurences, the conditions in which they take place and as a helping hand for those still playing rugby.
Although line breaks are often instinctive flashes of brilliance they can be studied and used to great effect for one's personal benefit.
Watching Larkham ghost through the gap, Nonu's hip movement and step or Quade's hop step and skip methods you can actually position yourself for these oppurtunities and look for them as they pop up.
Having played fly half for the past five or six years I can usually guarentee that once or twice a game a particular gap will open up. After doing them a few times you can usually sense they will be there. Although don't go for them everytime otherwise you will get nailed especially at 10.
There are several and I will provide video evidence for their existence (for any doubters
):
1. The straighten, dummy inside to a flying winger or back rower and skip through the gap. This particular gap was exposed brilliantly by Quade in the match against the Bulls last week. 0.14
[video=youtube;Oppcqhyz8VY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oppcqhyz8VY[/video]
2. The dummy switch and step back against the drift defence to slice through the line. As shown by Matt Giteau at 2.35
[video=youtube;qYSx_ZK1-BY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYSx_ZK1-BY[/video]
3. The immediately straighten and catch the opposite ten on his heels. Also shown by Giteau in the above video at 1.44
4. The standard and probably most used break is the dummy, shimmy and straight through. Used close to the gain line can be deadly. Larkham favourite 2.45
[video=youtube;WREmrQ6WC-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WREmrQ6WC-Q[/video]
5. Run deep to the blindside with a trailing fullback behind you. Dummy and straight through the line. Can't find a video but pretty sure Mehrtens scored off of it once.
6. The delay, dummy and wait for the rush defence. Then dummy again and drift through the gap whilst probably dumming a switch at the same time. Larkham video at 4.39
The ones which occur less often include:
1. Dummy kick and run past the chaser with ease.
2. Loop off of the 12 and through the line. Usually ends up with the 10 passing it though.
3. Recieve the ball and switch play immediately run round to the blind side and usually their is a gap. Larkham video above at 1.25
Hope you enjoyed the read and please add any you have encountered over the years (especially 12 as I might be playing there next year).
My top Fly Half Line Breakers in no particular order:
1. Quade Cooper
2. Stephen Larkham
3. Dan Carter
4. Carlos Spencer
5. James O'Connor (especially at Nudgee the kid was a freak)
6. James Hook
7. Frederic Michalak
8. Matt Giteau
9. Phil Bennett
10. Aaron Cruden
As an aside this is pdf that Jason Gilmore put to together, it's an analysis of line breaks and is quite an interesting read.
http://www.rugby.com.au/verve/_resources/Linebreak_Anaylsis-_J_Gilmore_2006.pdf
The purpose of this thread is to point out the regular line break occurences, the conditions in which they take place and as a helping hand for those still playing rugby.
Although line breaks are often instinctive flashes of brilliance they can be studied and used to great effect for one's personal benefit.
Watching Larkham ghost through the gap, Nonu's hip movement and step or Quade's hop step and skip methods you can actually position yourself for these oppurtunities and look for them as they pop up.
Having played fly half for the past five or six years I can usually guarentee that once or twice a game a particular gap will open up. After doing them a few times you can usually sense they will be there. Although don't go for them everytime otherwise you will get nailed especially at 10.
There are several and I will provide video evidence for their existence (for any doubters
):1. The straighten, dummy inside to a flying winger or back rower and skip through the gap. This particular gap was exposed brilliantly by Quade in the match against the Bulls last week. 0.14
[video=youtube;Oppcqhyz8VY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oppcqhyz8VY[/video]
2. The dummy switch and step back against the drift defence to slice through the line. As shown by Matt Giteau at 2.35
[video=youtube;qYSx_ZK1-BY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYSx_ZK1-BY[/video]
3. The immediately straighten and catch the opposite ten on his heels. Also shown by Giteau in the above video at 1.44
4. The standard and probably most used break is the dummy, shimmy and straight through. Used close to the gain line can be deadly. Larkham favourite 2.45
[video=youtube;WREmrQ6WC-Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WREmrQ6WC-Q[/video]
5. Run deep to the blindside with a trailing fullback behind you. Dummy and straight through the line. Can't find a video but pretty sure Mehrtens scored off of it once.
6. The delay, dummy and wait for the rush defence. Then dummy again and drift through the gap whilst probably dumming a switch at the same time. Larkham video at 4.39
The ones which occur less often include:
1. Dummy kick and run past the chaser with ease.
2. Loop off of the 12 and through the line. Usually ends up with the 10 passing it though.
3. Recieve the ball and switch play immediately run round to the blind side and usually their is a gap. Larkham video above at 1.25
Hope you enjoyed the read and please add any you have encountered over the years (especially 12 as I might be playing there next year
).My top Fly Half Line Breakers in no particular order:
1. Quade Cooper
2. Stephen Larkham
3. Dan Carter
4. Carlos Spencer
5. James O'Connor (especially at Nudgee the kid was a freak)
6. James Hook
7. Frederic Michalak
8. Matt Giteau
9. Phil Bennett
10. Aaron Cruden
As an aside this is pdf that Jason Gilmore put to together, it's an analysis of line breaks and is quite an interesting read.
http://www.rugby.com.au/verve/_resources/Linebreak_Anaylsis-_J_Gilmore_2006.pdf