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Key rugby coaching tip
Instead of competing for the ball in the air, instead of driving into the jumper when they reach the ground, instead of pulling the jumper to the ground before a maul forms… the Italians do nothing!
As expected the opposition catch the ball and, as they've practised frequently, quickly form a "cluster" of players around the jumper. A team-mate rips the ball from the jumper and moves it to the back of the "cluster", where, under usual circumstances, it would be safest.
Don't maul with the opposition
Crucially, however, because the Italians aren't engaging, there's no maul. This means their hooker can whip around behind the opposition "cluster" and tackle the ball carrier at the back. Since there's no maul, there's no offside... just confused opponents.
Putting the tactic into practice
If you're going to try this yourself, you should note the following key rugby coaching points:
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