Know their kicking game: boxes and bombs

by Rob Hoadley in Kicking, Tactics

By reading their specific kicking cues, your players can be in position to receive different types of kick. Know the signs for high ball kicks from their 9 or 10 and be ready to counter.

9 BOX KICK

LEFT HAND SIDE: A flanker comes from the back of the lineout
RIGHT HAND SIDE: The 9 stands at the front of the lineout to pressurise the right-footed kicker

Where do they use it from:

In their own 22m, normally from a lineout, but also from rucks inside the 15m lines.
Also their 9 might use it from a turnover with a ruck close to the touchline.

Watch out for:

The positioning of 9 at base of ruck – his foot placement, body angle and line of vision.
Their forwards acting as blockers in place around ruck.
The blindside winger up flat and ready to chase the kick.

Many teams like to use a landed lineout with a pop back to the 9 once the catcher has landed on the ground. This allows a much more controlled pass back to the 9 than a tap off the top. It also allows 9 to maintain distance behind the lineout to stay back from kick pressure.

Some teams will use an immediate low top-spin box kick if they think the offensive wing and 15 are involved in the wide ruck that has been turned over.

Also teams will use a high box into your half in bad conditions.

Defensive tips

From a left side (defensive) lineout against a right-footed box kicker, your 9 can start in the 5m channel and use his speed to anticipate and pressure the kick after the pass back to the kicking 9 from the lineout catcher.

From the right side of the field it is more useful to nominate a back row forward towards the back of the lineout to pressure the 9 kick as the player coming from the 5m channel has a poor angle to block a right-footed box kicker.

The blindside winger can read the positioning and set up of their 9 preparing to kick. It will look different from a 9 setting up to pass on the run from a lineout.

10 BOMB (CONTESTABLE HIGH BALL)

PLAY: 10 is flat with attacking line ready to take a pass.
BOMB: 10 is in the pocket near or behind the ruck, and deeper than normal. The outside backs are flat, ready to chase.

Where do they use it from:

Any set piece or phase play, mainly into your half of the field.

Watch out for:

Their 10 in the pocket from phase play, which is deep and nearly behind the ruck.
Their centres up flat to chase.

Defensive tips

This kick can be executed from set piece but a key cue is that the 10, to maintain control, will be much more static on this kick than for a running option or a kick on the run.

Your wing and 15 must connect quickly so that the non-catcher can communicate whether the catcher has time or not to jump, or can stay down. Also the non-catcher should be close enough to clean after the catch under pressure.