The shape
The kicker, usually 10 or 15, stands on halfway with the ball. The chasers line up across halfway behind him, forwards in the middle and the quickest players outside. The first wave is the flankers, number 8 and the wings, who run hard to arrive as the ball does. The second wave is the front row and locks, five to ten metres behind, who arrive to tackle, counter-ruck or set the line. The scrum-half and full-back stay deep as cover, and the kicker drops back after kicking.
Roles
- The kicker (10 or 15). Kicks to a chosen zone, usually ten to fifteen metres past halfway on one side, high enough for the chasers to arrive, then drops into the line.
- Wings. The quickest chasers. One contests the catch if the ball is on his side, the other covers the touchline.
- Flankers and number 8. The middle of the first wave. Arrive as the ball lands and make the tackle or contest the ball.
- Front row and locks. The second wave. Arrive to clean out, counter-ruck or set the defensive line.
- Scrum-half and centres. 9 covers deep for the return kick; 13 chases at pace on the kicker's side; 12 holds the middle as the first defender if the catcher breaks.
- Full-back. Stays back as the sweeper, the one player who must not chase.
Strengths
- A short high kick to a chase line can win the ball straight back.
- Keeps the opposition in their half if the chase holds its line.
- The second wave is set to defend if the catch is clean.
Weaknesses
- A kick too deep lets the full-back run it back at a disorganised chase.
- Chasers who sprint past the ball leave a gap for a quick counter.
- A kick that fails to travel ten metres or goes straight out hands them a scrum on halfway.
When to use it
Every kick-off and restart, with the plan set by the kicker. If you have a kicker who can hang the ball in the air, kick short to the ten to fifteen metre channel and contest. If not, kick long and defend. In wind, kick short and chase hard; in the wet, the catcher is more likely to spill a high ball. At under 12 and below a kick-off is often a short punt or a tap, so the chase is about getting the line set.
What to coach in training
- Kicking: the kicker lands the ball in a coned zone ten to fifteen metres past halfway, then adds height, until the chasers can arrive with the ball.
- Chase line on a whistle, with a coach checking nobody is ahead of the kicker; then two chasers against two receivers competing fairly in the air, or the tackle on landing where the age grade restricts contesting a high ball.
- A full restart: kick, chase, tackle, then defend three phases with the second wave setting the line.
Works well against
It copes well with a receiving team that spreads its forwards in a wide line without a proper catcher, because a short high kick onto a prop is a contest you will often win. Against a side that catches cleanly and exits quickly, the second wave setting the line keeps them in their half. Against a well-drilled receive with pods, the long kick and a set defence is the safer version.
