Q & A: Andy Goode on what it really takes to be a worldclass 10

At the top of his profession for 17 seasons, Andy Goode has done it all. He has represented some of the biggest names in world rugby, won domestic and European silverware, and been capped for his country.

In retirement he has taken on the challenge of punditry and podcasting and looks set to have a second successful career. He is currently covering the British and Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand with fellow former Leicester Tigers team mate Jim Hamilton for the Rugby Pod, sponsored by Rugby Pass.

I played with Andy during his time at Tigers and when writing Rugby Revealed I asked him to share his insights and experience of directing play in the No 10 shirt.

What are the main responsibilities of the No.10?
The fly half calls all the attacking plays determined by where your team is on the pitch. If the fly half is also one of the team’s main kickers, which they invariably are, I suppose you could compare the fly half to the equivalent of the field goal kicker, punter and quarterback in American Football, all rolled up in one. 10s need to have an array of skills to allow them to kick, run, pass and make all of the attacking play calls for their team.

What is the most enjoyable element of playing fly half?
The control you have on the game. I tend to compare it to a game of chess. As fly half you are making the calls to try to outwit the opposition’s defence. This is obviously based on the coach’s analysis of the opposition as well as the training done during the week.
Having the responsibility to make a play call and then executing the play under pressure from the opposition is very enjoyable. That is what makes rugby an exciting challenge each week. The game is constantly evolving and I am still learning more now then I ever have before.

What are the most important skills for young 10s?
Passing, catching & kicking: Except for the scrum half, the 10 probably touches the ball more then anyone else during the game. You are the fulcrum of distribution for your team. Fly-halves need to have the whole range of passes available to them, short pop passes, long passes, flat passes and everything in between. 10s needs to be able to pass just as well off both hands also. We can’t have a “weak side”.

Kicking: If you are also the team’s goal kicker, which a lot of 10s are, you must be able to have the full range of kicks as well. Kicking both out of hand and for points are skills that need to be practiced a lot. To name but a few, the fly half needs to be able to execute long kicks for territory, high kicks for possible turn overs or ball retention, cross field kicks for scoring opportunities, grubber kicks for getting behind the opposition and a lot more. Add conversion and penalty kicks into this and you can see a lot of responsibilities fall on the fly half.
Game Management: Having the ability to make the right calls in the game at the right time. Call it what you want, game awareness, play management, vision, whatever the case may be, 10s are the players who “pull the strings” for the whole team so understanding the game, looking for cues in the opposition, and studying a lot of game film all goes hand in hand with being a good fly half. There is always plenty to learn and always lots of areas you can get better at. Game management becomes slightly easier with age and experience but because the game is constantly evolving, there are always new ways of doing things.

Outline of mental strength for kicking?
All best kickers in the world have their own consistent routine. Kickers need the same mental preparation during a kick no matter if it is the easiest kick in the world or a difficult last minute potential game winning kick. If you are consistent in what you do, there is less margin of error. This physical and mental routine should be whatever feels comfortable to the individual kicker but it should be rehearsed non-stop at training. Developing this routine is important. There is not much point to placing the ball on the tee at training and just booting it over without thought. This is how bad habits creep in. Going through the same setup for every kick is very important.
I have used the same approach to every single kick for the past 6 or 7 years. I have gone through some ups and downs, where I miss a few kicks or go on a good run, but I always go back to the same routine and mechanics on the training ground. Keep working on the small details, the run up, the approach, the breathing.
Each individual kicker will add his own mental cues as well. Some will follow an imaginary line to the goalposts and some will focus more on the ball. It is a personal thing.
No matter if it is the first kick of the game, or the last kick of the game, and regardless of whether you have missed a lot of kicks beforehand, you must treat each kick individually and on its own merits. Clear everything out of your mind, focus on the routine and be confident.

Who was your toughest opponent?
There are plenty of big men all over the world who I have played against and who I would classify as tough opponents! In terms of a direct opponent, it had to be Dan Carter. You rarely see him have a bad game and his management of the team is first class. He might miss a couple of kicks every now and then but then he creates scoring opportunities all the time. He is a great player and has set the bar for how a fly half should play.

What are some of the highlights of your long career?
You always remember the first time you represent your country. Playing for England is the pinnacle for any English rugby player. It’s a very big honour to play for your country and I loved every minute of my time with the national team. My first cap was against Italy in Twickenham in 2005.
My most memorable club game was the 2001 Heineken Cup final. I was playing for Leicester Tigers and we played Stade Francais in Paris. It was the first time Tigers won the Heineken Cup and it was a great game. We won 34-30. That was a very special day.

Finally, your advice for young 10s?
Play with a smile on your face. First and foremost you have to enjoy yourself. That is what it is all about. It’s great fun to get out there and play rugby with your mates so why not show you are enjoying yourself.
I was having a terrible kicking game for a while and the crowd cheered me when I finally made a kick to touch. I was smiling, because it was pretty poor, but I was also happy that I made the kick!

Gavin Hickie, USA Rugby Mens Collegiate All-Americans Head Coach, is a former Ireland A & 7s, Leinster and Leicester rugby player now Head Coach of Dartmouth Rugby. He writes for RugbyToday.com and other publications when not coaching and blogging on lineoutcoach.com.
Gavin works with writing partner Eilidh Donaldson. who he describes as the ‘brains’ behind Lineoutcoach.com. Their book Rugby Revealed is available from Amazon and is a guide to the game which features advice from over 100 top players and coaches.