Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'The last few weeks all the top teams' 9s are having big games... it works straight into my hands'

Dan Robson (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

England hopeful Dan Robson has given an indication of the latest trends going on at the ruck with a view to speeding up the play of the attacking side, something which Eddie Jones claimed has resulted in the average speed of rucks drop by a second. It was June 2 when Jones alluded to what he felt was happening in tournaments elsewhere in 2021 and he suggested England needed to cotton on quickly as he felt the indications were that a quicker style of game would ultimately dominate at World Cup 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The average speed of rucks in some competitions has gone down a second, from three seconds to two approximately. They are approximations which means there is a much greater chance to attack off fast ball,” said Jones. “We need more consistent ruck speed and that has been happening in competitions to varying degrees.

“It’s a lot different from one competition to the other but we are anticipating at the World Cup in 2023 the ruck speed is going to be pretty quick which then allows you to attack with front-foot ball and brings in more instinctive skills rather than pattern rugby.”

Video Spacer

Jamie Roberts and Simon Zebo star on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Video Spacer

Jamie Roberts and Simon Zebo star on the latest RugbyPass Offload

That’s an increased tempo which Robson feels he can thrive with in the England colours. While he said plans regarding quick ruck ball wasn’t a huge focus at this past week’s English training camp, he explained to RugbyPass that the action around the breakdown was at a quicker pace in the closing weeks of the Gallagher Premiership regular season.

“You felt it a bit more in games the way things were getting reffed, so I feel like the nine is having more of an influence on games, especially in attack,” he said. “When you see the last few weeks all the top teams’ nines are having big games and that goes a long way in where the result goes. I definitely think you are going to see it more which is great for someone like me. It works straight into my hands.”

 

Asked to elaborate on the subtle changes in the refereeing that has enabled this quickening to happen, Robson added: “Well, breakdown-wise for instance, if you are the tackler you have got to get out east or west, there is no kind of rolling into the nine to slow it down, no rolling into support players. You have got to get out of there or else it is a penalty. And then with the tackle height coming down as well, there are more offloads so less static rucks and a lot more ball-in-play time.

“Yeah, it’s exciting. It’s never nice as a nine when you are waiting for the ball and you are a bit static. I’m pretty lucky at Wasps that we have got a very attack-orientated game. Definitely, we can kind of bring that to the international stage. As Eddie said, if the game is going that way then we have got to get on that pretty quickly and adapt as well as we can.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Robson turned 29 last March and a curiosity about his twelve-cap Test career since a 2019 debut is that all those appearances have been as a sub. There hasn’t been a single start in the England No9 jersey but with Ben Youngs given this summer off, Wasps half-back Robson is hoping he can now jump up the pecking order and into the starting team for the July games versus the USA and Canada.

“Any involvement is huge with the international side. You ask anyone here, it’s a massive privilege. I feel very fortunate I’m in this group at the minute and I’m sure every single one of them will say they want to start a game against the USA or Canada. Everyone is vying towards the same thing and for me, it’s always just to keep pushing, try to improve, and if I get that opportunity I will hopefully take it and enjoy it.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 49 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

307 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
Search