Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Under construction...
There are plans to revive the old magic that once lighted the way and transcended all ethnic barriers. Mostly it was just a bunch of guys who enjoyed the mutual company and the very simple pleasures of the game. It is never easy to construct something from scratch, much less to re-construct something from the remnants of a once undeniable fortress. Sometimes, its just no longer possible to remove the tarnish from that old trophy...but that also means you'll just have to get a new one! All i'm saying is, selectively recruiting players and developing them isn't gonna be easy but all dreams and visions need something to spark it off. For the once old greats of the original SixPack, wish us luck in trying to relive the dream and result of 2006...and then add another 10 tries to that.
Shortlisted/confirmed members:
Middles/Links:
1.Yumhwa
2.Gideon
3.Joshua
4.Terence
5.Taufik
6.Wei Siong from NIE (prospective middle)
Wingers:
7.Bright from NUS
8.Brandon
9.Ghim Koon from NIE
Maybes:
10.Zhao En (Middle/Link)
11.Akim, a German import (Winger)
12.Sukee from NUS (middle/link/wing)
13.Marcus from NUS (middle/link/wing)
14.Kenny (middle/link/wing)
Looking at the numbers, with some allowance for transient movements in and out of the team, we don't really have much to leverage on. Looks like times ahead is going to be tough, along with having to bring the new members up to speed. But still a start nevertheless...slowly but surely.
Shortlisted/confirmed members:
Middles/Links:
1.Yumhwa
2.Gideon
3.Joshua
4.Terence
5.Taufik
6.Wei Siong from NIE (prospective middle)
Wingers:
7.Bright from NUS
8.Brandon
9.Ghim Koon from NIE
Maybes:
10.Zhao En (Middle/Link)
11.Akim, a German import (Winger)
12.Sukee from NUS (middle/link/wing)
13.Marcus from NUS (middle/link/wing)
14.Kenny (middle/link/wing)
Looking at the numbers, with some allowance for transient movements in and out of the team, we don't really have much to leverage on. Looks like times ahead is going to be tough, along with having to bring the new members up to speed. But still a start nevertheless...slowly but surely.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Youth Trans Tasman 2009
Game 2
Game 3
Dunno where game 1 is. These are probably the two teams that our national mixed 20s played last youth challenge in NZ.
Game 3
Dunno where game 1 is. These are probably the two teams that our national mixed 20s played last youth challenge in NZ.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Training with the Aussies
First 3 words when i started playing a training game - DIE DIE DIE!
Everyone was so quick! There was no game plan per se but we were all in sync when it comes to bringing the ball up to the 5 metres. The moves evolves around simple sub-units - switches, bump, wrap, fade and dump and off course long passes. Nothing fancy honestly.
DIE DIE DIE - I was literally staggering on the field panting, fitness lacking, knees buckling, chest tightening, glutes cramping but NO, i shall not go down defeated. Excuses are for losers..i shall persevere..
More updates to come! Tonight's training : Fitness - DIE DIE DIE...
It's like playing with kangaroos down here.
Everyone was so quick! There was no game plan per se but we were all in sync when it comes to bringing the ball up to the 5 metres. The moves evolves around simple sub-units - switches, bump, wrap, fade and dump and off course long passes. Nothing fancy honestly.
DIE DIE DIE - I was literally staggering on the field panting, fitness lacking, knees buckling, chest tightening, glutes cramping but NO, i shall not go down defeated. Excuses are for losers..i shall persevere..
More updates to come! Tonight's training : Fitness - DIE DIE DIE...
It's like playing with kangaroos down here.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
When longs are read.
Longs are quite useful if perfected, but can be neutralized as any other play. Thats where flexibility, MORE available options, and decision making is crucial. And it is also with these factors of somewhat non transferrable qualities that underpin competitive advantage.
Refer to MENS OPEN TEST 1 @ 5:44
Both mids run a long with l.a.mid receiving quick ball off the ground to the left. The r.a.mid works off the ball to the right. Assuming defending mids were ready to man-up instead of being caught, long wouldn't be effective.
In the game, r.a.mid receiving long ball steps back in-field, with l.a.mid staying on inside shoulder of l.d.link (it is also worth noting that the l.a.mid kinda took a step back before taking the touch. I assume this is to make the l.d.link to run up a little bit more or perhaps just trying to get behind the ball. Nevertheless, small little step but it's always the 1 %ers that results in a try). This left the l.d.mid planted, as r.a.mid changed direction (fyi both d.mids are on the ball carrier at this point!). Now, left d.link will have no choice but to collapse in for his a.mid. If you remember my last post on the "stanton" play, the kiwis have done quite exactly the same thing in this case. And if you remember claiming that players at domestic level never run up hard to collapse in, this actually proves that "stanton" can still work w/o a good collapse defence. It all took a religious shifting defence which forced the d.link into that position to make that touch. So, l.a.mid takes the touch on l.d.link and r.a.mid passes the ball as acting half resulting in a try by l.a.link. The d.wing is caught out by the a.wing with l.d.link unable to get to the ball carrier in time.
What the kiwis did was to exploit aus drifting defence to set up for a second phase play. In this case they went left with a quickie, long right, and back to left for a "stanton" or second phase play. So as i was saying, creating more options will give us more flexibility to our advantage, and also to deal with 'smart' defenders or those that have learned to evolve. Basically, a long and stanton should do. Of course we also need to consider whether defenders drift as a unit and also if they are trained to collapse. Same set up, different options.
Yeah?
Refer to MENS OPEN TEST 1 @ 5:44
Both mids run a long with l.a.mid receiving quick ball off the ground to the left. The r.a.mid works off the ball to the right. Assuming defending mids were ready to man-up instead of being caught, long wouldn't be effective.
In the game, r.a.mid receiving long ball steps back in-field, with l.a.mid staying on inside shoulder of l.d.link (it is also worth noting that the l.a.mid kinda took a step back before taking the touch. I assume this is to make the l.d.link to run up a little bit more or perhaps just trying to get behind the ball. Nevertheless, small little step but it's always the 1 %ers that results in a try). This left the l.d.mid planted, as r.a.mid changed direction (fyi both d.mids are on the ball carrier at this point!). Now, left d.link will have no choice but to collapse in for his a.mid. If you remember my last post on the "stanton" play, the kiwis have done quite exactly the same thing in this case. And if you remember claiming that players at domestic level never run up hard to collapse in, this actually proves that "stanton" can still work w/o a good collapse defence. It all took a religious shifting defence which forced the d.link into that position to make that touch. So, l.a.mid takes the touch on l.d.link and r.a.mid passes the ball as acting half resulting in a try by l.a.link. The d.wing is caught out by the a.wing with l.d.link unable to get to the ball carrier in time.
What the kiwis did was to exploit aus drifting defence to set up for a second phase play. In this case they went left with a quickie, long right, and back to left for a "stanton" or second phase play. So as i was saying, creating more options will give us more flexibility to our advantage, and also to deal with 'smart' defenders or those that have learned to evolve. Basically, a long and stanton should do. Of course we also need to consider whether defenders drift as a unit and also if they are trained to collapse. Same set up, different options.
Yeah?
Trans-Tasman Touch Series 2009
The Trans-Tasman series signifies the interrelationship that exists between New Zealand and Australia. The term is originated from the Tasman Sea that separates the two countries. This year, both rival teams will be participating in two legs: one that was in April, staged in AUS and the return leg will be in November in NZ.
Venue: North Dalton Park, Wollongong, NSW
MENS OPEN
24th April 2009: Test 1
...No. 4 Gavin Shuker, No.2 Drummayne Dayberg-Muir, No.3 Anthony Ziade, No.5 Jason Stanton.....!!!
25th April 2009: Test 2
26th April 2009: Test 3
...Dylan Hennessey?!
WOMENS OPEN
24th April 2009: Test 1
25th April 2009: Test 2
26th April 2009: Test 3
For more video streams, visit TFA website. Refer to link box.
Venue: North Dalton Park, Wollongong, NSW
MENS OPEN
24th April 2009: Test 1
...No. 4 Gavin Shuker, No.2 Drummayne Dayberg-Muir, No.3 Anthony Ziade, No.5 Jason Stanton.....!!!
25th April 2009: Test 2
26th April 2009: Test 3
...Dylan Hennessey?!
WOMENS OPEN
24th April 2009: Test 1
25th April 2009: Test 2
26th April 2009: Test 3
For more video streams, visit TFA website. Refer to link box.
Monday, March 30, 2009
45 minute gob illustrated in 4 seconds
What i was rambling on about...skip to 00:19
Defending middle pulls corner hard (towards right side of screen) allowing right attacking middle (scorps) to step back in forcing a shut down. i.e. defending middle on right attacking middle, defending link on left attacking middle
Notice how the left middle (scorps) simply stayed on the inside shoulder of the link shutting down (and probably even settling 5meters out)? That made the shutting link having to sprint way up from the line in order to make that touch...wrong hand reaches to affect touch, body is turned inwards, momentum carries him forward into the ruck, and the only way to get back onside fast enough is to bolt back with his back turned over 7-8 meters before getting onside...not something his wing would've preferred. Even so, he was not in time to pull the corner! Result is 2 on 1, with winger caught in two places as to who to chase.
Same play being set up at 00:47 but this time, ball is thrown long to the wing.
If video doesn't load, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=canVh8mG5h0&feature=channel_page
This is about having the same set-up but being opened to many options at the same time. This keeps defenders thinking about whats going to happen next, hence putting their mind in two places.
I'm just going to denote the positions to make it easier:
Right attacking middle=>(1); Defending middle=> (1a)
Left attacking middle=>(2); Defending middle=>(2a)
First Phase
So this play starts with the two middles, with right middle(1) running a quickie (6-7 meters out) to the right.
Option#1-If his own defending middle(1a) doesn't pull corner(pulls straight back) or pulls corner too slowly, right middle(1) will have the option to score btw middle link gap. The attacking link and wing to the right of this middle(1) at that moment commits and runs at the respective holes to draw out the defending link and wing so as to open up the gap between middle link gap for a dive through.
Option #2-If defending link shuts, there'll be an option to throw either a short/long ball to link/wing respectively, depending on how the shut downs are.
As the game builds up, the defending middle(1a) may become accustomed to the attacking middle(1) running quickies to the right and begins to read the runs and prepares to pull corner hard. NOW, the same attacking right middle(1) runs the same quickie but changes attacking direction and steps in-field (this middle(1) is alive and can score). The defending middle(1a) is caught pulling corner as he has already committed in that direction.
Option #3-If other defending middle(2a) fails to shut down, attacking middle(1) dives through middle middle gap.
Option #4-If the defending middle(2a) shuts while defending link doesn't, attacking middle(1) commits defending middle(2a) turning him inwards and other attacking middle(2) scores btw middle link gap.
Option #5-If both defending middle(2a) and link shuts down, right attacking middle(1) passes ball immediately after he steps back infield to left attacking middle(2) who will have the following roles:
=> he is to "find" the tag by positioning himself on the inside shoulder of the link shutting down and over a distance which is just enough to cause shutting link to run out for the tag. This is because:
a) the shutting link will rush up to make the "easy" tag bringing his whole momentum forward and hence making it harder for him to get back onside.
b) staying on inside shoulder of shutting link may cause poorer defenders to turn bodies inward while shutting and even making tags with outside arm.
The attacking middle (2) will position himself just at about 5m out when receiving the pass so that shutting link, after making the tag will still need to get onside by pulling corner, before being alive again. Attacking middle (1) becomes the acting half.
Second Phase
The attacking link and wing meanwhile will be committed at running their lines (NOT remaining static) respectively as attacking middle(1) passes off as acting half. In this case, attacking link may take a slightly inward running angle into link wing gap to draw in defending wing for an easier option of throwing a long ball.
Option #6-If defending wing shuts on link, attacking middle(1) throws long ball out to attacking wing.
Option #7-If defending wing stays on attacking wing man to man, attacking middle (1) throws a short ball to link as defending link will still be running back to get onside.
Option #8-If defending link is fast enough to get back onside and cover, attacking middle(2) can split to short side as attacking middle(1) picks up as acting half who has the option to hand a short ball to splitter or splitter could be ready for a trail ball from attacking link.
Thats basically it; 8 options from two phases, 6 man touch. Please feel free to criticise this play or perhaps suggest a few improvements and even if it means telling me that its fundamentally wrong, please do it! I've tried my best to apply Tony Trad's (Aus men's coach) philosophy of same set up with different options.
Lots of practice and PATIENCE is needed if a team is ever going to pull this off...if ever.
Khai, i'm one ahead of you...mate.
Defending middle pulls corner hard (towards right side of screen) allowing right attacking middle (scorps) to step back in forcing a shut down. i.e. defending middle on right attacking middle, defending link on left attacking middle
Notice how the left middle (scorps) simply stayed on the inside shoulder of the link shutting down (and probably even settling 5meters out)? That made the shutting link having to sprint way up from the line in order to make that touch...wrong hand reaches to affect touch, body is turned inwards, momentum carries him forward into the ruck, and the only way to get back onside fast enough is to bolt back with his back turned over 7-8 meters before getting onside...not something his wing would've preferred. Even so, he was not in time to pull the corner! Result is 2 on 1, with winger caught in two places as to who to chase.
Same play being set up at 00:47 but this time, ball is thrown long to the wing.
If video doesn't load, the link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=canVh8mG5h0&feature=channel_page
This is about having the same set-up but being opened to many options at the same time. This keeps defenders thinking about whats going to happen next, hence putting their mind in two places.
I'm just going to denote the positions to make it easier:
Right attacking middle=>(1); Defending middle=> (1a)
Left attacking middle=>(2); Defending middle=>(2a)
First Phase
So this play starts with the two middles, with right middle(1) running a quickie (6-7 meters out) to the right.
Option#1-If his own defending middle(1a) doesn't pull corner(pulls straight back) or pulls corner too slowly, right middle(1) will have the option to score btw middle link gap. The attacking link and wing to the right of this middle(1) at that moment commits and runs at the respective holes to draw out the defending link and wing so as to open up the gap between middle link gap for a dive through.
Option #2-If defending link shuts, there'll be an option to throw either a short/long ball to link/wing respectively, depending on how the shut downs are.
As the game builds up, the defending middle(1a) may become accustomed to the attacking middle(1) running quickies to the right and begins to read the runs and prepares to pull corner hard. NOW, the same attacking right middle(1) runs the same quickie but changes attacking direction and steps in-field (this middle(1) is alive and can score). The defending middle(1a) is caught pulling corner as he has already committed in that direction.
Option #3-If other defending middle(2a) fails to shut down, attacking middle(1) dives through middle middle gap.
Option #4-If the defending middle(2a) shuts while defending link doesn't, attacking middle(1) commits defending middle(2a) turning him inwards and other attacking middle(2) scores btw middle link gap.
Option #5-If both defending middle(2a) and link shuts down, right attacking middle(1) passes ball immediately after he steps back infield to left attacking middle(2) who will have the following roles:
=> he is to "find" the tag by positioning himself on the inside shoulder of the link shutting down and over a distance which is just enough to cause shutting link to run out for the tag. This is because:
a) the shutting link will rush up to make the "easy" tag bringing his whole momentum forward and hence making it harder for him to get back onside.
b) staying on inside shoulder of shutting link may cause poorer defenders to turn bodies inward while shutting and even making tags with outside arm.
The attacking middle (2) will position himself just at about 5m out when receiving the pass so that shutting link, after making the tag will still need to get onside by pulling corner, before being alive again. Attacking middle (1) becomes the acting half.
Second Phase
The attacking link and wing meanwhile will be committed at running their lines (NOT remaining static) respectively as attacking middle(1) passes off as acting half. In this case, attacking link may take a slightly inward running angle into link wing gap to draw in defending wing for an easier option of throwing a long ball.
Option #6-If defending wing shuts on link, attacking middle(1) throws long ball out to attacking wing.
Option #7-If defending wing stays on attacking wing man to man, attacking middle (1) throws a short ball to link as defending link will still be running back to get onside.
Option #8-If defending link is fast enough to get back onside and cover, attacking middle(2) can split to short side as attacking middle(1) picks up as acting half who has the option to hand a short ball to splitter or splitter could be ready for a trail ball from attacking link.
Thats basically it; 8 options from two phases, 6 man touch. Please feel free to criticise this play or perhaps suggest a few improvements and even if it means telling me that its fundamentally wrong, please do it! I've tried my best to apply Tony Trad's (Aus men's coach) philosophy of same set up with different options.
Lots of practice and PATIENCE is needed if a team is ever going to pull this off...if ever.
Khai, i'm one ahead of you...mate.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
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