Analysis: How Beauden Barrett burns opposition halfbacks
Beauden Barrett is unquestionably the most dangerous 10 in world rugby.
The arsenal of skills he possesses is comprehensive and unrivaled; the cross-field kick-pass, the short chip, flick passes, flat balls, offloads and perhaps the most dangerous weapon of them all – pure speed.
While his personal favourite play might well be the kick-pass, this set piece play would go close. The play is designed for Barrett to hit top speed and break the line, isolating slower halfbacks and exposing slide defence.
It was used by both the Hurricanes frequently in 2017 and at times by the All Blacks.
BB Run Option
This ‘BB run option’ play gives Barrett a ‘sliding door’ to run through. The play is always run off a centre field scrum allowing his backs to operate a 4-2 split.
Jordie Barrett (15) and his winger are stationed as a blind side option on one half, while Beauden Barrett keeps his mid-field (12 & 13) on the other half of the field.
The 4-2 split forces the opposition to defend the blind with two backs, giving Beauden Barrett a four-on-three overlap on the other side as the defending fullback is always out of the front line.
Barrett simply gets the ball off the base directly from 9 and drifts slightly as he accelerates at the line. He then makes his read – deciding whether to hold or pass – based on what the defense does.
Why the play works
The initial set up forces the opposition to employ a sliding defence on the open side. To cover the four-on-3 overlap, each defender slides to take the outside man and the halfback must join to take Beauden Barrett as illustrated below.
The Blues defensive set up on this scrum was poor, further complicating their chances of shutting down the play.
Pier Francis (10) is almost directly behind his halfback instead of marking Barrett, seemingly hedging bets to cover both sides of the scrum.
With the defence sliding to cover all runners, Francis must run past Barrett to reach Laumape. This puts enormous pressure on the inside defender, halfback Augustine Pulu to cover Barrett. To make things difficult, Barrett will still veer away from Pulu.
As Barrett approaches top speed, he will make his read. If Francis breaks protocol and engages him, he simply passes and the Hurricanes are still presented with a three-on-two situation. If he keeps sliding, Barrett is one-on-one with a covering halfback.
This isolation is exactly what he wants. In last year’s Super Rugby campaign, he broke the line one in every eight runs, the more situations Barrett can go one-on-one the more likely he is make something happen.
Don’t give Beauden the look
Teams can avoid giving the Hurricanes the four-on-three overlap on the open side to stop Barrett getting this opportunity.
They could defend with a 4-1 split (instead of 3-2) and keep the halfback on the blind side to help the isolated winger. The Hurricanes will be tempted to use the numbers advantage there, keeping the ball away from Barrett.
The defence can still match the blind side play with the halfback already stationed there and the covering fullback coming up and taking the last man.
Continually forcing Barrett to pass is another viable option. The dynamic duo of Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape are renown for their power running and try scoring feats but far less for exploiting overlaps.
Laumape is a run dominant player (63% of the time) and while Aso is more balanced around 50 percent, has a low line break assist rate (just 4.63%).
On this occasion against the Brumbies, Kuridrani provides Joe Powell support, forcing Barrett to pass.
What to look for in 2018
Teams should be well aware of this staple move used by the Hurricanes and should be able to scheme better to limit this part of Barrett’s running game.
When given the mid-field scrum it will be interesting to see how the Hurricanes innovate their attack but if you continue to give Barrett the running lane, he will keep burning halfbacks with this play.
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Posted by Instant Speed on Tuesday, 5 December 2017
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments