Analysis: How the Exeter Chiefs are revolutionising the wing position
It is often said that Jonah Lomu changed the game in more ways than one. He became the game’s first global superstar in 1995 but also become the first of his kind on the wing, a gigantic 120kg powerhouse that clocked 100 metres in under 11 seconds.
It was the vision of the All Black selectors at the time that foresaw the potential the No.8 could have on the edge. In a bold move, the All Blacks moved the back-rower into the wing position where he had never played before professionally.
It was a mismatch dream as Lomu destroyed opposition wingers physically, who were outmatched by 30 odd kilograms. Lomu became an Icon and power wingers became the new norm, paving the way for the likes of Tuquri, Savea and Nadolo.
In the English Premiership, Exeter Chiefs’ wingers are undergoing their own evolution, albeit with slightly less profile but no less fascination. Jack Nowell and Olly Woodburn play like no other wingers in World Rugby.
X-Wings
Exeter’s wings are being used in ways wingers never have in the modern game – at least not to this extent. Arguably no team has deliberately expanded the role of the wing like Exeter, moving away from a traditional finisher in favour of a roaming gadget man. It has become a multi-position role at the Chiefs – the wingers spend more time off the edge than on it in phase play.
Other wingers may roam, but they are rarely afforded primary playmaking duties. Exeter’s pair are deliberately positioned in attacking play to provide ball playing, requiring far more cerebral decision-making than usual, as well as a superior passing game typically absent with wingers.
They perform like a hybrid first five-eighth/fullback/centre – utilising the skills they have from playing these other positions. They bounce between first receiver and wider roles looking to inject in three-on-two or four-on-three situations. At times, they even link up with each other.
This in itself is remarkable – many wingers end up as wingers due to one-dimensional skillsets. The reverse is true at Exeter, the more versatility you have as a winger the better. The Chiefs system will find ways to maximise it.
With the dissemination of forwards and backs in modern 1-3-3-1 and 2-4-2 structures, wingers at times do find themselves inside forwards with the big men outside on the edge. The Chiefs have taken this to another level, with almost all the players from 10 to 15 interchangeable in phase play.
Screen passing is integral to Exeter’s structure, outside of a basic pod, almost every phase wide through the hands utilises screens to get the ball to the versatile backs. We then see noticeable patterns of play that form when reviewing Exeter’s play.
The Reload-Switch
Exeter’s halfbacks Will Chudley and Nic White are constantly scanning the short side defence line looking for an opportunity to run this pet play – a switch screen pass after a quick reload.
After spreading wide into the 5m channel, play is brought back towards the middle with a simple forward runner off 9. The players involved in the previous ruck attempt to ‘reload’ as quickly on the short side as possible to be available for a switch play.
Woodburn (11) will travel from his sideline to station directly behind the latest ruck. This gives the Exeter winger two options.
If the halfback decides to continue the same way to the open side, Woodburn will run a support line giving his 10 an inside option outlined below.
If the halfback sees an opportunity to play numbers on the short side, Woodburn then becomes the first receiver, receiving the ball behind the decoy runner on a screen pass and attacks the line with a three-on-two opportunity.
This set up is very typical of Exeter play and a perfect example of the quasi-back role that is expected of their wingers. Woodburn is deliberately injected into the play as a ballplayer in the second variation which is generally foreign territory for a winger.
Here we see the same setup from the reverse angle. Woodburn is stationed behind the ruck ready for either option. The forwards on the left short side, however, have not reloaded in time in this instance.
We also see Exeter’s right winger, Jack Nowell (14), positioned as a backdoor option in the middle of the field much like a mid-fielder or fullback.
As we see with the above examples with Jack Nowell (14), the winger works his way to the midfield to be a part of the next open side attacking phase. He can be used as a playmaker, either running the screen or be the recipient of the screen pass out the back.
Nowell injects into the line like a fullback looking to free up his outside men. The fleet-footed winger often uses his elusive running game in this situation, taking advantage of sliding defenders trying to cover the overlap.
Both Nowell and Woodburn find themselves frequently tasked with exploiting numbers on the edges behind screen plays, playing the role that a centre or fullback typically would.
If Exeter stretches too wide towards the touchline, they settle play and repeat the process, teasing the short-side whilst planning another wide raid.
Set-Piece and Defence
The wingers find themselves playing more traditionally in defence, stationing the edges, dropping back to cover kicks and fielding bombs in the air. Woodburn, in particular, is excellent at defusing aerial raids.
During set-piece plays, they may perform various roles but do find themselves with the familiar task of finishing. Woodburn scored two acrobatic tries in the corner against Montpellier on the weekend, going one-on-one with his opposite on the edge after spending most of the match roaming around.
The multi-purpose winger
Exeter’s special duo enables the team to diversify the playmaking duties, spread the key backs across the park in many different variations and work for mismatches.
Yet for all the versatility, the wingers must still possess the necessary skills to play wing traditionally – kick coverage awareness in defence, ability to defuse high balls and athleticism to finish one-on-one chances.
The multi-purpose winger requires a player with a rare skill set and the specific system to match, which Exeter currently have. Nowell has spent time growing up as a fullback and outside centre, while Woodburn also has experience at outside centre. Instead of shelving these skills learned in other positions, Exeter has encouraged the use of them, evolving the wing position in the modern game.
Whether this trend will grow or not remains to be seen, but if Exeter continues their successful run, there will surely be others looking to replicate and find value with the versatile winger.
Comments on RugbyPass
A 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.
24 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments