Analysis: The latest craze in 2018 pro rugby - the 'Mousetrap' switch play
This season the Southern Hemisphere has seen an increase in the number of teams running variations of switch plays – the Highlanders, the Sharks, the Reds in Super Rugby and now the Tasman Makos in Mitre 10 are deploying these with success.
One of these variations, the ‘Mousetrap’, has become the trendiest trick play of 2018.
The Switch Concept
A switch strike is usually a two-phase setup, using a settling first phase (usually a simple crash runner) to set up the ‘axis’ or ‘pivot’ ruck in the middle of the field from which the side can ‘swing’ play back with a quick switch, often with elaborate second-phase play.
Off a short 5-man lineout, the blind side following the first phase crash is usually going to hold a number of those tight five forwards resetting the defensive line.
Mismatches can be made be moving play straight back towards the touchline, using backs against the heavy-footed big men.
Having a shifty halfback that always requires attention helps – both Ireland with Conor Murray and the Highlanders with Aaron Smith run a lot of switch plays to utilise the delivery speed and superior passing skills of the halfback to exploit short side defence.
Here the Highlanders expose the Stormers reloading defence after Rob Thompson takes a crash ball in the midfield. Aaron Smith switches play back and the Highlanders run a pre-planned move with Ben Smith looping around to link with Waisake Naholo.
Tasman Makos are using these plays in Mitre 10 Cup, here using a wrap around to free up speedsters Will Jordan and Solomon Alaimalo down the short side.
The ‘Mousetrap’
The ‘Mousetrap’ is a variation of the switch play Tasman used above, this time using the halfback wrap-around as bait.
They will target the A-B ruck channel with a power runner, often a centre, looking to explode through vulnerable ruck defence with an inside ball from the forward performing the wrap-around pass.
The Highlanders used this in Round 1 of Super Rugby against the Blues, with centre Rob Thompson exploding for a 50-metre try.
The halfback’s wrap-around motion is the ‘cheese’, baiting the B defender to chase him, opening up the lane for the centre. The centre’s angle coming from the other side is usually undetected by those in and around the ruck.
The halfback will hopefully pull the B defender wide, while another player, the ‘Blockman’ has a dubious role to play in nullifying the A defender.
Both the Highlanders and Tasman use a prop who wedges off the A defender by engaging in a block for as long as possible. The ‘Blockman’ appears to be a lazy cleaner coming from the lineout, arriving at the ruck late and standing in an offside position but plays a deliberate role in interfering with the opposition for the next phase, impeding players from filling space.
The big body looks to inhibit the A defender as long as possible without being sighted by the referee. On Rob Thompson’s try, you can see the Highlanders ‘Blockman’ Dan Lienert-Brown making contact beyond the ruck to stop the player from filling the ‘A’ space before releasing him as the play begins.
Tasman’s prop Tyrell Lomax (3) positions in the same place on this ‘Mousetrap’, but with no ruck defence set by Southland he doesn’t need to do anything on this occasion.
In the first two switch plays used as examples above you will see the Prop perform this role, even though they didn’t run the Mousetrap.
If you watch Aaron Smith’s try against the Stormers again you will see reserve prop Aki Seiuli (17) fill the blocker role, tussling with a Stormers forward well after the ball has gone right, as well as reserve centre Matt Faddes (23) anticipating his ‘Mousetrap’ line, which in the end just becomes an inside support line.
The ‘Mousetrap’ is just one of a few options the side has from the midfield crash, and the defined role of certain positions like the Prop indicate that whatever play is actually run could be chosen on the fly, depending on how the defensive line sets up.
If the defence over commits coming around the corner, the wide switch strikes could be on. If they fail to space correctly around the ruck, the Mousetrap might be used.
Tasman’s hooker Andrew Makalio played a key role in both switch plays they ran, showing a high level of ball playing ability. If this indeed, a read-and-react option play, his execution is seriously impressive showing skills few front-rowers possess.
Don’t take the cheese
The first rule of defending the A-B channel – don’t leave the A-B channel.
You are supposed to defend space, not the man, which makes this decision a poor one by Waratahs lock Ned Hanigan (4), who takes the cheese and leaves his side exposed.
It is the same concept as zone vs. man coverage defensive backs use in the NFL. The A-B defenders are zone defenders and must control that area, allowing players to leave the zone horizontally but never vertically through it (you should be in the way in that case).
Hanigan, policing the A-space, chases the halfback and looks to get involved in the contact on Sharks hooker Armand van der Merwe.
https://giphy.com/gifs/RIkwGWnry2YikH0hGH
The Sharks mousetrap is a little bit less clinical but no less effective as Lukhanyo Am gashes the Tahs for a long-range try. It was a play they frequently used this year to get Am into open space.
The Mousetrap seemed to have a high success rate of creating a line break this year. As it becomes more widely adopted, teams will have to ensure they have solid ruck defence following lineout play or these switch strike plays will continue to reap rewards. When faced with a Blocker, ruck defenders will have to ‘win’ that space before the ball is released, slipping over or under him avoiding getting locked into contact.
With the Northern season kicking off over the weekend, it will be interesting if the play is adopted by teams that like to run switch plays off a base 5-man lineout package and could be a trend to watch.
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Robbie, Please return to the Crusaders next season. Sincerely, Scott
1 Go to commentsDid the big E call the Irish the ‘White Can’ts’? That would’ve been good
27 Go to commentsDalton Papalii will be lucky to be selected on the Matchday 23. Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, and Peter Lauki are all as good or better openside flankers
9 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a lock and they have a much longer shelf life than a loose forward. Far more likely that Barrett will still demand a starting position based on performance at age 33 at RWC 2027 than Savea, whose explosive athleticism will have declined and he will in all likelihood have been surpassed by Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Siti, Peter Lauki and Brayden Iose.
9 Go to commentsExtremely frustrating to get yet more speculation over whether or not Eben actually counted 12 players or not, but honestly big respect to McCloskey for keeping it classy and not pointing out Etzebeth’s hypocrisy. The Irish are a popular team outside of Ireland because they do their talking on the pitch, and its honestly a PR masterclass that they’re keeping it that way following Etzebeth’s provocation.
27 Go to commentsGood option for the lineout lost there.
1 Go to commentsIt’s not like Saffas have a long history of spouting absolute shite at any & every occasion. Oh wait… The dangers of an inferior third world education strike again.
27 Go to commentsI’m so glad we’re revisiting this. Really needs to be dissected further. I’m also so glad that a guy in the stands who wasn’t anywhere near the field when any of it would have been said (and even confirms this) has taken the lead and commented as Ireland. Definitely cleared it all up. This article would be hilarious if it wasn’t so misleading.
27 Go to commentsits such a shame he hasn’t achieved more success at club level. He’s really not been a potent finisher for a while now, but he’s still excellent in the kick chase. That’s the kind of skillset that generally only gets appreciated when you’re playing in premiership and european finals. I’m not sure whether the challenge cup counts given the quality of the competition seems lower than in previous years, but his duel with Mapimpi should be enthralling.
1 Go to commentsThe point is the irish players were arrogant,call it like you want sugar coat it aswell but they were you could see it in their way they handeled themselfs on the field when they got something right so dont tell me it was not arrogance it was,you can fool other people but not me,and to say to one of our players see you in the final put a nail in the coffin for this bullsh@t,just be grown men and accept it that you were arrogant,you could if seen it from a mile away, and then you lost to the allblacks what a cocky move that didnt work out for you ,Eben was right when he said u were arrogant,the point is you will deny it because you lost it all just grow some balls and move on we had won you lost accept it.
27 Go to comments“summer tour of North and South America” so its a summer tour of america?
1 Go to commentsEverybody is giving the Irish players the benefit of the doubt in ‘what they meant’, but none of these pundits or commentators offer the same courtesy to Eben. I don’t think Eben went, 1, 2, 3… etc. What might have happened is he didn’t count and when the 3rd or 5th guy said he went, hang on why are so many of them saying this… and then started to concentrate on it more and more as players continue to say it. So no, he didn’t count it, he realised many Irish players said it and made an assumption based on that… The Irish team was VERY confident at the time and I do believe they believed they were going to win the World Cup, which borders a bit on the arrogant side…
27 Go to commentsI can see how some of the Irish players would have said”see you in the final” as a gentle comment after a victory. It’s open to interpretation but it’s clumsy language. I don’t know the fella but I assure you Eben doesn’t have an axe to grind with Ireland. He has never been the media seeking pro. Oh and BTW it is I’ll be our winter in July so won’t be wet.
27 Go to comments*McCloskey*: _I saw this clip. Like, I wasn’t playing that game; I was in the stands…so you don't know sh!t in other words, infact you know just as much as Goode on this matter. I will believe the guy who was on the pitch when things were said as appose to two people speculating over what was said._
27 Go to comments@ turlough dream on buddy. Your boys are in for one tough time down in sa this summer…
27 Go to commentsI think Goode is looking to establish a platform for himself. Eben said “Probably” so that suggests he wasn’t counting. It’s an estimate Goode. I think even with your short and uneventful experience with the Sharks you probably realise winding up Saffas will get you some airtime. It’s a none event. Move on
27 Go to commentsRugby has never been as structured and synthetically pleasing as it is at this moment. The game is simply beautiful and messing with it too much will ruin it for everyone. I can't help but feel that over the past decade or so many rules have been changed to accommodate a certain hemisphere and counter another. Perhaps I am wrong but I somehow don’t think so.
2 Go to commentsNoted some excellent defensive steals from the Rebs last week against the Reds, largely J Canham, I think. It’s not a Rolls Royce but they are a real threat with their defensive line out at the beginning matches. What do you make of Canham Nick, WBs squad material?
86 Go to commentsCoin flip between Ardie and Scott Barrett. Both have their pros and cons, and both would probably be decent. Ardie has way more passion on the field, but that hasn’t always translated into the best decisions. They will both turn 34 at the next World Cup, so both will most likely have their best days a few years behind them. It’s hard to imagine now, but looking at young players coming through Ardie will probably be under the most pressure to retain his place in the team. Beauden Barrett also an outside chance if Razor sees him as the first choice 10.
9 Go to commentsQuality stuff from Flats. Rugby can’t replace football nor should we want it to. I think the ‘product’ (awful term sorry) now is absolutely fantastic. Growing the game shouldn’t be at the expense of losing its brutal beauty.
2 Go to comments