Analysis: The Exeter Chiefs have invented rugby's newest attacking structure that might double the size of coaching playbooks
Rob Baxter’s machine keeps on moving forward, finishing as the Premiership’s top side after the regular season with a 17-5 record. Whilst the final quarter to their season was a bit scratchy with up-and-down results, they have proved to still be the only genuine threat to Saracens over the course of the year.
They have maintained their status as one of the Premiership’s top two sides in part by continuing to innovate, changing not only the parts in the system but the system itself.
The Chiefs have a roster largely still constructed around players from the 2016-17 Premiership side, but have filtered in key pieces like Nic White, Matt Kvesic, Sam Simmonds, and Santiago Cordero over the last couple of seasons.
Whilst it would be tempting to plug those pieces into a system that has been proven, the pace of change and copycat nature of professional sport means that widespread adoption becomes the norm pretty quickly. What was unique yesterday is everywhere today. Most teams employ the similar phase play structure the Chiefs have used with great success over the last few years, although each team has varying degrees of execution.
To stay at the top you have to evolve, be prepared to change before you become outdated. So, what have the Exeter Chiefs done to evolve?
Vertical Pods
Modern-day phase play structures have become multi-layered formations, generally around horizontal pods of three or two at the first level, utilising backs as receivers in behind in the second level.
This is a typical second phase set-up going the same way using a two-man pod with a midfielder in behind that has become the modus operandi of many pro teams across the globe.
The Chiefs have started running vertical pods during phase play, or stacks, often only seen on midfield scrum plays with backs.
The two-man pod is vertically aligned in a stack with Matt Kvesic at the front and Don Armand in behind. Once midfielder Ollie Devoto (12) starts his line, it briefly becomes a three-man vertical formation.
Using stacks is a way to create pre-play misalignment with defenders. It immediately forces the defence into ‘zone’ type coverage, where they have to decide which man to take on the run without knowing beforehand which man is theirs.
It often results in defenders moving laterally to chase runners as they never have original front-on alignment. The one man who does have alignment has to decide which guy he will ultimately take and can be manipulated to move off his spot.
To illustrate this, consider this play below. If the first man in the stack runs a bounce line to the outside, it could have the desired effect of ‘pulling’ the man aligned with him wider, opening up the hole for the second forward Don Armand behind him running straight.
If Joe Simmonds (10) is able to play late at the line and commit his aligned defender, Armand will go straight through.
This time Kvesic is used running straight but we see Saints midfielder Rory Hutchinson (13) biting in on the second forward in the stack.
Armand was able to attract a defender laterally inward, creating an opportunity out the back for Ollie Devoto (12) and Henry Slade (13) to attack the edge. If Simmonds held the ball longer he may have been able to play Devoto out the back and utilise the 3-on-2 overlap.
Hutchinson began the phase aligned to no one due to Armond lining up behind his own player, so had to make a decision to move laterally to make a tackle, becoming susceptible to manipulation.
Concentrating a high number of players in short space can be used to ‘flood’ one area and create gaps, which is what the Chiefs are doing here with stacks instead of normal pods.
Exeter is one of the first teams, if not the first, to actively install ‘stacks’ in their phase play patterns everywhere across the park to blur the picture the defence is seeing, and create a new problem for the defence to solve on each phase.
This is another stack, this time running off 9. They run a screen pass to play the second forward Kvesic out the back but the pass is a little off from the halfback. They are then looking to work in winger Jack Nowell (14) and Devoto (12) off Kvesic.
Against Leicester, Exeter used this stack variation to slice the Tigers in half with England centre Henry Slade.
Instead of two forwards in the stack, Slade slides in as the second man as a change-up, with Devoto still in the back as we have seen previously.
Simmonds takes it to the line he engages his defender and the defensive smarts of Leicester’s forwards are about to tested.
Exeter’s hooker Jack Yeandle runs an ‘unders’ line on lock Will Spencer, drawing a bad read and contact as Spencer clocks him well after Slade receives the ball out the back running a rocket line up the middle.
With Leicester’s next defender Brendon O’Connor isolated in no man’s land, Slade explodes through the hole into the Tigers’ backfield.
Slade attempts to run around the fullback before linking up with Devoto to finish off the long-range strike, a beautifully constructed play out of this new shape.
Exeter’s execution with ball-in-hand hasn’t been as clinical at times lately, resulting in mixed results with this new idea, but this I-formation stack attack in phase play is one of the more groundbreaking progressions of the year for modern rugby structures.
To add in pre-play disguises like stacks during phase play requires strict organisation, precision and high work rates. The speed of the recycle is as quick as it has ever been, so to add this extra layer of complexity is going to take time to completely nail down, but has the potential to evolve modern attacking structures once again.
Exeter have been floating between these vertical stack formations for pods and regular pods of late, offering variation to their width game and two operating systems to break down the defence with. The playbook may double in size if vertical pods become used half the time.
Exeter does have other tools at their disposable, namely scrum dominance and forward play inside the 22, which has been responsible for creating the bulk of the scoring opportunities when they haven’t been clicking.
The closer they get to the try line, the more narrow they become. It is misguided to say the Chiefs are all about ball movement and innovative schemes. That is certainly true in the middle third of the field, but they also rely heavily on their pack to maul and bully there way over to finish drives in prime attacking position inside the 22.
However, the Chiefs have shown a willingness to try new schemes, finding the balance between old school grit and innovative new plays. This one may have just opened up a can of worms, sparking the next wave of attacking structures.
Sam Warburton on Wales’ World Cup chances:
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