Analysis: The Premiership-style attack system the Blues are finally mastering
The Tasman Mako played with a high tempo with varied ball movement under Leon MacDonald, but the Blues have been more cautious, building on the foundation up front first.
They have had one of the best scrums in Super Rugby for awhile, and no shortage of powerful ball carriers like Akira Ioane and Patrick Tuipulotu.
The phase play suffered at times as the pack built for power didn’t have a high level of stamina or mobility, at least not at the level required to master all the detail in MacDonald’s pattern.
The shape the Blues have been mastering since MacDonald’s arrival is the same one used by the Mako and commonly found in Europe. The pattern plays a 3-2 pod configuration in the centre of the field and is used to play with faster width with generally fewer phases in the middle of the field.
Their ability to execute the midfield pattern was inconsistent last year, often turning sloppy under fatigue.
Tired forwards were often unable to run the support or decoy lines required, even front running the ball carrier at times, which hampered the distributors, making it easy for the defence to eat space and disrupt an already clunky system.
It has been a work in progress, which has slowly come to fruition and is now being aided by having a world-class game driver in Beauden Barrett alongside an ever-improving Otere Black, with greater levels of conditioning among the forwards.
The Nock-Black-Barrett distributing link has been critical in making quick decisions to facilitate the ball movement at a higher tempo than before.
And now the detail is finally being applied as it is intended, which is leading to results in breaking down the defence.
A key part of the system is one effectively and best used by the Exeter Chiefs a few seasons ago, where the wingers are ‘unhinged’ and looked for work in-field.
Exeter mastered this short side switch play which the Blues are now using.
After the first pod of three carries, we see the winger drift infield to station as the first receiver of the blind side.
After the first carry, the halfback can either continue the same way to the open side where the two-man forward pod configuration is or switch play back to the short side using the winger Caleb Clarke (11) behind a screen.
Early in the first half against the Highlanders, the Blues get the perfect opportunity to run the switch of play.
Some deft handling by Josh Goodhue puts Alex Hodgman into a half gap with a tip pass, leading to a big gain line run and front-foot ball.
Caleb Clarke (11) has pushed infield to become the first receiver while Akira Ioane (6) is next to him ready to run the switch.
Akira Ioane runs a flat option decoy off halfback Sam Nock (9) to hold the defensive line. The screen pass out the back will get the ball in the hands of Caleb Clarke for a carry.
This is the exact same switch pass play the Exeter Chiefs used with Jack Nowell, Santiago Cordero and Ollie Woodburn that resulted in upping their usage rate above a normal level for a winger.
The Blues are doing the same to help get more touches for their most elusive players – Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane and Caleb Clarke.
Akira Ioane (6) runs a well-timed holding line at a retreating Highlanders player which forces lock Pari Pari Parkinson (4) to cover for.
Parkinson also cannot push off the line as the flat option by Ioane holds him on his heels.
Parkinson is drawn into contact with Ioane, giving Caleb Clarke a one-on-one with Marino Mikaele Tu’u (8).
This is a difficult assignment for Tu’u as he is forced to make a spot tackle on Clarke without any inside or outside help just five metres from the line. He is also forced to play in-to-out as the Blues still have an overlap outside him.
In the event Clarke passes, he needs to keep pushing out to cover the numbers disadvantage, so is susceptible to the left foot step, which is what Clarke has in his arsenal.
Clarke demonstrates a perfect example of the mantra ‘move him with your hands, beat him with your feet’.
He moves Tu’u further off his spot with a nice dummy and shifts inside him cutting back off the left foot.
Once Clarke is through Tu’u, it would’ve taken a superb bit of cover defence to stop him but the Highlanders can’t and the Blues score the first try, using the short side switch to do so.
This play doesn’t just need to be for the wingers, the Blues can utilise any of their outside backs in this role.
Switching play back to the right hand side below, Rieko Ioane (13) fills the role instead of wing Mark Telea (14), allowing him to get another touch on the ball.
The Blues stable of power loose forwards and elusive speed backs makes this short side reload extremely difficult to handle.
You will often see any combination of Akira Ioane, Hoskins Sotutu, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett and either of Mark Telea and Caleb Clarke on this short side, making the switch an attractive option for the Blues.
All of the aforementioned players often take multiple defenders to bring down and are all gifted offloaders. It is a recipe for chaos down the narrow channel, and the Blues have been channeling play back down the short side frequently in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
This screen-switch to the winger is just one play that is possible in this scenario, with other variations sure to be developed.
We have already seen the detached winger leave the short side and provide an inside option off the 10 on the open side first receiver if called for, playing both sides of the ruck.
Instead of lining up next to Akira Ioane (6), Mark Telea (14) has moved to Otere Black’s inside hip to be a part of the next phase on the open side.
It is no surprise that Rieko Ioane (10.8 per game) and Mark Telea (9.1 per game) were second and third in runs by wingers before the original season was suspended. Only George Bridge averaged more, who also played some games at fullback.
Rieko Ioane had the highest number of average possessions per game (20.8) of any winger.
Now that Ioane has moved to centre in Super Rugby Aotearoa, it is Clarke getting those extra touches, thanks to a system that is finally clicking.
Against the Highlanders, Clarke, Ioane and Telea were three of the top five ball carriers in runs for the Blues.
Combined with a sharpened counter-attacking system that also feeds those dangerous backs, the Blues are clicking on all cylinders.
Related reading
Analysis: The small things Beauden Barrett has brought to the Blues that are bringing big results
The transition game paid more dividends against the Highlanders after an overcooked kick from fullback Scott Gregory sparked a Blues kick return.
The shift from Barrett after fielding the kick gave Caleb Clarke the opportunity to go one-on-one against Ash Dixon, breaking through and finding Rieko Ioane in support.
The biggest test still awaits this rising Blues side, after the bye they will travel to Christchurch where the Crusaders haven’t lost since 2016.
But if any team is going to break that undefeated streak this year, it is this version of the Blues who are finally putting things together.
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments