Smarter Rugby with Ian McGeechan - Battle of the Shoulders & Spin Passing

The next instalment of our

ASICS Smarter Rugby

feature with Ian McGeechan comes to you today with a focus on two very important aspects of the game clearing players at the breakdown, and spin passing.

McGeechan, one of the most respected coaches in the game, focuses on perfecting the basics before excelling at more complicated skills things. In the first of two clips, the British & Irish Lions coach talks about the battle of the shoulders at the breakdown.

The three key points discussed are:

Your shoulders should be below your opponents

Place your leading foot next to the ball

Win the battle of the shoulders and make quick ball available

In the second clip he talks about how to find space by using longer, spin passes. While short, flat passes still have their place in modern rugby, the spin pass allows attackers to utilise the space in front of them, opening up defences when spreading it wide at pace.

The aim here is to target the players hands at shoulder height, get them running onto it by passing it in front of them, and to move the ball quickly and accurately away from the contact point.

If you can do all three of those, and make sure the player youre passing to doesnt break stride, youll find that youll become a far more potent backline just by perfecting those basic principles.

Smarter Player + Smarter Boot = Smarter Rugby with Sir Ian McGeechan

By learning how to become a Smarter Player and wearing the ASICS Smarter Boot, you can play Smarter Rugby with Sir Ian McGeechan.





To win great prizes and find out more, go to

www.asics.co.uk/rugby

.