A back row move from an attacking scrum in their half, to exploit the "inside space" created by the ELVs.
The move is best from
A scrum in the opposition's half. You must have room to go right.
A situation where you want to set up second phase ball behind the opposition scrum, so their defence is tracking backwards, causing disruption in their running lines.
Why the move works
8 draws out the back row defence, leaving a gap beside the scrum. If 8 runs quickly and wide enough, the back row defenders will be out of position allowing a free run for 7 from the right side of the scrum.
The move is good if you have
A quick 8 off the base of a scrum, with good handling skills.
Already had your 8 run a move from the back of the scrum.
A strong running 7 you want to get into the game.
A scrum which can wheel slightly so the tighthead side gets ahead of the loosehead.
What the players should do
8 gets the ball onto his right foot. He picks and goes to the right, angling away from the scrum. Once past the gain line, he commits the opposition back row and then passes the ball back inside to 7.
7 waits until 8 gets past him, before disengaging and receiving a pass on 8's inside shoulder.
Common mistakes
8 delays the disengage.
8 runs too tight to the scrum or too laterally. He needs to go forward and create space.
Think about
7 passing to 6 who has run around from the left side of the scrum. In which case 8 and 7 need to pass well before contact, otherwise 6 has little chance of taking the ball cleanly.
Players now have to be 5 metres back from the hindmost feet of the scrum. This has two main consequences. First, space is created on the inside of the fly half (10). Second, your back row moves need adjustment.
1. Inside space
The extra space from the back of scrums means there is more time for backs moves. It is likely that most defences will "drift" from scrums to cover the opportunities to move the ball wide.
The drift will leave a potential dogleg in defence. The defending openside flanker is at least 7 metres in front of his 10. As a coach you have to think both how to defend this dogleg and, offensively, how to exploit this gap.
Defence from the scrum
First decide how to plug the defensive gap inside the 10.
You could use an "up" and then drift defence, where the openside flanker does not close down the space so quickly, but allows the back line to catch up with him. So the back line moves up 5 metres and then drifts out.
Your scrum half (9) could cover the openside. From a scrum on the right side of the field, he would go round the other side and keep close to the back foot.
On the left side, he could pressurise the attacking 9 with a view to running out into the midfield.
Your openside flanker runs across and then out, to cover the opposition 10, and your number 8 fills the gap inside. Your openside lock forward should be aware that he needs to get up from the scrum and then hold his ground.
All these defences are relatively passive, allowing the attack some time and space.
As with any defensive system, the back line should vary the types of defence it runs to keep the attacking team guessing. A couple of passive alignments should be followed by an aggressive system.
Perhaps the team can risk leaving the inside channel less well defended, with the number 8 aware that he might have to cover to cut down the possibility of a wide move.
Attack from the scrum
The defensive problems highlight the attacking opportunities. The "inside seam" of space next to the defending 10 can be exploited with blindside winger moves or switch plays.
Mix these with wide moves and the defence is likely to be stretched trying to cover all the possibilities.
2. Back row moves rethink
Most back row moves aim to attack the space to the sides of the scrum.
With more space outside the sides of the scrum, there is a strong case to aim a little wider than normal. With a stable scrum and perhaps a friendly wheel, your number 8 could aim wider with the pick and go.
However there is an equally strong case for your number 8 to pick and pass to your 9, so he can attack the 5 metre gap between the back of the scrum and their 10, with the flanker in close support.
Another area to explore is the back row breaking with the scrum half before feeding the backs. This will draw in the opposition 10, creating spaces further out.
The ELVs introduced an offside line five metres behind the hindmost feet of the scrum. Here's a recap of the technical and tactical impact of these on the game.
1. Technical change
A good disruptive scrum can reduce the 5 metre advantage, so scrummaging in defence is important. A slight wheel towards the attacking angle needs practising.
2. Tactical changes
The tackle line
This is now closer to the gain line if not over it, which has implications for the running lines of the back row and the pack from a scrum.
The first attacking pack players now have better forward momentum at the first ruck, perhaps allowing quicker ruck ball. This can mean a faster second phase move, so the backs have to realign quicker than before.
Attack - back row moves
Close to the scrum back row moves retain their relevance in terms of tying in the opposition pack. However the extra space means your number 8 (eightman) has more options to attack the space in front of the opposition fly half (10).
Other players can feed off your 8 (or 9, the "scrum half") if he picks and goes, because the opposing flanker will be pulled out of position to cover the attack. (In defence, it is likely that the flanker will cover wide and the number 8 will fill in next to the scrum.)
Attack - backs moves
From scrums, the attacking team has more time and space to move the ball wider, thus reducing the chance that the opposition will block the move at outside centre (13).
The defence either has to drift or go up and out. On a drift there will a gap inside the fly half, with the up and out there will be space outside the 13 or winger.
Defence
How do your back line and back row defend from scrums?
Your flanker is now about 7 metres in front of your 10, not 2 metres as before. This causes a bigger dogleg in the defensive line in the area where the flanker covers inside the 10.
When breaking from the scrum, the defensive flanker now either needs to slow down a little or cover across more, leaving the gap inside to be covered by your number 8, or the lock packing down on that side.
