Note: this page is based on IRB coaching material, my own experiences and feedback from other coaches.
This page discusses all aspects of the Fly half position:
In General
When you want to create a high performance team you need to look at the team assets and individual strengths of players. Piecing together the optimum position for the players is one of the great teambuilding activities of the coach and his players.
I think a lot of coaches under estimate the motivational power that will develop when you start working with the players and discussing where their competence's will benefit the team the most.
With these players specific pages I hope to identify the main tasks that come along with the position. A great teambuilding activity would be to let the team match their individual skills with the positions.
Definition is one, to agree with these tasks is important, performing the tasks is the third thing. Doing all three with all the players in the team is an elementary step to a successful team !
Good luck in developing your team spirit!
Decisions, decisions .... Fly Half
(Also known as Outside Half or First Five-Eight / First 5/8)
The Fly half should be the leader of the backline, making the decisions, reading the game and calling the moves. To do this the player n needs tactical awareness, vision and the ability to read the play. Open, blind, close, wide, run, pass, kick.
In this he needs to find a balance: variation being important to keep fooling the opposite defense.
A Fly half should also be quick off the mark, if there is a gap - penetrate. Nothing keeps the defense guessing more than the threat of the inside backs who can make breaks. Running on the blindside is almost a lost art.
Offense
Technically he needs quick hands, tactical kicks and kicks for territory and the good old fashioned 'bomb'. - off both feet?. Without these technical qualities your are not a good fly-half and both your scrum-half and inside center have to compensate this for you.
Next is passing: to make a long pass is an advantage, this way the Fly half can quickly change play. Receive a pass from the Line-out running, Staying close to the gain-line and not allowing the drift.
With these technical detail in place you are still worthless to your team in the Fly-half role if you do not have the decision making skills developed. What you see and how you react on it is very important in this pivotal role. More on decision making on the Villepreux pages.
Kicking
Lots of different kicks of course:
- Chip kick: over the front line of defense
- Grubber kick: through the defenders
- Wipers kick or Diagonal: behind the defending winger
- Up-and-Under: kick high up - allow players to get under it
- Penalty Kick
- Drop Kick
Defense
In defense, the Fly half should communicate with the back row and #12 to determine the defensive pattern to be used, this can change several times during a match and from game to game. Develop a cover defensive role after the initial passing of the ball.
Tackling is never a strong point of this position (normally due to the physique of players in this position) but tackling can not be avoided !
Key factors
- High level of passing ability
- Read and react to situations
- Kick with either foot
- Ability to beat a man one on one
- Support runner
- Tackle
- Pace
My favorite fly-half of all times
Daniel Carter? Johnny Wilkinson is a good candidate not kicking nearly all his place kicks but also top three tackler in the 2003 Six Nations (after two open side flankers). But my favorite is Michael Lynagh: he could dictate any game.
General issues
More on the functional role idea:
- intro on functional roles
- the place of functional roles in teambuilding
- functional roles in open play
Last updated on 29-06-07