I used to be chatting with my Ulster team-mate Dave Shanahan once we stumbled upon how Antoine Dupont kicking from the ruck appears totally different. We typically discuss different scrum-halves, however on this case we observed one thing was up along with his box-kicks.

Firstly, he is superb at kicking off each toes – others like Lloyd Williams are good off each, however Dupont is by far the very best. For instance, I’ll solely use my proper foot. Not Dupont. And he’s very sensible as a result of usually you received’t know which foot he’ll use. And it’s when he kicks excessive of the ruck that it will get fascinating.

a lot in order that I’ve nicked it!

The Antoine Dupont kicking technique over the ruck

Toulouse, as a membership, wish to kick lengthy.

Many groups will kick to contest – meaning box-kicking for team-mates to strive win it again within the air. However at his membership, Dupont tries to kick lengthy and out of play. And that is when he’ll go over the ruck, one thing he does very well. At Toulouse he has license to punt lengthy and hold it in play, which is when he makes use of his cannon of a boot. Nevertheless, when you watch again the High 14 closing, his first clearance kick is a box-kick excessive of the ruck and out of play.

That is distinctive as a result of most kickers will exit to the aspect after they box-kick.

Antoine Dupont kicks for Toulouse (Getty Photographs)

It’s about how you’re taught and most step to the aspect to kick from a ruck. If you happen to watch Antoine Dupont kicking although, he will get the ball to his foot in a short time as a result of he’s so highly effective and doesn’t want to present himself that house.

Now, there’s a bit extra in regards to the method right here. When groups box-kick to contest, the 9 will step out to the aspect and presumably take a step again too, to make it simpler – it is because you’re kicking it up excessive. Against this, folks typically get charged down on exit kicks, as a result of the trajectory of the kick is decrease. Stepping out to the aspect for these clearance kick will increase the possibilities of being charged down.

If you happen to kick over the ruck, like Dupont does, it takes that away. His energy makes it simpler for him, as we’ve talked about, however others may wish to create a ‘caterpillar ruck’ to ensure that them to be additional away from the opposition aspect of the ruck and provides them extra distance to clear.

An instance of a caterpillar ruck (Getty Photographs)

In fact, it’s price noting that it’s for Toulouse that Dupont will kick longer and out extra usually. Issues could also be barely totally different for France.

The place on the pitch does he kick over the ruck?

That is all about Dupont’s smarts. He’s clearly thought of tips on how to take the opposition locks in conjunction with the ruck out of the equation.

Typically, Dupont kicks over the ruck on his left aspect, with the touchline on the left. As a result of whenever you pull the ball again, it’s only a straight line over the ruck – whereas if he did so along with his proper foot, curving it round himself to hook it over to the left-hand touchline, we might see the ball head again into play. Once more that is his smarts, as he eliminates the chance.

For gamers with out his energy, method or potential to make use of each toes, you can arrange a caterpillar, then you can kick it throughout the ruck. Nevertheless, everybody is set to make the sport faster and the stress is on to make use of the ball as quickly as doable. Up to now, you’ve seen groups amble round and take their time to arrange the caterpillar. These days are doomed.

you may ask: ‘Why doesn’t everybody go over the ruck for each kick’? You’ll hardly ever wish to go over the ruck for a contestable kick as a result of these box-kicks go straight up – you aren’t searching for distance. In fact the wind can come into this too. There are such a lot of variables!

If the wind is robust and going a sure method, you’ll be able to kick throughout the ruck and account for that. However typically the best choice is kicking lengthy over the ruck, as a result of the trajectory is decrease. You shouldn’t be charged on a contestable kick, until you actually step out and ahead. Take a look at Dupont: He takes as many variable out of the equation as he can.

Educating box-kicking method

That is my opinion, however I feel scrum-halves are typically taught tips on how to box-kick flawed. They’re taught to kick with the ball beginning nearly proper on prime of their planted entrance foot. Not less than that’s my expertise, and I’ve utterly modified how I method this.

Field set-ups (supplied by John Cooney)

Right here’s an analogy to elucidate why there could be a higher method. In case you are hitting a volley in soccer, your planted entrance foot is barely behind the ball so you will get the trajectory and hip rotation by means of your kicking leg. For box-kicking if you would like most peak, velocity, and energy, you additionally wish to give your self just a little distance between you and the ball. Take a look at the instance above, with Aaron Smith and myself.

Basically, once I come by means of a kick, it’s like a volley. The opposite method can imply you need to pull the ball previous your planted entrance foot, then out to the aspect, and you then’re kicking round your self and with the entire physique aiming straight up. You’ll have heard soccer commentators discuss leaning again when a participant skies a volley. Effectively in my expertise that’s how scrum-halves will be taught.

What it is best to do is give your self half a yard of extra room to move again, so you’ll be able to come ahead by means of the kick. In doing this, I’ve discovered it has given me far more hang-time and velocity if it’s an exit kick, as a result of I can put extra energy by means of it. Sure, there are many nice operators utilizing the nearer pick-up, and I’ll use that method if it’s windy because it barely cuts down the time to attach with the ball. However I’ve seen higher outcomes giving myself that step again, and truly it takes me half a yard additional away from these making an attempt to cost me down.

That’s simply my expertise, in fact, and I’m certain others can contest that. Nevertheless, I’ve seen loads of nines sky it straight up within the air kicking the opposite method.

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