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FORUM / RUGBY /  The forgotten cross kick

The forgotten cross kick

Started by Mozart18 REPLIES537 VIEWS· 22 Jul 2015, 14:32
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MO
Mozart
Captain49,914 posts
MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
22 Jul 2015, 14:32
#1
22 Jul 2015, 14:32#1

I played golf recently with a chap who was a former US Eagle. We were both delighted to find somebody who could talk rugby....and the conversation continued throughout the round.

 

 

He made a point that he was disappointed in the kicking in modern rugby. I thought he meant there was too much of it....but it turned out  he was bemoaning the lack of variety. And he is right. It's either line kicks or up and unders. The rare open side kick to the wing is hailed as some great stroke of genius.

 

 

But in the old days....grubber kicks were often used, as were chips and cross kicks. And the open side kick to the wing was  rare.

 

 

The kick that has almost totally gone is the cross kick. The wing might beat his man down the touchline and when hemmed in, loft a high kick back across to the middle of the field. When last did we see that......and couldn't a planned version of that be more effective than the totally anticipated up and under?

DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
22 Jul 2015, 15:33
#2
22 Jul 2015, 15:33#2
 The last I recall an attempt at that was the EOYT where Lambie kicked the ball a very long way forward against England. Against the Bulls in game one of last years Super XV, the Sharks on several occasions set up Steph forthe cross kick but he fumbled every opportunity. It's been used, but I suppose defences are so good and quick at covering space it's harder to implement. It also helps if you have a Randy Moss on the wing. Perhaps Pietersen could be of use in that capacity, so too Habana.
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
22 Jul 2015, 15:56
#3
22 Jul 2015, 15:56#3
 Cruden does it often.
GE
generaltit
Pro3,164 posts
GE
generaltitPro3,164 posts
22 Jul 2015, 16:08
#4
22 Jul 2015, 16:08#4
An old fashioned tactic as old as the game itself...used effectively only with skill...skill is the issue with rugby now...not brute force...rugby is a game with skills and inter-blended  force but neither ingred ients must be over emphased or unbalanced.

Our best Springbok players were this...the Windhond (Hennie Muller), Tommie Bedford, Frik Du preez and a host of others.
CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
22 Jul 2015, 16:47
#5
22 Jul 2015, 16:47#5
You need accuracy to make cross kicks and that is largely absent from SA flyhalfs and scrummies.  The only flyhalf from whom tries have been scored as a result of cross-kicks over the last few years has been Lambie.  The other kickers have a problem in reading games and are hopeless as cross-kickers.  Pollard has the capacity to fine-tune that deficiency and one hope he learns the art soon..    
GE
generaltit
Pro3,164 posts
GE
generaltitPro3,164 posts
22 Jul 2015, 17:10
#6
22 Jul 2015, 17:10#6
 The cross kick is very effective when done with skill and planning and co-ordination...even the grubber can be a game changer when exec uted precisely, especially to a wide awake wing/centre or even a loose forward at a precise timing...the French have done it effectively a few times even defeated the giants like NZ with well placed intelligent planned kicks....but mindless robotic kicking brings rugby into a dull routine.
GE
generaltit
Pro3,164 posts
GE
generaltitPro3,164 posts
22 Jul 2015, 17:14
#7
22 Jul 2015, 17:14#7
 The cross kick is very effective when done with skill and planning and co-ordination...even the grubber can be a game changer when executed precisely, especially to a wide awake wing/centre or even a loose forward at a precise timing...the French have done it effectively a few times even defeated the giants like NZ with well placed intelligent planned kicks....but mindless robotic kicking brings rugby into a dull routine.
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Jul 2015, 17:35
#8
22 Jul 2015, 17:35#8
 Carter, Barrett,  Cruden, most top kiwi fly halves can execute the cross kick.  
Didn't Etzabeth score off a pollard cross kick last weekend? The art of the cross kick is alive & well 
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
22 Jul 2015, 19:47
#9
22 Jul 2015, 19:47#9
 Carter was less effective recently,  Barret OK,  but although  Crudes did it more frequently and it was expected,  it still worked well. Katrikiles also does it often,  but I think Moz specifically talks about wings kicking it infield when out of options,  rather than the conventional way. Most wings opt for the grubber when they get pushed up against the touchline,  with the pass to the inside blocked or not on.  Must say,  I  can't recall a proper cross kick from the touchline by an outside back in such a scenario in the last 20 odd years. 
BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
22 Jul 2015, 20:02
#10
22 Jul 2015, 20:02#10
 JW dont mistake kicks slicing off the boot of crude etc by mistake etc as cross kicks. I think Dr Moz is thinking of cross kicks as apart of your strategy.
AJ
Arthur John
Pro1,748 posts
AJ
Arthur JohnPro1,748 posts
22 Jul 2015, 21:54
#11
22 Jul 2015, 21:54#11
Holezart,
 Please could you clarify who the second person was who could talk rugby besides the ex US Eagles player.
Trust you were not referring to yourself.Surely not!
JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Jul 2015, 22:15
#12
22 Jul 2015, 22:15#12
 In term of outside backs executing cross kicks in-field I believe Savea does this as does Conrad Smith.
Beeno, unfortunately Cruden is out of the picture due to injury & I am not sure he ever got back into the good graces of Hansen after he missed that flight (probably a SA women distracted him with this intent). Anyway, Cruden has some really good skills, cross kicks, quick decsion-making, you name it & he can do it. He also has guts. We have not seen the last of him. It is amazing when you look at the depth NZ has at 10 right now.
BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
22 Jul 2015, 22:23
#13
22 Jul 2015, 22:23#13
JW you havent got even one Pollard!!

JW
Just_win
Captain18,570 posts
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Jul 2015, 22:32
#14
22 Jul 2015, 22:32#14
 No Beeno: Pollard knows he would never make the grade in NZ so he will stay in Bok- land
Oh, your mate Cory Jane also executes a brilliant cross kick from the wing position.
MO
Mozart
Captain49,914 posts
MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
23 Jul 2015, 03:17
#15
23 Jul 2015, 03:17#15
Fartur is it true that after I was forced to chastise you six months ago you ran away and have been in deep therapy ever since....hahaha. 
MO
Mozart
Captain49,914 posts
MO
MozartCaptain49,914 posts
23 Jul 2015, 03:19
#16
23 Jul 2015, 03:19#16
On the cross kick, I tried unsuccessfully it seems to distinguish between the open side cross kick by a flyhalf...which usually goes towards the touchline and is fielded by the opposing wing....and the old fashioned cross kick, which is executed by the wing and taken in mid field.

The former has become trendy. Hell even Lambie tried one against the Poms. The old fashioned cross kick by a wing is dead....and should perhaps be brought back into the arsenal.
JE
JeromeV
Club Pro492 posts
JE
JeromeVClub Pro492 posts
23 Jul 2015, 04:40
#17
23 Jul 2015, 04:40#17

It's more beneficial to keep possession of the ball, creating steady phases through the forwards and spreading the ball to the backline, it will result in better chances of scoring tries.

Over the years the Springboks have wasted too many try scoring opportunities close to the try line by cross kicks. It's frustrating to see Lambie fail a lot at cross kicks though Pollard  does it more effectively. 

CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
23 Jul 2015, 06:29
#18
23 Jul 2015, 06:29#18
 Mozart
is the disappearance of the wing cross kick not the result of the extreme danger of counter-attacks from such kicks and therefore discouraged by the coaches at present? Remember rugby has changed drastically in recent years and some of the regular things done years ago has disappeared as a result.     
DE
DezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
DE
DezertFoxPro2,288 posts
23 Jul 2015, 13:37
#19
23 Jul 2015, 13:37#19
We miss chances more by not drawing and passing. That is the greatest thing Willie has brought to the Boks, drawn and pass. Our centres do not create space so we end up being suffocated. Especially in the opposition red zone.
— END OF THREAD —

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