Advice on playing flyhalf

Hadon WesterbyCoach, England

Hi Sima,

I hope your trial went well!

On attack you might need to think about getting your team into the right parts of the field from which to attack from. This could be through accurate kicking (behind wings, finding touch, finding grass), or through organising and using the skills of the players around you to pass and run the ball into those areas - allowing you to observe the bigger picture, and only getting involved when the time is right (or needed). Elements of creativity, speed, and deception in your play would all be useful.

Defensively, you might need to be aware of forwards running onto your channel. You will need to talk and connect with 12 and 7, 8 to help cover some of those areas - especially from 1st phase scrums and lineouts.

Let us know how your trial went!

Hadon

Max KirtonPlayer, England

Hi Sima, I hope your Flyhalf career is going well! Here are 2 simple and effective ways you can be a better Flyhalf.

1. One simple thing that can help a flyhalf a lot is getting deeper! As a flyhalf you are often responsible for choosing from many different attacking options including multiple passing options, running with the ball or choosing to kick. Give yourself that extra thinking time by standing a little bit deeper from your scrum half.
2. Be loud!!! It`s mainly your flyhalves job to manage the game. Boss your forwards around a bit and have a good relationship with your scrumhalf. Know the right time to have forward carries off 9 and also when you need to tell the forward to get out of the way so that you can get the ball out to the backs.

I may have been a bit late for your trials but I hope this helps!

Max KirtonPlayer, England

Here is an excellent drill for a flyhalf where you will have to play heads up rugby in order to pick the right player to pass to in order to put a teammate through a gap.

Hit The Gap Drill

DESCRIPTION

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders. Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apart), with one defender 2/3m behind the middle defender (blue - see diagram). Roughly 5m opposite the defenders set up three attackers, one opposite the middle defender with the ball and one either side of the ball carrier (red - see diagram). When the ball carrier starts running towards the defenders the defender behind moves in to fill one of the defensive gaps. The attackers must successfully select the space and pass the ball to the player to run through the gap and score. PROGRESSION: Defenders put more pressure on attackers. All players must touch the ball. The third attacker must get through their space as a support player. The ball starts on one side instead of in the middle and players have to call whether the space is the first gap or the second gap, in which case the ball carrier should through a miss-pass.

Hit The Gap Drill

DESCRIPTION

A drill to practice decision making and finding space between defenders. Set up a line of three defenders with tackle shields (roughly 2m apart), with one defender 2/3m behind the middle defender (blue - see diagram). Roughly 5m opposite the defenders set up three attackers, one opposite the middle defender with the ball and one either side of the ball carrier (red - see diagram). When the ball carrier starts running towards the defenders the defender behind moves in to fill one of the defensive gaps. The attackers must successfully select the space and pass the ball to the player to run through the gap and score. PROGRESSION: Defenders put more pressure on attackers. All players must touch the ball. The third attacker must get through their space as a support player. The ball starts on one side instead of in the middle and players have to call whether the space is the first gap or the second gap, in which case the ball carrier should through a miss-pass.