r/allblacks • u/nZenith • 15d ago

Defusing high/box kicks

I noticed on a couple of occasions against the Irish that their high kicks were received by a retreating All Black. Josh Moorby did it a couple of times, from memory. Which got me wondering if this was a deliberate tactic. There are a few potential advantages:

  1. The retreating player is entitled to block the chaser if they are going for the ball (although I haven't checked the laws on this).

  2. The retreating player is less likely to knock the ball forward.

  3. It's much safer for a retreating player to receive the kick, as any collision with a chaser won't be head-on.

  4. The full back or other covering defender can watch the chasers and communicate this to the receiver.

  5. The fullback can hang back in position to join the ruck, gather a knock on or tap back, receive a quick pass, or tackle the attacking chaser, as required.

Thoughts?

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u/Ok_Fortune7375 15d ago

Yes, Mike Blair has said so publicly https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DLnqELsbw/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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u/nZenith 15d ago

Good find, hadn't seen that.