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Just found this interesting:
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...7-2722,00.html
OOH la la. The Sydney Roosters could have a little bit of French flair next season with coach Chris Anderson revealing he has a new game plan influenced by France's flamboyant rugby union team.
Anderson told The Australian he was looking forward to challenging himself in the toughest rugby league competition in the world again after a three-year absence. The former Cronulla coach won premierships with the Bulldogs and Melbourne, his title with the Storm coming on the back of a flat style of attack where the line moves up as one.
However, Anderson, 53, said he no longer believed that approach would work, as it relied on a forward roll and quick play-the-balls - a difficult ask at the moment where more latitude is shown towards the defensive team and slowing down the ruck.
Anderson said he had been working on a new plan of attack for the past year, which included some ideas he picked up from watching the French play rugby union.
France is second favourite behind New Zealand to win the 2007 rugby World Cup. The team relies on its forwards driving deep into opposition territory before linking with a deep backline dripping with talent.
The distinguishing feature of the French attack is its ability to keep the ball alive under defensive pressure with short passes.
Rather than just playing a physically confrontational game, the French use their handling skills and footwork at the defensive line to create space for runners.
The French usually go wide early and then bring the ball back the other way.
Playing off two playmakers, they then send a group of forwards running in a line, which makes them difficult to defend one on one. Anderson said he gained an appreciation of the rival code after coaching Welsh rugby union side Gwent Dragons, following his sacking by Cronulla at the end of 2003.
"I've been mucking away in my head with it for 12 months and I got a little bit of it from being involved in the rugby union and watching probably more the French than anyone else play rugby union ... the lines they run and that sort of thing," he said.
"I think if you can manage that style of football then you can come up with a way to combat where the game is at the moment."
Anderson has already recruited well in the forwards to carry out his plans with former Sharks Chris Beattie and Danny Nutley reuniting with their old coach following stints in the Super League. He also has a backline dripping in talent, with Anthony Minichiello, Iosia Soliola, Amos Roberts and Joel Monaghan.
Anderson said he would also look to his senior players to help carry out his plans and was confident former Kangaroos Craig Wing and Craig Fitzgibbon could revive their representative careers in the process following a couple of tough seasons.
There was constant speculation last season that Wing wanted out of the final year of his contract after being relegated to the bench and he was linked to Penrith.
"Wingy is one of those blokes that feeds off what the team does and, if they're not producing anything, it's tough for Wingy," Anderson said.
"But I like what he can offer the team and our idea, at this stage, is for the team to go well and, if we create opportunities, then Wingy is going to be an important player for us."
Fitzgibbon was forced to play in the front row this season following a dearth of props but Anderson said the Roosters captain would be shifting back to his preferred spot in the backrow next year. "I don't think Fitzy is the answer at prop so I'll put him in back as the bloke who can just close one second-row spot up for you," Anderson said.
Anderson said he was looking forward to having another crack in the NRL, following his inglorious exit in 2003.
The former Sharks coach fell out with club officials before having the final year of his deal torn up.
Anderson later won a settlement in court but the damage had been done and he later lost his position as Australia coach, despite having not lost a series in five years.
"It certainly wasn't a nice way to go out so part of the reason to come back was to go out on my terms," Anderson said.
"They're trying to set up a bit of a legacy there, develop young players ... that excites me, that's a good thing to try to do."
Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...7-2722,00.html
OOH la la. The Sydney Roosters could have a little bit of French flair next season with coach Chris Anderson revealing he has a new game plan influenced by France's flamboyant rugby union team.
Anderson told The Australian he was looking forward to challenging himself in the toughest rugby league competition in the world again after a three-year absence. The former Cronulla coach won premierships with the Bulldogs and Melbourne, his title with the Storm coming on the back of a flat style of attack where the line moves up as one.
However, Anderson, 53, said he no longer believed that approach would work, as it relied on a forward roll and quick play-the-balls - a difficult ask at the moment where more latitude is shown towards the defensive team and slowing down the ruck.
Anderson said he had been working on a new plan of attack for the past year, which included some ideas he picked up from watching the French play rugby union.
France is second favourite behind New Zealand to win the 2007 rugby World Cup. The team relies on its forwards driving deep into opposition territory before linking with a deep backline dripping with talent.
The distinguishing feature of the French attack is its ability to keep the ball alive under defensive pressure with short passes.
Rather than just playing a physically confrontational game, the French use their handling skills and footwork at the defensive line to create space for runners.
The French usually go wide early and then bring the ball back the other way.
Playing off two playmakers, they then send a group of forwards running in a line, which makes them difficult to defend one on one. Anderson said he gained an appreciation of the rival code after coaching Welsh rugby union side Gwent Dragons, following his sacking by Cronulla at the end of 2003.
"I've been mucking away in my head with it for 12 months and I got a little bit of it from being involved in the rugby union and watching probably more the French than anyone else play rugby union ... the lines they run and that sort of thing," he said.
"I think if you can manage that style of football then you can come up with a way to combat where the game is at the moment."
Anderson has already recruited well in the forwards to carry out his plans with former Sharks Chris Beattie and Danny Nutley reuniting with their old coach following stints in the Super League. He also has a backline dripping in talent, with Anthony Minichiello, Iosia Soliola, Amos Roberts and Joel Monaghan.
Anderson said he would also look to his senior players to help carry out his plans and was confident former Kangaroos Craig Wing and Craig Fitzgibbon could revive their representative careers in the process following a couple of tough seasons.
There was constant speculation last season that Wing wanted out of the final year of his contract after being relegated to the bench and he was linked to Penrith.
"Wingy is one of those blokes that feeds off what the team does and, if they're not producing anything, it's tough for Wingy," Anderson said.
"But I like what he can offer the team and our idea, at this stage, is for the team to go well and, if we create opportunities, then Wingy is going to be an important player for us."
Fitzgibbon was forced to play in the front row this season following a dearth of props but Anderson said the Roosters captain would be shifting back to his preferred spot in the backrow next year. "I don't think Fitzy is the answer at prop so I'll put him in back as the bloke who can just close one second-row spot up for you," Anderson said.
Anderson said he was looking forward to having another crack in the NRL, following his inglorious exit in 2003.
The former Sharks coach fell out with club officials before having the final year of his deal torn up.
Anderson later won a settlement in court but the damage had been done and he later lost his position as Australia coach, despite having not lost a series in five years.
"It certainly wasn't a nice way to go out so part of the reason to come back was to go out on my terms," Anderson said.
"They're trying to set up a bit of a legacy there, develop young players ... that excites me, that's a good thing to try to do."
