In addition to the general coaching of a team which concentrates mainly on football fundamentals, stratagems and tactics, a coach is required to impart to his players individual coaching points for the various team positions.
  Naturally it is not possible to list all these points in this book as the team's fundamental and individual coaching overlaps.  However outlined below you will find various individual points which could assist players to carry out their respective team functions.

1. He must position himself from scrums and rucks so that at all times he is able to join in the attack with his back line.
2. He must be conscious of the fact that from his position he is able to spot a weakness in the opposition's defence and so be prepared to exploit that weakness at all times.
3. He should try to recover any dropped ball from his attacking back line. He should not speculate from these errors but play them safe.
4. The full-back can use intelligent touch kicking to put a defence into attack.

1. Being the last line of defence he must tackle hard and determinedly, if possible taking the ball and player together. A determined tackle breaks up an attacking movement.
2. In tackling a breakaway winger it is desirable to keep the winger moving towards the side line rather than let him move back infield. This allows the cover defence to operate successfully.
3. He must have an understanding with the wingers in defence at times when the try line is threatened, in order for all to position themselves to cover any defensive weakness.

1. He must position himself deep enough from his centre to be able to take the pass at his top speed.
2. Whilst being conscious of the side line and of its advantages he must not allow himself to be forced out unnecessarily.
3. He must be alert to enter the back line from an attacking scrum position where the best opportunity arises.
4. He must develop anticipation with his half, five-eighth or lock on the scrum blind side.
5. He must develop his kicking so as to be able to either centre the ball or kick over the would-be tackler's head in order to regain possession when pressed by the defence and also kick over when  covered as variety.

1. A winger must be prepared to cross the field in covering an attack to his opposite wing
2. He has to be alert to his opponent's blind side scrum attacks in his own 25.
3. He should cover the full-back during kicking duels and in the recovery of deep kicks.
4. After tackling his opponent and ensuring his team's defence is in position he must immediately return to his own position.
5. He should try to force his opposing winger into touch so as to have a scrum ordered.

1. Centres must position themselves so as to take the ball at top speed.
2. They should always try to recover a dropped ball.
3. After breaching the defence, wherever possible, they should straighten up the attack and size up their supports.
4. If the centre cannot give a good pass he should play safe and go alone.
5. He must not crowd his winger before delivering the pass.
6. He should carry the ball in front of his body for easy transference to support on either side.
7. He should stay on his feet whenever possible and back up after passing.
8. He should cultivate the art of beating his opponent on the outside so as to keep away from cover defence.

1. He should move up quickly and tackle his opposite with the ball if possible.
2. He must tackle determinedly to break up opposition attack.
3. After completing a tackle he must return to a defensive position in back line with minimum delay.
4. Unless pre-arranged with his forwards he must not let his opponent come inside of his tackle.
5. A strong understanding is essential between the two centres, in both defence and attack.

1. Five-eighths must be positioned deep enough to take the ball on the run, thereby setting their three-quarter line in motion.
2. A five-eighth must be able to attack on either open or blind side of the ruck and scrums.  Variety of play is essential.
3. He must not delay the pass to the centre, making sure that his pass will enable the centre to be at top speed upon delivery.
4. He must not throw risky passes - remember 90 per cent of dropped passes are the fault of the giver.
5. He should be able to kick intelligent to both the open and the blind sides and his supporting backs must be ever-ready to capitalise on these kicks.
6. He should be trained to be able to "grubber kick" effectively behind the opposing centres or use a lofted kick.
7. He should be conscious of the effectiveness of his blind side winger.
8. He must have perfect understanding with his half and not commence to move until the half has the ball in his hands.

1. The five-eighth must move up quickly but keep in line with the rest of his three-quarters as soon as the ball leaves the opposition ruck or scrum.
2. He should try and stop the movement at the five-eighth position by standing opposite or outside his opponent in order to drive him back into cover defence.
3. He must follow his opponent at all times especially to the blind side.
4. If the lock takes his opponent he should trail his back line as extra cover.

1. Speed and accuracy in ball despatch from scrum and ruck are essential - in fact this is his main function and he should aim at perfection in this aspect.
2. He should practice passing from the scrum base - from the stooped position in one fluid motion, giving his five-eighth extra ground in which to move.
3. He should forewarn his team members of movements that are to be attempted.
4. he should always be in position to receive the dummy half's pass when necessary.
5. After passing the ball he should trail his back line.
6. He should vary the attack by receiving the ball from the lock at scrum base.
7. He could vary the attack by:

(a)  Reversing the play into the forwards.
(b)  Going by himself - he should cultivate a side step, swerve, change of pace, etc.
(c)  Either kicking high or grubbering intelligently.
(d)  By passing to backs other than the five-eighth.
(e)  He should conserve his energy so as to make use of his attacking ability.
(f)  Effectively using the blind side with his lock or winger.

1. The half-back must be determined to shadow his opposition half.
2. Once an opponent has passed the ball he must trail the back line in cover defence.
3. He must not leave the blind side exposed at any time.
4. He must always tackle low.

1. The lock must be mobile at all times, linking the forwards with the backs.
2. He should skirt the rucks, awaiting an opportunity to break through.
3. The lock should always be ready to take the place of the half-back or any other back who may be tackled and temporarily out of position.
4. He should have an understanding with the half on movements around the scrum base and rucks.
5. He should detach from the scrum as soon as the ball has been won and trail or link with the back line in support of the attack.
6. He must try to remain on his feet and back up each attacking movement.
7. He should try to protect his halves in attacking movements.

1. The lock should concentrate on tackling the man with the ball both from the scrums and rucks.
2. He must break from the scrum as soon as the ball is lost and cover the movement of the ball preventing the movement from gaining momentum.
3. As soon as the tackle is complete he must regain his feet and maintain the cover defence.

1. He should remain in the scrum, giving extra weight to pushing the opposition front row back onto their own second row, thus upsetting them.  By rolling outwards he affords protection to the half-back.
2. After breaking from the scrum the second row must follow the progress of the ball down the field.  A good idea is to break towards the corner post to where the move is developing.
3. The blind side second row should follow the half-back down the blind side in support.
4. In the ruck by moving up he will defend his halves from forward attack.
5. He must bind together firmly with his partner before taking up position in the scrum
6. Second row must line out in scrum formation to receive kick-offs.
7. He should stand deep enough in rucks to receive the ball on the burst.

1. After the ball is lost from the scrum the second row should break quickly and cover each side.  If the half-back passes, they must then cover across the field.  Blind side second row will remain on the blind until the ball has been passed to the open, then he will move over in support.
2. They must not allow the opposition half-back to penetrate from close to the scrum.
3. They must try to break up forward sorties by tackling opponents, ball and all, by moving up to meet them.

1. Front row forwards should be conscious of the need to retain possession of the ball in both scrums and rucks.
2. Props must bind together tightly and have the second row and the hooker positioned before attempting to scrum down.
3. They should always try to recover a loose ball.
4. Props must always lend support close to the play and the ball when bullocking forward play is necessary.
5. They should take the heavy brunt of the close play.
6. Props must always be following the attack to be in position as dummy half when required and must be perfect at getting smooth accurate passes away from the dummy half position.

1. They must mark the tackled player in the proper manner.
2. They must be careful not to give away penalties whilst marking and forming rucks.
3. They are to take the defensive positions in the ruck next to the play-the-ball.
4. They should not throw long, overhead or unsafe passes from the rucks.  When in doubt don't.
5. They must not leave the scrum until the ball is completely lost.
6. They should tackle player, ball and all, to the ground.
7. They must play to the referee's wishes in scrum formation.