Line Outs are another set play where teams often want to kick from – particularly when they are well inside their own half. However unlike scrums the opposition team is spread across a larger area and the majority are standing up and see much more of a play unfolding.

You should not kick defensively from off the top ball, as the opposition defence will have forward momentum and can easily pressure the kicker. It is more effective to catch and hold – pause, followed by a short sharp drive places the defence on the back foot and gives the kicker more time, a vital split second.

A  good example of kicking from line out is the Blue Bulls. They have a very effective catch – and drive folioed by the half back (9) not box kicking, but using more of a ‘round the corner’ drop punt, thus getting more power, height and distance.

An effective box kick needs a good chase too, the key is that the chaser arrives at the same time as the ball is caught by the opposition. It is the kick that is key – the hang time and distance – this is the skill of the kicker. Most scrum halfs tend to ‘chip’ their box kick which limits the height and distance achieved the effective coverage is about 30 yards.

If you’re attacking from a line out, the best kicking option comes from the 13 channel. If he takes a mis-pass at pace, moving forward he will have covered 10 or 20 yds and can gain big distance kicking to the openside. Mike Tindall used this many times to great effect in the Woodward era.

Other options depends on the defence employed- for instance a grubber or chip and collect against the blitz is very effective, as is the cross field kick to the openside winger.

In summary, remember that the line out enables a lot of defence organisation, the ability to stay on ones feet to defend, and the time to blitz up in the faces of your opponents. Therefore shrewd kicking options are needed to make any gain of note. Good kicking from line outs gives space or relief rather than good attacking intent.

Dave