Number Eight

Question
I've just moved from playing lock to no. 8 and see that sometimes the loose forwards move into the backline, but I don't know when to do it, and if I should do it so i was wondering if you could give me some advice on that matter?

Answer
Hi Andy when you stand up from the scrum or come off the back of the line out just look along the line and drift along it to be in a supporting place behind a backs as they pass the ball along. Let your fly half and other backs know you are there as an "option" to pass to. Treat it like a penalty when you are taking a pass from a quick tap but this is just more open and fluid.

You need to be back far enough to come onto the ball at pace and you need to look out across the opposition to look for a hole/space to run into. Find at that hole and run at it hard while calling for the ball.

The back in your team will either pass the ball to you and you are off or he might skip you and use you as a decoy runner - either way you are being useful.

Also if your back gets tackled you can run in to strip the ball out  and/or support. Talk to you your fly half and other backs about your plans at practice and ask for feed back, until you get it right just listen to them and work on timing it might not work the first few times but keep at it.