Keeping stuff under wraps for the World Cup

[Cameo]

Inelegantly phrased thread title but was wondering how people think teams will approach the next year. I hate people looking at things in 4 year cycles as I'll be delighted if Scotland win the 6N even if we get knocked out in the group stage of the WC but, on the basis that the world cup if the big target for everyone in 2019 how do you lot think teams will approach it.

Is the key to build continuity and get moves, systems and tactics honed in or will some things be kept under wraps.

For example, Scotland's quick lineouts were the big feature of last year's AIs but oppositions catch on. Similarly, the SA lineout move wont work against them next time. Same with some fancy backs moves. Should teams' plan include game plan changes every few months etc?

[Lizard]

I think Steve Hansen is on record as saying the All Blacks were working on new things in November but not showing it all. Or at least that was his excuse.

Given the amount of analysis that goes on, you would be mad not to keep some moves under wraps but I general structure and patterns do need match practise.

The “tea-bag” move which got Tony Woodcock the try in the RWC2011 final was apparently only used once before in a test by the All Blacks (despite being relatively simple).

[whatisthejava]

Reckon Toony is crazy enough to play one way through most of the 6N and then swop it.

With 4 games warm up I reckon he will do some new things.

I can understand the logic as the amount of analysis is mental

[Lizard]

What you could do, is have the world’s best ever fullback, then in the first match of the 1999 World Cup suddenly move him to center where he has never played. That works well.

The other good one is to keep your drop-goal ability very deeply hidden. So well hidden in fact that in the 2007 quarter final your match squad has a collective total of 1 dropped a goal in a test (and that by a player almost certain not to be on the field at the end) - that’ll keep the opposition guessing.

[Cameo]

The drop goal thing is one obvious one. I normally don't like them drop kicking away an advantage but if I was townsend I would be tellng the 10s to practice it in games they have won (at club level). Not really a wc prep thing I suppose

[af73]

Hard to know what GT will do. The tombola is well known and just when you think it's all going well, another crazy turns up either in selection, tactics or performance.

When it's all said and done, the players are who the players are and perform (hopefully) according to their skills and abilities. I would like to think the Scottish players know what they are good at and have confidence in their ability to execute it being better than the oppositions ability to stop it.

That said, they need to know how to locate their default position when the plan de jour isn't going well. Identify what isn't working and reset. That applies to refereeing as well. Some call that game management (and advocate Laidlaw's selection) but game changers are just as important. They don't always have to be the substitutes either.