# The Centres · Rugby Level 3: Pre-Intermediate

Rugby · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/rugby/level-3/the-centres/)

The midfield: inside and outside centres, partnerships, attacking and defensive roles, the second playmaker, set-piece moves, skills, versatility and famous centres.

## Test 1: The inside centre's job

- The inside centre stands next to the fly-half. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Twelve is the first back outside ten. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A distributing twelve takes pressure off the ten. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Twelves punch holes close in. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The twelve channel sees heavy traffic. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Nonu and Smith won two World Cups together. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Two distributors stretch the defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Depth, line, catch, drive. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 12 first, then 13, then the wing. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Hard and straight off ten. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 2: The outside centre's job

- Thirteen stands outside twelve. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Speed uses the wider space. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Thirteens create tries for the wings. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Thirteens defend wide spaces. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The young O'Driscoll's three tries beat France. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- He also played eight Lions Tests. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Thirteens tell wings when to run. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Catch, run, draw, pass. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Space grows the further out and back you go. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Commit the defender, free the wing. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 3: Centre partnerships

- Midfield partners complement each other. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Power inside, pace outside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Understanding grows with games. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- De Allende and Am formed the Springbok midfield. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Horan and Little won the 1991 World Cup. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Communication keeps the line connected. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Selection changes with needs. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 1991, 2011 (and 2015), and 2019. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Read, talk, move, tackle. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Complementary partners. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 4: Centres in attack

- Hard lines attack the space between defenders. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Decoys create space elsewhere. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- It moves the ball wide quickly. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Offloads beat the defence before it resets. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Set moves target midfield. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Cutting back against the drift. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Passing skill unlocks the outside. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Decoy, drawn defenders, ball behind, space. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short to long. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The run pulled the defenders. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 5: Centres in defence

- The thirteen often has the most ground to cover. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Thirteen sets the outside line. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- It can stop an attack or leave a gap. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Rushing alone leaves space behind. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The back three cover the deep space. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Midfield is a busy area. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back on the feet fast. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Read, talk, drift, tackle. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- The channels widen moving out. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Rushing up alone to tackle. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 6: The second playmaker

- The distributor creates for others. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Two decision-makers help a young ten. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Usually the ten, sometimes the twelve. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- A different first receiver surprises defences. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Passing is the twelve's tool. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Kicking from twelve adds an option. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Second five-eighth means twelve. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pass, read, pass wide, run. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Ten most, twelve sometimes, wing rarely. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Twelve as distributor. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 7: Centres at set-piece moves

- Scrums are launch pads for backline moves. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Back-rowers are bound, so space exists. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Straight into midfield to set up phases. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Flat lines speed up the attack. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Backs defend the space off the lineout. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Lines must be precise. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Eight forwards are tied in at the scrum. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Feed, ten, centre, break. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Scrums tie in the most players. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Scrums launch set moves. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 8: Famous centres

- Horan shone in Australia's second title. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Sella finished with 111 caps. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Guscott's kick in Durban sealed the series. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Smith and Nonu won in 2011 and 2015. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Tindall played the 2003 final and later captained England. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Carling led England to Grand Slams. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Centres are tested both ways. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 1982, 1989 and 1999. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- 1997, 1999 and 2000. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Guscott's drop goal won the series. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 9: Centre skills

- Fast hands beat a rush defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Game-speed catching matters. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Midfield is crowded. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Backs clear out and jackal too. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short kicks exploit a rushing defence. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Wings need the ball in front of them. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Cutting back catches drifters. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Basics, then lines, then reading. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- See, catch early, pass, beat the rush. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Short kick behind a rushing line. (Source: General rugby union reference)

## Test 10: Versatile backs

- Versatile centres cover both roles. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Pace and skill suit the back three. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Tens often become twelves. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Utility backs cover many roles. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Versatility saves bench spots. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Wings need speed and tries. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Many players settle late. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Utility players cover the most. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- Ten, twelve, thirteen, wing. (Source: General rugby union reference)
- One back who covers many roles. (Source: General rugby union reference)

Sources: World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

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