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Rugby · Level 5: Upper-Intermediate · Sub-level 5.1

Attacking Shape

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

How teams organise their attack: forward pods, width, playmakers, tip-on passes, the short side, decoy lines, attacking systems, turnover ball, line breaks and the red zone.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1Forward podsTake a test

  1. Pods of two to four forwards carry and support.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Forwards split into pods across the width.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Pods give options everywhere.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. A different split of the eight forwards.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Support secures the ruck.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Backs play out the back of pods.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Shape follows the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Ruck, pod, carry, ruck.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. One, three, four.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Pods across the width.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 2Width and the edgesTake a test

  1. Width stretches the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Space is often out wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Fix defenders, then go wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Unfixed defenders cover the width.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Wings stay wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Edge forwards add power wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Edges are the wide channels.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Close, draw, wide, space.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Close, middle, wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Spreading the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 3PlaymakersTake a test

  1. Playmakers direct the attack.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Two playmakers stretch the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Ten, twelve and fifteen.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Fifteen joins the line as a distributor.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Reading the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Second layer behind the pods.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Second in line from the ruck.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Pod, decoy, out the back, wide.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Ten, then twelve, then fifteen.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Second layer playmaking.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 4Tip-on passesTake a test

  1. Tipped on to a runner at the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Late passes beat set defenders.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Timing is everything.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Short passes in traffic can be dropped.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. The ball moves away from the hit.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Forwards tip the ball on.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Forwards can distribute too.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Pass, run, tip, gap.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Short to long.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Short pass at the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 5The short sideTake a test

  1. Also called the blind side.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Fewer defenders on the short side.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Nine and wing combine.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Touch is close.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. A short-side guard covers the gap.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Imbalance creates short-side space.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Short-side breaks reach the wing.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Spot, pick, run, pass.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Space shrinks towards the touchline.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Few defenders there.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 6Decoy linesTake a test

  1. Decoy lines fix defenders.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Hard lines pressure defenders.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. A held defender cannot cover.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. The ball goes behind the decoys.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Lazy decoys give the defence an easy read.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Late decoys fool no one.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Flat runners must be marked.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Run, mark, behind, space.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Decoy flattest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Decoys hold defenders.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 7Attacking systemsTake a test

  1. Shape, roles and patterns.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Patterns create organisation.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Reading and reacting.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Structure plus flexibility.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Several phases planned ahead.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Attack follows the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Switching sides stretches the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Close, middle, switch, finish.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Set moves are most planned.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Phase plans on the board.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 8Turnover ballTake a test

  1. Turnovers catch the defence unset.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Defensive shape is missing.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Switch to attack fast.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Position over risk.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Strike before it reorganises.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Quick reactions start it.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Transition from defence to attack.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Win, pass, space, score.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Attack high up, kick from deep.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Strike in transition.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 9Line breaksTake a test

  1. The aim of most attacks.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Support finishes the break.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Cover defence chases.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Breaks create scoring chances.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Two against one finishes it.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Phases disorganise the defence.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Stats credit the passer.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Break, support, draw, score.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Breaks are closest to tries.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Through the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 10The red zoneTake a test

  1. Close-range attack needs power.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Inside the 22 near the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Turning visits into tries.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Power plays near the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Every metre matters.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Width where the defence is narrow.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Turnovers near the line can cost a try.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Lineout, maul, pick and go, score.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Pick and go is tightest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Close to the line.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Sources

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

  • General rugby union reference100