Defensive Retreat (system loop)

Defensive Retreat — system loop

Three-touch loop. The animation exists to teach the defensive retreat mechanic, not a specific set play.

What to watch on defence

1. The line holds until the touch is made.
2. Defenders retreat 7 metres in their own lateral lane to the onside mark.
3. Once onside, the line advances together — the chaser (defender opposite the ball, who calls "ball") leads, immediate flankers trail, wings come last.

What to watch on attack

• Touched player keeps running forward through the rollball — they don't drop back.
• M2 plays dummy half every touch (consistent scrum-half role).
• Dummy half arrives from behind, offsets slightly opposite to the new carrier's direction, giving themselves two pass options.
• New carrier catches behind the dummy half (legal backward pass), then angles in the chosen direction.