The K.U. Black Blad head coach, Benard Rotich, pulled a massive surprise by naming his talisman, Obat Kuke, at inside centre in the Floodies bronze final against Impala. The gamble paid off when Kuke scored a try and helped the students win the third-place playoffs. 

Obat is a natural back row, and naming him at 12 is a kind of innovation that Rotich and coaches in Kenya and globally have utilised for various reasons. André Esterhuizen is a high-profile example of a hybrid back row-centre player whose flexibility gives Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks a tactical advantage to win games. So, what tactical reasons underpin selection innovations?

Employing forwards in wide attacking channels seeks to utilise the mismatch in size and power against the backs to secure dominant carries and achieve gain-line success. Attacking formations such as 1-3-3-1, which is commonly used across many levels in rugby, usually achieve this, but outrightly naming a natural back row to play at centre is a bold and innovative decision. 

Rotich’s decision to name Kuke at 12 was informed by the need to dominate collisions and generate front football, and the latter’s performance vindicated his coach.

Obat Numbers as Inside Centre

Against Impala, Kuke made 18 carries, and almost all of them were dominant and gave Blak Blad attacking momentum. He seemed to breach the gain line at will and was a nightmare for the Impala defence. 

Obat Stats vs Impala

His carries generated quick ruck speed and allowed Blad to dictate terms on attack. The 18 carries Kuke made were equal to his contributions in the first two rounds combined, managing 13 carries in the win over Quins and just 5 in the defeat to Oilers. 

The advantage of playing a bigger player accustomed to making hard yards as a loose forward was evident in attack, and Kuke showed his versatility by scoring a try from close range after a series of pick and drives.

Other coaches in Kenya have also been innovative in their selections, naming competent fly-halves at full back. KCB and Menengai Oilers, for example, played Elvis Namusasi and Abutwalib Wesonga at full back, respectively, in the just-concluded Floodies. 

Kabras have also employed Jone Kubu and Dukisa Ntubeni in the 15 jerseys. The essence is to have a dual playmaking attack system, which is essential for an expansive game. Having two playmakers on either side of the ruck gives the attack more options and threats with the ball in hand. 

Dual playmakers also enhance a team’s kicking game by complementing the fly-half, and having a competent kicker at the back improves the accuracy of exits.

Weaknesses in the Innovation

The caveat to playing a forward among the backs, however, comes in defence, where there is more space to be covered and decisions to be made. It is worth noting that Impala scored two tries from first-phase attack off scrums.

While this cannot be entirely pinned to one player, any indecision, hesitation, or misread of the attack by a single individual compromises the entire backline defence.

 Kuke was partnered with Benjamin Rugar at 13, who is also a convert to that position, having previously served as a playmaker at 9 or 15. Both made bad reads for the two tries, with Obat being caught flat-footed by a dummy runner and Rugar rushing up and creeping in, leaving space out wide. 

The duo failed to maintain connection and alignment during midfield defence, a crucial aspect of midfield defence.

They missed just three tackles between them against Impala, but midfield defence is more than just tackling; reading the play and working off the ball to get to the tackle are equally important.

Rugby keeps evolving, and coaches are finding great value in versatile players who can play multiple positions and comfortably slot in as a forward or back. The flexibility gives coaches the ability to be innovative in how they name their teams and make substitutions to present different challenges for opponents. 

Such selection innovations, however, have their drawbacks, and unfamiliarity with the technical and positional demands can be exploited by the opponents. It is only worthwhile when the pros outweigh the cons, as Rotich’s selection of Kuke in the midfield at the Floodies bronze medal match showed.

Feature Image Credit: Fanaka Studios