The 21 short

The 21 short is similar to

The Rooster play: the 32 short, with one key difference: instead of dumping the ball on the middle in the 32 channel, you dump the ball on the link in the 21 channel.

It’s kind of a beginner move, but it’s popular in lower level mixed touch, because if you run it on the female’s side, it gives a male middle the opportunity to dive at an offside female link.

What is the 21 short?Options from the 21short:If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner):If the touching defender retreats towards his corner:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a 21short:❓ When is this move effective?

What is the 21 short?

2 (link) goes down for 1 (wing). The dumping link drags the defending link “out” into the 21 channel, between defending link and wing.

The shortside 3 (middle) runs a “short”, or “J”, line as the strike runner.

The 1 (wing) is the dummy half and pops the ball to the strike runner who receives it at full speed

After the 1 (wing) pops the ball, she wraps around the strike running 3 (middle), to attack the gap between defending middle and link (32 channel).

This move doesn’t really have an open-side option. The aim of the move is to get the male middle to beat the offside female link, to score.

Options from the 21short:

If the touching defender pulls “straight” (doesn’t corner):

This creates a 2 on 1 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps his defender to score in the 21 channel

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending wing shuts, strike runner passes to the half, who is now in the wing position, to score.

If the touching defender retreats towards his corner:

This creates a 3 on 3 on the short-side.

If the strike runner can beat the defending middle for speed, he can score in the 32 channel.

If the short-side middle is able to save and the link corners well, the strike runner may still be able to get a trail ball away to the other middle hitting a chop line into the 33 channel.

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a 21short:

For the link who dumps the ball:

make sure you drag the defending link towards their corner, ideally turning their hips.

Initiate the touch, and place the ball down cleanly.

Make sure you make the touch on the defending middle and not the link.

After you dump the ball, you’re now in the link position. keep fading to the outside, before straightening up and hitting the hole between link and wing.

For the dummy half:

Anticipate where the roll-ball will be, and get in position early.

Instead of facing forward, stand almost side on, and pop the ball to the strike runner.

After popping the ball, accelerate as fast as possible to get around the strike runner and hit the hole outside him (in the 32 channel on the short side)

For the strike runner:

run a “J” line and straighten up close to the roll-ball.

When you receive the pop pass, you should be running straight at the defensive line, almost at full speed.

Run at the retreating defender, and watch which way he retreats. Attack the space she leaves.

For the hole runners:

The short-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

The open-side middle should run a “trail” line into the 33 channel.

The open side players probably won’t receive the ball but:

The open-side link should stay wide and run a “chop” line, running hard back inside between defending wing and link.

The open-side winger should stay wide and expect a long ball.

❓ When is this move effective?

This move works especially well if you can make the touch on a slower middle and beat him on the short side. It’s easier to score the 3 on 2 on the short side than attacking the open side.

It also works well against strong teams who run a shutdown defence, if your strike runner has a great long ball towards the openside. Strong teams running a strict shutdown defence will leave the open side wing free, and if you can reliably hit the winger with a 20m pass you’ll score a lot of tries.