The 32 long

The 32 long is a line attack move off the 32 platform, run “against the grain”. It’s popular in high level teams, especially as an alternative to the Rooster play.

📽️ The differences between 32 short (rooster) and 32 long (”chicken”)What is the move?📊 Here’s how the 32 Long works:Options from this move:If the striking middle defender tries to “shut” hard:✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a 32 Long:❓ When is this move effective?

📽️ The differences between 32 short (rooster) and 32 long (”chicken”)

What is the move?

The 32 long is a variation on the 32short, or rooster play. Read

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The Rooster play: the 32 short if you don’t know what that is first.

The play is designed to deceive the defending players into thinking you’re going to run the standard rooster/short line, before instead running the other way, “against the grain”.

3 (middle) goes down for 2 (link). The dumping middle initiates the touch on the defending middle in the 32 channel, between defending middle and defending link.

The other 3 (middle) is the strike runner. He starts running a “J” line, but before he straightens up, like he would for a rooster, he instead “bounces out” stepping back to run an outside line away from the dummy half.

The 2 (link) is the dummy half and throws a long ball from the ground to the strike runner, who should be close to full speed, running an “out” line as he receives the ball.

After the 2 (link) passes the ball, he follows the strike runner, attacking the hole between the touching middle and short-side defending link.

The move is designed to fool the defending striking middle (the one who doesn’t make the touch) into aggressively shutting down the play. The long ball should put the strike runner on the outside of this middle, and route 1 is to beat him on his outside to score.

📊 Here’s how the 32 Long works:

Options from this move:

If the striking middle defender tries to “shut” hard:

And the strike runner is able to attack his outside, this creates a 3 on 2 on the open-side, and the following options might be on:

Strike runner beats his defender on the outside to score between middle and link on the open-side

Strike runner beats his defender on the outside and the defending link shuts, pass off to the open-side link running a chop line to score.

Strike runner beats his defender on the outside and defending link and wing both shut—long ball over the top to the wing to score.

Strike runner beats his defender on the outside but the defender recovers, so the strike runner steps back to score inbetween the two middles.

✅ Tips to keep in mind when running a 32 Long:

For the middle who dumps the ball:

make sure you drag the defending middle 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 (21 channel).

For the dummy half:

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

Prepare to throw a long ball from the ground, like a scrum half in rugby union.

After throwing the long ball, follow your pass and then straighten up to attack the 32 channel between middle and link

For the strike runner:

start by running a “J” line, but instead of straightening up, step back, and run an “out” line at the outside of your middle.

When you receive the long ball, you should be running almost sideways, at full speed

Start deep, and step back earlier than you think you need. You need a while to build up speed.

For the hole runners:

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

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 when you have conditioned the defence with a lot of 32 shorts, and you have an especially fast strike runner, and a link who can throw a good long ball from the ground.