The Rooster play: the 32 short

The “Rooster” play, or the 32 short, is probably the most common touch move besides the quickie. It’s a dynamic line attack move that requires 3 players, and has good options on both the short and open side. Here’s what it looks like:

🐐 Pete Walters and Manu Wakely explain the 32 short:What is the Rooster (32 short)?🐌 The 32short in slow motion:Options from the 32short: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 32short:When is this move effective?Video on the difference between the rooster (32 short) and “chicken” (32 long)Running a 32short with a second-phase play:Another explanation of the 32short:

🐐 Pete Walters and Manu Wakely explain the 32 short:

What is the Rooster (32 short)?

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) runs a “short”, or “J”, line as the strike runner.

The 2 (link) is the dummy half and pops the ball to the strike runner who receives it at full speed

After the 2 (link) pops the ball, he wraps around the strike running 3 (middle), to attack the gap between defending middle and link (32 channel).

Depending on whether the defending middle pulls straight or pulls to his corner, the strike runner can either attack the short-side or the open-side

🐌 The 32short in slow motion:

Options from the 32short:

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

This creates a 3 on 2 on the short-side, and the following short-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps his defender to score on the short side (0:24 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link shuts, strike runner passes to her attacking link to score (0:31 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the short side, the defending short-side link shuts, and the defending wing shuts: the strike runner passes the ball over the top to the attacking winger to score in the corner. (0:42 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the short side, then steps back to dive and score between both middles (0:56 in the video above)

If the touching defender retreats towards his corner:

This creates a 4 on 3 on the open-side, and the following open-side options might be on:

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting, then passes off to the wrapping dummy half to score.

Strike runner steps to the open-side, commits the defending open-side middle who is shutting. The link is also shutting in on the wrapping dummy half, so pass off to the attacking open-side link, who is running a “chop” line, to score. (1:15 in the video above)

Strike runner steps to the open-side, all the open-side defenders are shutting, so the long ball over the top to the attacking open-side winger is on. If you can pull this pass off, its an easy score in the corner (1:28 in the video above)

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

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.

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 open 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 he leaves.

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 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.

Video on the difference between the rooster (32 short) and “chicken” (32 long)

Running a 32short with a second-phase play:

Another explanation of the 32short:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RmixrAPogk