A good attacking play is about using space when it's presented to you. That space can be created that in a multitude of ways by building phases and momentum, counter-attacking or a 1st phase set play (or a strike move).
With the complexity of modern defensive systems you'd be forgiven for thinking that you need more and more complex moves to break them down, but in reality, you just need to execute simple things well and this try by Ioane is a perfect example of simple things causing defenders problems. It's literally a two-pass move (three if you include 9 to 10 from the scrum)
I think the simplicity of the move is why this try is so stunning, you can see it coming a mile off but because the ball carrier always has an option it's difficult enough to defend without getting your initial set up not quite right.
Over the years I've seen some horrendously complex strike moves, the below one from the All Blacks always springs to mind. Even though it works, it's mind-boggling in how complex it is, with runners coming from everywhere. Ultimately though, even this move comes down to a simple point of execution an outside break is presented and Umaga reacts to it taking the chance. A decision is made and voila! Try scoring opportunity is presented and taken.
Rugby as a sport gets more scientifical, more complex and more precise, but despite all that, it gets simpler in its need for execution of basic skills under pressure. You won't find a better example of those simple skills being used to full effect than here.
Author: The Dead Ball Area
