Perfecting the playbook

In the wake of this past weekend's Springbok test against Italy, many are talking about the team's 'innovations'.

In the case of the Springboks, the 'innovations' are creative in-game plays that test the boundaries of the recognised rules of the game.

Pushing a team's repertoire of gameplay to the outer limits of what is within the rules of the game is often what makes the difference between average teams and great teams.

For years the All Blacks prided themselves in their capacity to get away with some truly audacious gameplay. As ideas were put to the test in matches, they became a part of the team's playbook, which kept everyone else who played them guessing what they would do next.

In any competitive arena, the team who is committed to building a playbook bristling with creative options, is the one that is usually feared by most.

Having a clutch of dazzling options ready and waiting to be unleashed at will, loads the dice in your favour even if none of the plays are actually used in a game.

What does your playbook look like? When last did you add to it?