<P> Players can run with the ball in any direction they want . However they cannot use a teammate to obstruct the opposition . This occurs when they run around or into one of their own players and in the process prevent a defender from tackling them . Defending teams can also run anywhere they want as long as they do not start from an offside position . Offside lines are behind the last foot at a ruck, maul or tackle or five and ten metres back from scrums and lineouts respectively . If the ball is kicked, players from the kicking team cannot run forward until they have been passed by the kicker or someone behind the kicker . </P> <P> Forwards tend to run straight and hard at the opposition, while the backs run at gaps between players or use speed and guile to run around them . In modern games of rugby some backs can be as big as forwards and attempt to break through the defensive line using brute force and many forwards possess the running skills of backs . Players run straight at the opposition with the aim of either breaking the tackle or getting forward momentum from which to set up another attack . If they are close to the try line they can drive in low to aid grounding the ball . Players can also try to break through tackles by spinning after making contact or by using the hand not carrying the ball to fend (push) off the defender . </P> <P> A player could also try to get around a defender by stepping, swerving, or goose - stepping past them . To sidestep a defender, the attacking player takes a wide step in one direction while running forward and then shifts their body weight in the opposite direction . If successful the defender will be off balance, allowing the attacker to accelerate past . When swerving, an attacker runs straight at the defender, but before making contact accelerates and sways to the outside . Although similar to a side step, the swerve involves less sideways movement, but results in less loss of speed . The goose - step is a move made famous by David Campese and involves slowing down while running on the outside of the opponent, causing them to also slow, before accelerating away . </P> <P> The ball can be passed laterally or backwards, but cannot be thrown forward . The opposing team is awarded a scrum if the ball is unintentionally thrown forward or if it is knocked forward from a player's hand or arm--although doing so deliberately results in a penalty . An exception is if a player knocks the ball forward in attempting to block an opponent's kick--a' charge down' . Passing is an integral part of rugby union, as it allows the ball to be easily and quickly distributed to teammates . The backs are the major exponents of passes, and they are used to put running players into space . If a team has an overlap--more players attacking than the other team has defending at a particular moment--then the tactic is to draw a defending player to the tackle and pass to the person outside him . If every player executes the' draw and pass', given space, the outside players may have no defenders in front of them . </P>

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