on one in this training session. I will begin by introducing you to the fundamentals of the game and getting you to try them out practically. Then once you are ready to move on, I will take you through the work of the backs. I analyzed you in the warm up and I noticed that you have speed and agile technical movement with your feet; plus in the fitness session you seem to be keeping up well with the faster players and enduring more than most of the team. You are very muscular and strong with decent speed, so I believe that you have the build of a centre or fullback. So for all these reasons you should play in the backline, and as backs coach it is my duty to train you to fit there. Are you up for it?"

"I am up for anything that you throw at me, coach." Buster said with determination. "I am very eager to see what this sport holds."

"That's the attitude that I am looking for." Alistor replied with satisfaction. "Now just remember that it may take a bit of time to get your head around the full knowledge of this game, so remember to be patient and take it one step at a time so that over that time you will slowly build up your skills and techniques to a high level."

"I understand, coach; but do you really believe that I have the ability to develop these skills and earn a spot on this team?" Buster had a sense that this assistant rugby coach had some sort of immediate belief in him.

"I have seen your ability on the outside and I know that you have the mental edge in you because you seem very determined." Alistor assured. "Those two attributes combined give you leverage, so I do believe we can secure you a spot in the squad. You just keep this up and give all you have got and you will indeed be inside that rectangle in a match situation sooner than expected."

"Alright, then; taken. I promise that I will."

"Excellent! Now let's get you started."

So Alistor spent the next half hour showing Buster the basics: The correct way to pass; how to hold the ball when running; how to release the ball when tackled to the ground; rucking; tackling; and  punt, grubber and chip kicking. He was explaining in detail the specific ways to perform each fundamental so that Buster was able to understand well and learn quickly. Sure enough, Buster picked it up with his good learning ability that he "inherited" from his lifetime streetwise experience. Alistor recognized this as well and he was impressed.

He then showed Buster some of the movements and techniques of a typical back. He first explained in the offensive backline how wide and deep one needed to place himself/herself between and behind or in front of the line of their fellow backs; such as when the outside centre needed to be behind the line of the inside centre and forward of the line of the fullback and winger. This way the backline could remain diagonal when running forwards during set plays and the ball would be passed backwards legally without risking a forward pass.

The next involved the defensive line and how to shift across the field when following the ball carriers in the offense of the opposition; where the offside line was at the ruck; and following your marked dog and be ready to tackle him/her when they might get the ball, but also assisting in the tackle if needed. But he also advised Buster to assist in offensive and counter rucking when the breakdown was near him. 

He then showed Buster the common offensive maneuvers that backs would perform to break through the defense: Handing off and sidestepping. And this was where Buster was about to develop a special skill:

Alistor showed him how to perform them and then encouraged Buster to try it out and see whether he could outsmart his trainer. Buster had the ball in paw and ran for the first attempt towards the backs coach, who was getting ready to tackle his oncoming opponent. The muscular hybrid suddenly placed his left hind leg hard into the ground and pushed hard to result in a vast right diagonal movement away from his defender and through the "one dog defensive line". Alistor did not even touch Buster as he sidestepped away from him. After Buster came back over, Alistor appeared very impressed by this dog's ability to get the maneuver right the very first time and encouraged him to do it several times. Each time Buster would sidestep both left and right with near perfection and barely get Alistor to touch him. 

After several attempts at the sidestep, Alistor stopped him and began him on handing off. On the first attempt, Buster, ball in right paw, ran towards Alistor and as the backs coach went for the tackle, Buster tried to push him away to stop the tackle from being executed. But the push came too late as Alistor got a hold of his torso before Buster could react and brought him to the ground with a light slam. The first hand off attempt had failed. But Alistor was expecting this as Buster had never tried it before, so he got him to try it again. 

"You have to remember to react fast the moment you know you are about to be tackled." Alistor was saying. "It is going to be difficult because there will be a lot of other defenders trying to get you down and you can only fend off so many. But in a situation where you get a break and there is only one or a couple of defenders, you opportunity arises to get passed or palm them off. So once you know that your chance is there, take it. Then once you see the defender going for the tackle, get your palm out in front immediately and use all the force that you have got to push him or her away. Remember that reaction time is critical to make this effective. Now try it again."

This time, Alistor told Buster to wait for the sudden swift movement of a tackle attempt so that Buster would then know when the react; and once the movement by the coach was made, Buster got his arm out in front and pushed Alistor on the shoulder with some force and got him to the ground. The muscular hybrid then broke away and kept running. He then stopped after a short run and then headed back to his coach. 

Alistor was very satisfied with Buster's effort and got him to perform it several more times. Eight out of those ten further attempts Buster was able to effectively palm off the backs coach and break the tackles. The other two that the muscular hybrid failed was, firstly, when he put his arm out too high when he was being tackled low and, seondly, when he pushed him down but Alistor was still able to grab his leg with fast reaction time and get him to the ground. But each time that Buster succeeded, his size and muscular physique produced great force on his palm off, and therefore made it difficult for Alistor to tackle him.

After they had finished the session, the impressed backs coach spoke to his "student" again:

"That was impressive, Buster. You reacted better and I really felt some force on that hand off like you were throwing a straight punching strike. If you can do that in a match situation, I guarantee you will be one of the hardest dogs to tackle. With your size and strength, it gives you that leverage. So well done."

"Thanks, coach." The Doberman/Rotweiler replied, satisfied at what the advantage of his heritage and streetwise experience was bringing for him.

"Now, then." Alistor continued, noticing the backs and forwards splitting up to perform their usual routines. "The backs are just about to begin their set plays, so I'll take you over and show you how a back performs and run you through each of these plays so you know your moves as well as your  responsibilities as a centre. Let's go."

"Yes, coach." Buster willingly obliged.

They both headed over to the backs and Alistor took time to interpret the names and purposes of the plays that were being performed before his and his newcomer's eyes. He also got him to closely follow the moves of starting centres Vivian Prestona and Buster's very role model; Tramp. Buster was amazed at Tramp's ability to play so well; especially being a rookie of the game. Well, if my trainer and idol can do it, why can't I? Buster thought. I certainly seem to be on the right track as Alistor is impressed with my ability. Things are certainly looking up.

After five minutes of observation and interpretation, Alistor sent Buster into the opposition line to face the offense and play semi-contact defense. He wanted to get Buster familiar with following his marked dog and ensuring that he was covering his defensive zone so that gaps would not be created for the offense to break through; but also to assist in the tackle if the tacklee could not be brought to the ground fast enough.

Sure enough, Buster was quick to stay on his marked dog and whenever the ball carrier came his way, he was able to make contact with them every time, so his speed and tackling ability seemed to be no problem in defense. Even Tramp noticed this and he was becoming impressed. He is very hard to get past. He thought. And he makes clear contact every time so it would be hard to force a missed tackle on him. So far he is doing just fine. 

Then, by the order of his backs coach, Buster went in to the offense and replaced Vivian at outside centre to be tested on his ability to perform as a back. He lined up beside his mentor, The Tramp, and they shot a greeting look to each other and smiled. This was the first time that Buster had done so since before Tramp had left him and the streets to live as a house dog. Back then, Buster would have continuously scolded and cold-shouldered Tramp, but now things had changed since Buster had been helped out once again by him AND his son; and it was for that reason that the muscular hybrid could once again look up to the "veteran"