total rugby
TRANSCRIPT
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Total Rugby Technical www.irb.com 1
Inside: Defence made simple 5-7 The Tackle Maze 8-9 Backline defence 10 The accidental rugby team 11 The basic principles of rugby 12-15
Continuity of possession v Continuity of play 16 The Lineout 18 The man with the whistle 21 Refereeing the lineout 22 One bar training 24
continued on page 4
A Brave New World
English Edition ISSUE 11
continued on page 2
Six Nations 2006: Half-term reportby Corris Thomas
The first column
The roll-
out of the
IRBs 30
million
strategic
investment
programme
is now in full swing and 2006
is an important year in terms
of implementation of high
performance projects across
seventeen Tier 1 and 2 Unions.
In addition to infrastructure
programmes at Tier 2 level, such
as playing fields and facilities
for new academies, several new
competitions will be launched. The
aim of the strategic investments
is to increase the standards of the
game worldwide at all levels and
we are already looking at the
Tier 3 Unions to identify the best
candidates that we believe can
make the step up to Tier 2 level.
Over the last few months I
have been on the road together
with the IRB Development
Manager, Bruce Cook, and our
High Performance consultant,
Daniel Collins, meeting with
many of the Unions targeted
by our strategic plan, in order
to fine-tune and finalise the
projects mentioned above.
We will announce shortly the
full details of the new IRB
competitions in North America,
Southern Africa and the Pacific.
Well bring you more news on
all this, and other aspects of our
plans in future editions of Total
Rugby Bulletin, which is just
another component of the IRB
commitment to help Unions
improve standards and quality.
Mark Egan is the IRB
Head of Rugby Services
with Mark EganAt present in rugby there is a Law moratorium that
dictates that there can be no changes to Law until
after the next Rugby World Cup. This ensures that
players, coaches and referees do not have to undergo
any period of education and adjustment that would
adversely affect the lead up to the tournament.
However, this does not mean as a governing body we
are not reviewing the Laws, especially in light of the
way the game is evolving at the elite level.
by Greg Thomas
The game is quicker, players are
stronger and faster, contact is more
aggressive and physical and the
advancement of skill levels is putting
strain on the Laws themselves in
terms of the contest for possession.
A Laws Project Group has been
formed by the IRBs Rugby
Committee to undertake a critical
review of the tackle, ruck and maul
laws with a view to trialling and
evaluating new versions of these laws.
Led by Council member, Bill Nolan,
the group includes former World
Cup winning Wallaby coach, Rod
Macqueen, former Spr ingbok coach,
Ian MacIntosh, former Scottish
coach, Richie Dixon, former
French player, coach and IRB
Regional Development Manager,
Pierre Villepreux, IRB Referee
Manager, Paddy OBrien and IRB
Development Manager, Bruce Cook.
The fundamental reason for the
study is that the IRB has proactively
recognised that these areas of Law
are proving to be the most difficult
So far, (after 9 matches) the 2006
Six Nations statistics suggest that
of the six participating teams
Irelands overall approach is
hugely different from the style
employed last year.
In 2005, they obtained less possession
than any other team; they made
fewer passes than any other team;
they made fewer rucks and mauls
than any other team; they kicked
more than any other country and
their forwards passed less than
any other team. Only 9% of Ir ish
passes were made by the forwards
in total 49 for the whole of the
championship. This year, although
the number of passes made by the
forwards has remained comparatively
low in fact it has increased slightly
the Irish seem to be applying a
radically different approach:
Ireland are now the highestpassing team. (In 2005: 106 passes/
game; in 2006: 166 passes/game)
Ireland won 25% more possession
than last year - so that only
England has obtained more in the
thee games so far.
They are now the second highest
rucking team as opposed to the
last in 2005.
Last year, Ireland were the highest
kicking team this year they are
the lowest.
It must be a lineout... Springbok lock forward Victor Matfield makesa point eagerly followed by the IRB team: (from l-r) Paddy OBrien,
Bruce Cook, Bill Nolan and Rod Macqueen.
Ireland change style!
Ireland change style...
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Total Rugby Technicalwww.irb.com2
1866: Laws of Football at Rugby School
described a tackle as maul outside the
goal line. It takes place when a playerholding the ball is held by one or more
players of the opposite side and if he
cannot get free of them or g ive the ball
to some other of his side (not in front
of him) who can run with it, he cries
have it down.
1871: First Laws of Rugby Football (Law 18):
In the event of any player holding or
running with the ball being tackled and
the ball being fairly held he must at
once cry down and there put it down.
1905: A player must be considered as
tackled if he, on being grasped by an
opponent, falls and the ball whilst in
his possession touches the ground.
When a player is tackled with the ball,
it (the ball) can only be brought into
play with the foot.
1912: A tackle is when the holder of the
ball is held by one or more players of
the opposite side so he cannot at any
moment, while he is so held, pass or
play it.
1937: Law 16: A tackle occurs when the
holder of the ball in the field of play
is held by one or more players of the
opposing team so that while he is so
held the ball comes in contact with
the ground, or there is a moment he
cannot pass or play the ball.
(a) After a tackle the ball must be
brought into play with a foot;
(b) When a player is tackled but
not brought to the ground he must
immediately release the ball so
that it falls to the ground between
himself and his opponents goal line;
(c)The tackled player, if lying on
the ground, must immediately
release the ball, roll away from it,
and get up before playing it with
his foot.
A Brave New Worldcontinued from page 1
Potted history of
the Tackle Law
to interpret in a practical manner. The game
is continuing to evolve following a decade of
professionalism and the IRB is being honest and
transparent in undertaking an evaluation of the
Laws and the current position of the game on the
world stage, said Bill Nolan.
We are looking at the game in a new light with
the idea of making it simpler and easier to play
and referee, and to ensure rugby is understood and
enjoyed by the increasing number of spectators
that are being attracted to the game. In the past,
we have tinkered with existing Laws but in
Stellenbosch we started out with a blank canvas,
looked at new Law variations and studied the
cause and effect of the changes.
As a world governing body we are committed
to reducing the number and complexity of the
Laws and to reduce the cannots and promote the
cans to create a positive philosophy. However,
everything that is being done must, and will, relate
to the Playing Charter that has been endorsed
by our Member Unions, that recognises rugby
as being a game for all shapes and sizes, added
Nolan.
Another significant goal of the Project Group
is, according to Bruce Cook, To remove the
subjectivity of the Laws and the decision-making
of the referees, so that the players determine the
outcome of the game.
The Project Group had its first working session at
Stellenbosch University in February and it started
afresh with these technical key components of the
game. Utilising the Laws laboratory facilities at
Stellenbosch University, the Group formulated a
series of exper imental Law variations (ELVs) that
were trialled during the week-long study.
The Group utilised four teams throughout the
week in a competition environment in which
the ELVs were evaluated. Each game consisted of
two 25 minute halves and each team played three
matches over the week, with a 1 versus 2, and 3
versus 4 final on the last day based upon a win/loss
record. All matches were videoed and analysed
with review sessions taking place every morning
before the matches kicked off in the afternoons.
These ELVs will undergo further tr ials over the
coming months in the Universitys inter-house
competition. One top tier match each week will
be videoed and analysed using the IRB statistical
software Fair Play. Feedback from players and
coaches from other selected matches will also be
recorded each week. The Project Group will revisit
Stellenbosch at a later stage of the competition.
Bruce Cook stated, We are very conscious that
there must be a genuine contest for possession.
At present our analysis shows that defending
teams only have a six percent chance of winning
possession at contact. Our week in Stellenbosch
showed that the ELVs did allow for this to be
increased to around 20 percent but we envisage
this would reduce in time as teams become more
adept in their attacking tactics, ball retention skills
and defensive work.
The Laws Project Group in Stellenbosch: front (l-r) former Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen, Group Chairman Bill Nolan of Scotland,back (l-r) IRB Referees Manager Paddy OBrien, IRB Development Manager Bruce Cook, former Scotland coach Richie Dixon, former
Springbok coach Ian MacIntosh, former International referee Freek Burger, former France coach and IRB Regional Development Manager
for Europe Pierre Villepreux.
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Total Rugby Technical www.irb.com 3
1958: The requirement to play the ball with
the foot after tackle is removed. (a)
When a player is tackled but not brought
to the ground he must immediatelyrelease the ball; (b) The tackled player, if
lying on the ground must immediately
release the ball, roll away from it and get
up before playing it.
Potted history
of the Tackle Law
1985: A tackle occurs when a player
carrying the ball in the field of play
is held by one or more opponents so
that while he is so held he is brought
to the ground or the ball comes into
contact with the ground A tackled
player must play the ball immediately
or, if unable to play it, must release it
immediately and get up or move away
from it. He must not play the ball again
or interfere with it in any way until he
is on his feet. Any other player must:
be on his feet before he can play the
ball
not fall on or over a player lying
on the ground with the ball in his
possession
not fall on or over players lying on
the ground with the ball between
them or in close proximity.
2006: Law 15: A tackle occurs when the
ball carrier is held by one or more
opponents and is brought to the
ground. Naturally, the fate of the
ball is paramount in the thinking of
the lawmaker. A tackled player must
immediately pass the ball or release it.
That player must also get up or move
away from it at once.
Compiled from the works of Sir Percy Royds and
Cyril Gadney.
The contest for possession is aided by these
ground-breaking ELVs. For example, at the tackle/
breakdown the only penalties, not withstanding
foul play, will be for offside and not entering
through the gate. Players are free to contest the
ball whether on their feet, on the ground, and
with their feet or hand.
The ball-carrying team will be rewarded for
staying on their feet and if they go to ground it
will no longer be a safe haven. Linear support at
depth will become important as will the ability to
get the ball away from the contact zone.
We found that the amount of penalties awarded
were greatly reduced but the fact that players
are free to contest for possession in a more open
manner is counterbalanced by the fact that if
a team takes the ball into contact and the ball
is not made available the defending team is
awarded a free kick. Rod Macqueen stated,
It must be stressed that this project, the resulting
recommendation of ELVs, and their continued
evaluation, is an ongoing programme, still very
much in its embryonic stage. One that will be
monitored continuously by the Laws Project Group
(LPG) via a clearly defined process of evaluation
through demonstrable practical experiments and not
hypothetical outcomes.
Other Law changes already being trialled around
the world include the use of 12 replacements,
Under-19 scrum laws at senior level and in-
goal touch judges. These will also eventually be
included in the process.
The ultimate aim of these experimental laws is
to allow for more creativity by the players and this
week there were encouraging signs such as clarity
of decision-making, less confusion among players
at the breakdown and reduced law subjectivity,
added Macqueen.
Greg Thomas is the IRB Head of Communications.
At the workshop in Stellenbosch both the tackle area (top) and theineout (right) were under scrutiny.
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Total Rugby Technicalwww.irb.com4
Last years Six Nations was indeed
fascinating, with the winners, Wales,
playing the game in a strategically
different way. The 2005 tournament
analysis showed that:
Wales forwards made far more
passes than any other country
More Welsh forwards than backs
scored tries
The whole team passed at a
higher rate than any other
country
They scored more tries from
inside their own half than
England, France and Ireland
together
Scored more tries from
opponents handling errors than
England, France and Ireland
together.
Although the Welsh have maintained
the same strategic approach to the
game this season, they have been less
fortunate as they have lost two out of
the first three matches.
Wales forwards have still made
more passes than any other team
- despite having noticeably less
possession than some of the other
teams
The Welsh half-backs still make
proportionately fewer passes than
any other teams
The Welsh team pass at a higher
rate (ie more passes per minute)
than the other five teams.
This year though, turning possession
into points proved far more difficult,
while defence was more permeable.
In 2005, Wales scored a try for
every 5 minutes of possession. Now
that has nearly doubled a try for
every 9 minutes. At the same time,
their opponents are now scoring
at a higher rate than last year. In
2005 it required almost 12 minutes
possession to score a try against Wales;
this year it takes only five minutes.
Unlike Ireland, who radically altered
their approach, very little seems to
have changed with England since
last year. In 2005, they had more
possession in every game; they made
more passes than any other team;
they made more rucks and mauls
than any other team; they kicked less
than any other nation.
In 2006, after three matches it looks
as if it is business as usual:
They have obtained the most
possession in each of their three
matches - 60% more possession
than their opponents
They have made more passes per
game than four of the remaining
five teams
They have had more rucks and
mauls than any other team and
have kicked at a lower rate than
the rest.
Scoring against them is also very
difficult. In the three games so far,
England have conceded just 2 tries.
This means that their opponents have
needed 21 minutes possession to
score a try.
After a dismal 2005 season, Scotland,
under new coach Frank Hadden,
have surprised the world with
their newly-found confidence and
hardness. Last year they rucked and
mauled at a higher rate than any
other team; their forwards were more
likely to pass the ball than any other
team apart from Wales; however, their
defence was fairly porous, conceding
a try for every 4 30 possession
obtained by their opponents; in
attack they needed twice as much
possession to score a try than the
team that won the championship.
In the three matches to date their
rucking rate has been lower than
average; further, their passes have
reduced dramatically when compared
to the last three matches last year.
From an average of 181 per game,
the figure so far this year has dropped
by almost 40% to 115.
Scottish forwards are still more likely
to pass the ball than any other team
apart from Wales:
What has changed - and improved
-significantly is their defence.
Whereas last year, their opponents
managed to score a try for every
430 of possession, this year it has
more than doubled to just over
10 making them the second most
effective defending team
Tries remain difficult to come by
- just as last year. It still requires
around 12 minutes possession for
Scotland to score a try.
Last season Italy conceded more tries
than any other team (10 tries in the
first half and 12 in the second):
They passed only fractionally
more than Ireland
They rucked only fractionally
more than Ireland who were last
They were the least effective team
in keeping out the opposition
who scored one try for every
413 possession.
This year, winning possession has
remained a problem. So far, they have
obtained almost 60% less possession
than England; their rate of passing
and rucking is less than any other
team and they kick at a greater rate
than any other team. There has been
a noticeable change however. Despite
obtaining relatively little possession,
Italy defended effectively until late in
the game. Unlike last year, when 10
of the 22 tries scored against them
were conceded in the first half, this
year it is just three out of eleven.
In 2005 Six Nations, Frances defensive
effort was second to none as they were
the most effective team in keeping out
the opposition, who needed 1430
possession to score a try.
2006 has seen certain changes in the
French approach:
There has been a modest increase
in the number of rucks per game
They have however made more
open-play kicks than any other
team
They have increased their rate of
passing as well as increasing the
number of passes by some 20%
They have scored more tries than
any other team and have required
just over 4 minutes possession to
score a try a higher rate than
any of the other five.
So much for this stage of the
competition - the above analysis
has been based on the nine matches
played so far. The other six may
develop new trends or may even
reverse those identified so far.
Corris Thomas is IRB Game analyst.
Scotlands massive defensive effort has paid dividends.
Ireland change style continued from page 1
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www.irb.com 5Tackle : Le plaquage
Defence made simpleRugby is a difficult game to coach, but I think we
sometimes make the task even more difficult bycomplicating what by and large is relatively simple.
A team will have possession of the ball roughly
50% of the time while the other 50% it will be
in the possession of the opposition, which means
that our team will have to play without the ball.
This is a fairly simple fact but where we go wrong
is by spending the majority of our coaching time
working on what to do when we have the ball and
not enough on what to do when we dont have the
ball. So the game is 50% attack and 50% defence.
In the following article we will refer to the 50% of
time when our team does not have the ball and will
try to make defence as simple a skill as possible toexplain.
Defence has three main aspects:1. Technical2. Tactical3. Attitude
by Mark Donato
1. TechnicalThis refers to the technique of
making a tackle as an individual and
the skills required to deliver it in a
match situation. There are several
types of tackle:
Front on leg tackle
Side on tackle
Tackle from behind
Grade 2 and 3 Hook and Handle
Tackle
Ball Stripping Tackle
Gang Tackle.
Each one of these tackles has key
principles and I will use the Side on
Tackle as an example of what the key
principles are:
Position your running line inside
the ball carrier
Run in a strong body position
with a slight flex at the hips
Head up, back straight
Sight the target area between the
knee and the hip
Drive with legs to make firm contact
with the shoulder on the target
Position your head behind the ball
carr iers body
The game is 50% attack and 50% defence
Fullbacks, wingers and No9 in
cover defence.
The coach should then develop
specific, game related skill dr ills for
the side on tackle for the above
positions.
2. Tactical 1st Phase defence for the backs
from scrums and lineouts
Defensive lineouts
Defensive scrums
Defending opposition right side
scrum attack
Defending kick restarts
Multiple phase defence
Defending quick opposition ball
Defending slow opposition ball
Defending our turnover ball.
The above components can be
defended against using a number of
methods, including:
Man on man defence
Slide or drift defence
Inside out defence
Outside in defence
Bullet or rush defence.
Man on Man Defence - defenders line
up directly opposite the opposite
Hit with the shoulder positioned
towards the ball carrier
Tightly and quickly wrap the
arms around the ball carriers legs/
body/hips
Pull in hard with the hands
towards your chest while lifting
the ball car riers feet/body/hip
and continue driving him to the
ground
Get quickly to your feet and
recover the ball.
Similarly the remaining tackles also
have key principles to follow and the
coach should instruct accordingly.
The coachs responsibility is to
establish a specific coaching drill for
these tackles and make them as game
specific as possible. The coach can
then also make them position specific
by watching a video of his team
and seeing what positions or players
utilise what tackles. In the example
above ask yourself what position
makes side on tackles more than
others. The answer could be:
Flankers and No8 from the tail
end position from lineouts
Flankers and No8 from scrum
Inside centres in slide defence
number and stay fixed on that player
until he/she moves outside the
defended channel.
Slide or Drift Defence- once the player
marked has passed the ball, the defender
shifts/drifts on to the next opposing
player. The entire line must also drift.
Inside Out Defence- occurs when the
line remains tightly fixed close to the
ruck and the players move up in a
line with the outside players slightly
behind the players on the inside.
Outside in Defence- occurs when a gap
is left on the inside of the field closer
to the ruck or maul and the players
move up quicker on the outside.
The players on the outside are ahead
of the players on the inside driving
the opposition to play the ball back
towards the inside of the field.
Bullet or Rush Defence- the players
move as quickly as possible in a line
towards their opposite numbers. This
is best done when slow ball occurs
for the opposition. The players can
also move up so quickly that they
stand between the opposition players
in their line.
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www.irb.com6 Tackle : Le plaquage
The defence system or systems that
are used are dependent on the quality
of your own team as well as thequality and the playing style of the
opposition. No method is better than
the other and it is quite frustrating
to hear one particular method being
emphasised at the expense of the
other. Coaches should coach the
method that is best for their team
or best suited for a certain type of
opposition.
The following example of an inside
out defence with strong markers is a
particular method of organising your
defence system from a full lineout. It
is not the only system available and I
cannot say it is the best system. It is
however an effective and simple system
to coach particularly if your front five
are fit and smart enough to comply.
From the diagram we have assumed
that the opposing (attacking) team has
run the ball up towards the channel
that our No10 is in and our No8 and
No10 have made the tackle. We have
put the following factors in place.
Locks No4 & No5 have gone
to the far side of the tackle or
ruck and are the marker 1 and 2
on our left side. It is best for the
locks to work the far side from
the original set piece as they are
expected to be more mobile than
the front row.
Props No1 and No3 have gone
to the close side (from the
original set piece) of the tackle
or ruck and are the marker 1
and 2 on our right side. It is best
for the props to work the closer
side from the original set piece
as they are expected to be less
mobile than our locks.
The No9 works towards 5
metres behind the ruck or tackle,
into a sweeper and organiser role.
Their primary role is to organise
the defence and ensure that
all players are in their correct
positions. If players are caught
short for any reason the No9
then joins the line.
The hooker, No2, stays on the
side that the set piece came from
and covers the attack back down
that side in the next phase. If
the attack does come back that
way they eventually work their
Defence made simple continued from page 5
3. AttitudeRugby is a go forward game, a
contact sport in which the role of
the defender is not only to stop
the ball carrier but to gain ground
by driving him/her backwards or
sideways in the tackle. By driving
the ball carrier backwards in a good
tackle or tackling the attacking team
beyond the advantage line, you (the
defending team) are actually going
forward.
The concept We can go forward,
without the ball, must be coached
into your players from the outset.
This requires the right mental
attitude, which in the game we call
controlled aggression.
The defender needs to think that he
will not only stop the ball carrier, but
basically drive him/her backwards in
the tackle. I often think that defence
is a submissive word that induces
the wrong state of mind in players.
I often use what the American
Football call offensive defence. It
does describe much better what I
am trying to coach. As a coach of
a senior side, beware of age group
rugby where safety is paramount, you
must emphasise the offensive aspect
of defence.
way closer towards the markers
allowing the more mobile players
to defend further out.
The back row try and get
into marker 3 and control the
defensive line movement going
forward. It is their responsibility
to control the speed of the
line and drift or man on man
defence.
At the tackle it is the
responsibility of the original
markers (Nos1, 3, 4 & 5) to get
into the marker position at that
next ruck. Their job is to keep
folding the same way and allow
the rest of the team to defend
on an inside out principle -
which means ensuring that the
opponents have no space to
come back on the inside and
must pass the ball out wide to
beat the defence. We will then
know that the edge of the ruck
and the ball coming back on the
inside is completely guarded.
This defence is trying to force
the opposition to pass the ball
wider with this type of defensive
alignment. Statistics show that
with every pass that is made
the mistake rate goes up and
the advantage line is further
away from the ball allowing the
defending team to take more
space.
1 3 4 5 7 12 13
11
15
14
62
R
9
Defence System A Strong Markers and Inside Out Defence
Lineout from thisside of the field
MARKER 1 & 2LEFT RIGHT
SWEEPER &ORGANISER
In this diagram you will see that
the wingers are slightly back
and have greater space between
themselves and the defender
inside them. This allows for the
inside players to drift across
the attacking line. The wingers
require great discipline not to
tackle, otherwise the advantage
of drift is taken away.
The fullback No15 stands more
behind the marker 3 on the
folding side. (The folding side
is when a team continues to hit
the ball up without changing
direction) and covers the broken
tackle across the attacking line
and also the last attacking player
in the line.
The major secret to this
defence is discipline and not
committing too many defenders
unnecessarily to the tackle or
ruck situation.
It is also important that the space
outside of markers 1 and 2 is
wide enough not to allow a long
pass being made that takes out
most of the defenders.
No14 stands behind 6, ready
to cover across for 15. He only
comes back to his normal
position if the ball comes back
that way.
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www.irb.com 7Tackle : Le plaquage
Types of tackle
Front on Leg Tackle
The most common tackle made. It
is the first tackle most players aretaught and subsequently master
- performed front on by tackler
around the ball carr iers legs.
Side on Tackle
Performed on the side of the ball
carrier, the tackler is usually a
flanker attacking from either the
scrum or lineout.
Tackle from Behind
Performed from behind the
ball carr ier, it is used once the
opposition breaks the front on leg
tackle.
Grade 2 & 3 Hook &
Handle Tackle
This is a front-on
tackle but not made
around the legs. The
tackler takes on both
the ball carrier usually
around the upper half
of the body and the
ball itself. Grade 2
tackle means that the
ball carrier is driven
backwards preferably
behind the advantage
line. Grade 3 means
the same as Grade
2 plus the tackler
must get to their feet
quickly and take the
ball from the tackled
player.
PROGRESSIVE COACHING MODEL.
DEFENCE
FUNdamentalTraining toTrain
Training toCompete
Training toWin
7-12 years orFirst year inrugby
13 & 14 years or2-3 years inrugby
15 years, 2nd XV&16Bs or 3 yearsin rugby
1st XV & 16ASenior
IndividualTackle Skills.
Front on. Side on. Tackle from
behind.
InsideShoulder.
Man on Man. Drift. Positional
responsibility. Time and
Spaceconcept.
Communication& nomination.
Organisationfrom firstphase.
Grade 2 tackle.
Multiple playdefence
pattern. Grade 3tackle.
Turnoverresponsibility.
Systems.
When talking to the individual player
you must emphasise:
Tackling is a physical contest
and in a tackle you must
consider yourself an attacking
player rather than a defender.
Throughout the years of watching
and playing Rugby League I came
across players with nicknames that
said it allthe Axe, Cement,
Hit Man. This is the attitude that
the coach must foster in the team.
You can do this by creating special
awards for the biggest hit of the day,
the most tackles, the gutsiest hit (little
man on big man) etc. I have always
seen rugby defence epitomising
bravery.
As the technical and tactical skills
develop and improve, the confidence
of the players and of the team in
defence grows. This is when the
coach becomes a psychologist, as
he slowly develops in his players
the confidence to be aggressive in
the tackle, while controlling their
aggression.
Safety is crucial at all levels in the
game and no coach shall allow
what is basically a skilled delivery of
defensive mechanism to degenerate
into mindless violence.
The age group progression chart
below has been taken from our
Unions (Falcons) Progressive
Coaching Model. We utilise this model
to assist our coaches in understanding
what we should be coaching our
players at what age levels.
Mark Donato, who played both Rugby
Union and Rugby League in his native
Australia, is currently the defence coach for
the South African Currie Cup Falcons. He
is also the Manager High Performance &
Coaching for the Union. He has previously
coached rugby in Australia, USA, Ireland,
England and Zimbabwe.
It is a most memorable event in a
rugby match when a team stoically
and doggedly keeps out the attacking
team in the final stages of a thriller
that sits in your memory for years to
come.
Ball Stripping Tackle
Is made when the tackler wraps
both their arms around the balland strips the ball away from the
attacking player. The emphasis is
on ripping the ball away.
Gang Tackle
Is made by two or more players. Its
aim is to prevent the ball carrier
from passing the ball, go to ground
or present the ball favourably to
their support players. Normally
one player takes the player around
the chest and the other around the
waist, driving them backwards.
Gang tackle
...in a tackle you must consider yourself an attacking player rather than a defender.
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www.irb.com8 Tackle : Le plaquage
The tackle incorporates the most basic principle of the game - thecontest for possession - in a sport where the prizes have never been
greater. An average of 5 to 6 players are now arriving at the tackle
zone in an attempt to seek or destroy, in what often appears from
the outside to be a wild frenzy of activity.
The Tackle Maze
Clues to the referees decision making
The modern breakdown is a highly
competitive, dynamic and physical
confrontation that at the top level is
contested by the fittest, strongest and
most skilful players in the world. This
can take place on up to 150 occasions
in a single match and the role of the
referee in adjudicating the tackle is one
of the key features of a successful game.
This is amongst the toughest mental
challenges a referee faces as a myriad of
potential decisions unfold in a number
of constantly evolving scenarios.
Checklists for the tackle exist for all
stakeholders to refer to. They are the
cornerstone of the protocols that are
used to explain the ordering of the
decision-making process and they are a
vital tool to approach the maze. I have
been asked to identify clues which help
the referee to process that information.
The vital framework of this process
is the principle of the contest for
possession and to recognise that
every tackle is unique. Some tackle
situations will be over almost
instantly with the referee a simple
observer, whilst, at the other end
of the scale, some tackles become
unplayable, a situation that can only
be declared a draw, with possession
going to the side going forward or
the attacking team. In between these
two there are countless situations
which, given the complexity
and sheer competitiveness at the
breakdown, need to be instantly
quantified and decided upon. The
challenge to the referee is to be
accurate, consistent and play his part
in the game. What are the clues that
will help the referee reach the correct
decision at any given time?
The first clue begins with the
manner in which the ball carrier
takes the ball into contact. Even
before the contact, the referee can
begin to gather information as
to what will happen next. If the
ball carrier is strong and he/she is
running straight he/she will probably
be able to present the ball to secure
continuity of possession and/or
offload to his/her support player(s). If
his/her progress is compromised by
the tackle or by poor skill , or body
position or even field position, then
the referee will have had the hints
that the subsequent phase is going to
require his/her full attention. If the
referee is to buy decision-making
time he needs to have his/her senses
alerted at this pre-contact phase
while assessing who is the likely
winner of the contact situation.
The second vital clue is the location
of the ball. If the referee can see
the ball throughout the action he
can then adjust his/her mental and
physical positioning and help to fill
in the picture. For example, if the
ball carrier is successful in contact
and is able to recycle the ball, then
as soon as the referee sees the ball
emerging he/she can lift his/her
head, ideally step back and open up
his body angle. This will allow him/
her to readily absorb the next set of
information as arriving players join
the contest and the phase changes
from a tackle to a ruck situation.
Much has been said about the
referees positioning at the tackle, and
without doubt accuracy is the key
factor. When we talk about referee
positioning at the breakdown he/she
has to arr ive close enough to follow
the plot of each tackle. The first
offence needs to be identified. It
may not always need to be penalised
depending on possible prevention
or advantage, but it does need to be
recognised and, if need be, penalised.
Penalising the second, third or fourth
offence is poor refereeing. Distance
to the point of breakdown is critical
to decision-making here if the
referee gets too close he/she will
miss the big picture, if he/she is
too far away he /she will miss the
infringement(s) and credibility is lost.
The referees fitness allows him to
arrive with a clear head, hopefully as
still as an archers before he shoots.
If he starts his run to the breakdown
from a poor position he will be
compromised when he arrives, even
if he is a very fast runner. Similarly
if he arrives first and is unable to
decide what he is looking for then
little is gained. Seeing the ball at
all times, or the ability to mentally
imagine where the ball is, allows the
referee to orientate himself in the
midst of the contest and arrive at the
correct decision.
At this point it should be recognised
little positive will happen without the
tackler releasing the tackled player
and then moving out of the way. In
all games a return to basics is needed
if in any doubt and the shifting of the
tackler has to be emphasised if the
game is to work.
Referees positioning at the tackle - The referee has to arrive close enough to follow the plot of each
tackle. The first offence needs to be identified. Chris White.
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www.irb.com 9Tackle : Le plaquage
by Chris White
Communication is also vital at thebreakdown. Players will often ask the
referee before a match to tell them
when they can and cannot contest.
The best players will already know
their rights and obligations at the
point of breakdown and will also
read the referee quite early on and
operate accordingly. The referee can
help at the breakdown whenever
and wherever that is possible and
desirable. This can be before, during
and after the tackle, but not at all
times. However the referee may
well decide that too much talk is
counterproductive, becoming a kind
of white noise, whilst at the same
time condoning offences that will
not help the game.
During the contest the referee must
be specific and brief in what he asks
for, for example, White 3 move or
Tackler release. At the same time
he must strive mentally to record and
memorise what is occurr ing around,
in order to achieve consistency. Once
a sanction has been given, the way the
referee delivers his/her message is vital
to what happens next in the tackle.
If a player has offended he/she needs
to be identified, the offence needs to
be clearly and quickly outlined and
if possible the solution offered. If this
is achieved, and for plenty of reasons
this is not always possible, the referee
will make huge strides in controlling
the rest of the match, 6 White off
your feet at the tackle. Stay on your
feet next time please. or Red
10 - in the side of the tackle. Use the
gate next time, thank you.
The tone of delivery is also crucial.
Shouting, talking to the floor, or
gabbling will not help. Signalling
clearly first and then speaking will
often produce the right timing.
However there will be occasions
in highly charged matches where
speaking first is vital as the players
in the immediate vicinity, often
with their heads down, need to
hear the call and get the message
simultaneously. The degree of
difficulty at the tackle will vary with
a range of factors of which timing is
one. The aphorism life is a matter of
perfect timing may well have been
coined with the role of the
referee at the tackle in mind.
Split seconds are paramount
and make the difference
between success and failure.
The decision-making or
communication of the referee
only has to be half a second
out of sync and that accuracy and
consistency will suffer.
Within this context, demands are
changed by different skill, strength
and speed levels. For example, in
lower grade rugby the tackle is made
by one man around the legs and the
attacker usually falls forward and is
able to place the ball backwards. In
professional rugby a ball carrier is
often hit by two defenders and the
timing and intensity of the tackle is
altered considerably. The issue for the
referee is to be able to recognise the
differences whilst applying the same
principles of Law.
The implication is that as referees
move up the levels of the game
they need exposure to the increase
in speed and intensity, for example
in contact sessions. Ironically semi-
opposed contact is often quicker than
the real thing! Perfect for overload
training! If the referee is struggling at
the tackle in a match, he has to buy
himself mental time and space and
try to step back and go for basics. Has
the tackler really moved off? Is there
a clamp going on? Are players are
off their feet and if so, why? Is it
poor skill levels, bad conditions, over-
exuberance (the bane of the trial
match) or plain illegality?
And here is an area for which all
the stakeholders in the game have
responsibility. If players are poorly
coached, ignorant of the Law
requirements or unwilling to comply
then they must accept responsibility
and bear the consequences. The
preamble of the Laws states clearly
that it is not solely the responsibility
of the referee but also those who
coach and play the game.
Other factors that affect the
refereeing of the tackle include
poor lighting for evening kick-offs,
where the ball is lostin shadow. Poor
weather and ground
conditions will also
compromise the
efforts of everybody
at the significant
transition phase from
the tackle to ruck.
Invariably the referee will
have to get closer (the
referee must be aware of
the safety factor when
moving too close to
players) to the action
and probably increase
his mental work-rate.
Skill level will also
affect communication
in the sense that the referee will need
to communicate more at lower levels
to help structure the breakdown and
contribute to the game. Similarly
the tactics of a close, driving, forward
orientated match will demand far
greater intensity from the referee in
the process of decision-making.
Finally we should recognise when
the tackle is going well in a match
situation and carry a positive mental
image to reinforce this goal. Here,
there will be a real contest for
possession, with excellent skills
displayed in attack such as ball
retention and offloading, as well as
quick and skilful defence competing
for the ball legally on its feet. All of
which will provide opportunity for a
fast moving and dynamic game. The
transition from tackle to ruck phase
will provide both quick ball and
legally slow ball. Rucks and counter-
rucks will emerge and space will be
created around the field.
Advantage, when it is played well,
is often a highlight for a referee;
not to mention the turnover ball
at the tackle. Top level teams crave
for space and time and the turnover
ball gives them both against briefly
disorganised defences as the game
comes alive. Turnover ball won
legally happens when players comply
with the law which enables the
referee to solve the maze.
RFU referee Chris White is a member of
the A IRB International Panel.
Safety at Tackle
Tackle is an area of intense
physical contact, where
the safety of the players
is essential. At the r isk ofstating the obvious, a brief
but not comprehensive list of
some dangerous acts by the
tackler is itemised below:
Tackling the ball carr ier with no
attempt to grasp him/her. The
tacklers act of spearing/charging
the ball carr ier with the shoulder
is, technically, not a tackle; but it
is unsafe and must be penalised.
Tackling the ball carr ier above
the line of the shoulders. Simply
said, the head and neck are
fragile parts of the body and
any action that delivers a blow
(or even a tug, such as a collar
tackle) to these parts of the body
is dangerous.
Lifting the ball carrier off the
ground and then slamming him to
the ground. That is dangerous play.
Tackling a player without
the ball, including early or
late tackles. Sometimes the
dangerous (late) tackle follows an
attempt to charge down a kick.
by Don Morrison
But the ball carrier can also be
guilty of dangerous play. The ball
carrier may try to ward off the
tackler by using his free arm for
protection. This is fine as long
as the arm does not include an
elbow, a fist or a jab with the
base of the palm. Tackles, by
their very nature, may result in
injury. Sometimes the injury is
the result of hard but fair play.
Not all safety issues are black and
white, which means the referee
must exercise judgment and
blow the whistle accordingly.
Don Morrison is a former USA
International referee and an IRB
trainer for NAWIRA.
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Total Rugby Technicalwww.irb.com10
Backline defenceWe can talk about backline defence but I prefer to call it team
defence for obvious reasons. In my book every player has a role
to play in making it difficult for the opposition to attack, while
enhancing the defensive capability of his team. The three factors
that make a defensive system effective are: applying pressure (bycontesting possession), going forward and support.
by Darryl Suasua
Pressure: Applying pressure
to the opposition to create
turnovers is what defence
is all about. However,
the defensive pressure is
determined by what you and
your forwards are able to
achieve in contesting the set
phase play.
Going forward: in an
organised system cuts down an
oppositions time and space.
Support: within the system
ensures no holes for escape.
Contest Possession
Firstly and fundamentally it must
be accepted by all players that the
entire team has a role to play in
how effective the backline defence
is going to be. At the primary phase
- be it scrum, lineout or restart - the
forwards will impact on the way the
opposition will attack. The quality
of the ball the opposition wins is
determined by the effectiveness of
your forwards as they contest the
primary phase. In other words the
harder your forwards make it for the
opposition to win quality ball and
the more they disrupt the primary
phase, the better the chances of your
defence to cope with the attack.
It is quite clear that focussing at
scrummage time on the opposition
feed can impact on the type of ball
the opposing scrum-half is able to
deliver to his backs to attack. This is
why concentration on the essential
tasks during the primary phase is
vital. Quite often, the loose forwards
focus on what they will do once
the opposition has won the ball,
rather than concentrate on their
contribution to the initial scrum.
The defensive hooker needs to
focus on scrummaging only, while
the attacking hooker needs to give
attention to the strike.
Contest at the lineout will also
impact on a teams attacks. Disrupting
the feed could make the difference
between successful defence and
failure. If the attacking side are
expecting ball off the top of a lineout
and the defending forwards can force
an inaccurate feed then the back
attack will need timing adjustments.
If a team is looking to launch off
a lineout maul and you are able to
force the ruck and stand forwards off
the side of that ruck, then again you
force the opposing back attack to re-
think options and timing.
Go Forward
The next point of focus in defence
is the ability to go forward in an
organised fashion to prevent territory
being gained, with the advantage
line being the determining factor in
how successful a defence has been.
It is simply a race to beat the attack
over the advantage line. Remember,
the objective of the attack is to cross
that advantage line by breaching
the tackle line. In defence, the first
objective is to cross the advantage
line and then stop the attacking backs
on the tackle line.
In terms of a go forward defensive
pattern there are a number of options
that can be employed: man on man,
man on man drift, one out defence,
one out drift, umbrella defence
bringing the outsides up first etc.
The key here is that each individual
understands their own role within
the pattern and they stick to it.
A breach of the defensive line will
be caused either by a missed tackle
or by a defender who is out of the
defensive pattern. Regardless of the
pattern employed, I believe a key
objective of the defender is not to
be beaten by an opponent on the
outside.
If we can force the attacking backs
to chop back inside then we will
be forcing them to step back into
defensive screens from supporting
forwards. In designing a system
or selecting a system to use, it is
important to take into consideration
the profile of your team. The big
hitting South Africans use an
umbrella type defence, hitting
opponents from the outside. The
faster, yet not so bulky Australians
tend to use more of a drift defence
where they usher their opponents to
the sides of the field.
Support
Defensive support is very important
within any of the systems employed.
As I have already mentioned, each
player must clearly understand his
role within that defensive system.
In terms of alignment there are two
points that must be covered off.
Firstly, it is the players alignment
with the defenders from his own
teams system and secondly, it is the
players alignment in relation to the
attacking player you are defending
against - your opposite number.
A common error is that defenders
watch the ball (ball-watching) and
move as soon as they see the ball
emerge from a set piece or phase
play. This may make the individual
defender rush out of the system
causing the defensive alignment to
lose shape, which in turn will create a
weak point in the defensive line.
The next part of support comes at
the tackle point. The support tackler
in a strong position may assist in
driving the attacker back, have a go
at stealing the ball or simply make it
difficult for the ball carrier to recycle
quickly. In terms of training, it is
quite useful to devise drills that focus
on the role of the support tackler
and how they can slow down or steal
opposition ball.
Darryl Suasua, the former coach of the
World Champions New Zealand Black
Ferns team is a NZRU Resource coach,
Counties- Manukau NPC Skills coach
and an IRB Trainer.
...the ability to go forward in an organised fashion... is a determining factor.
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Womens rugby: The accidental rugby clubAbout two years ago the daughters of two Letchworth Garden City
RFC coaches used to train occasionally with the boys and dreamt
of forming a girls team. Today the club has a thriving girls section
playing fixtures against teams from across Eastern England. How
was the girls section formed and how could you make it happen inyour part of the world? John Birch, one of the founders, shares his
experience:
Establishing a foundation
The most difficult thing when you
want to start a g irls rugby team is
the actual beginning. Establishing a
girls team at Letchworth had always
been a kind of ill-defined aim, in a
vague sort of way but it was an aim
that never really got anywhere. The
breakthrough came when we were
offered the chance to manage a girls
team at the countys Youth Games.
This suddenly gave a focus, a target
and an official status, links into local
schools, and a girls tag rugby squad.
County Youth Games are common
across England and most include
girls tag rugby. In other countries
you may need perhaps to start and
run your own tournament; maybe as
an inter-schools event or some kind
of competition involving the local
Scouts or Girl Guides troops. But that
initial objective and purpose is vital
it captures the imagination of schools,
parents, girls and your own club.
Baiting the trap
Starting with a simplified, low-
contact version of the game - tag
rugby, touch rugby is essential.
Not only will this get players playing
virtually straight away, you are
also much more likely to get the
cooperation of schools, parents, etc.
who might be otherwise put off by
such a dangerous game.
Strange as it seems, the very schools
that send their girls abroad on skiing
trips to throw themselves down
mountainsides with bits of wood tied
to their feet get so very concerned
about possible injury on a rugby field!
but start sneaking in some contact
very early on.
There is a line of thought which
says, Introduce contact slowly. Dont
frighten them away. However, we
at Letchworth had a different view
and made it clear from day one
that tag or touch rugby are means
to an end not ends in themselves
and got the girls hitting bags from
day two. The idea of thumping the
teacher (or at least the bosh bag
they are holding) appears to have a
certain appeal. Cant think why
and as for those previously thought
as less athletic - give them a taste
of scrums, mauls, and rucks and
suddenly (perhaps for the first time in
their sporting lives) they are heroes!
Within a month theyll want to play
nothing but contact.
Play games
Seems obvious but many new
clubs seem strangely reluctant to put
their charges onto the field too early.
We found that about 4-5 weeks was
all that was needed to make a team
competitive and the tight time
frame did wonders for sharpening the
girls attention.
Attracting new players
The best recruiting sergeants are the
players themselves. As a rule, you can
get one new player for every 4-5
existing ones. Encourage the girls
to regard their sisters and cousins as
potentially useful members of the
U14s squad, rather than annoying
inconveniences. Point out that it
affords them the opportunity to
practice their tackling at home
Publicity pays
Most local newspapers are so
desperate for copy that they will
print an account of paint drying
- if well wr itten. Getting your girls
activities covered is normally pretty
straightforward, and well worth it.
First it obviously attracts new players,
but even more importantly it does
wonders for the self-belief and
confidence of the team.
The teenage years are the age of
questioning and doubt. And if they
are doing something unusual and
girls playing rugby is unusual they
need to know they are doing the
right thing. And that is where the
odd article here and there scores. A
passing mention of their name in
an article will get them reaching for
their scrap-books; photographs will
mean that all their friends at school
will start asking them about the
game. The lift you get in the team
the day after the newspaper comes
out is palpable. And, if yours are not
the only girls team in the area, it
even adds a little spice to inter-club
fixtures.
And dont forget the electronic
media because your girls wont.
Your club website should have a
section devoted to the girls team
with a report on every match,
features and photographs. Most
certainly some of the girls are keen
to have a go.
And finally
In all the excitement a coach must
also remember that:
a) You do have a family who may
wish to at least say hello at some
point
b) The chances that they want to
discuss the make-up of Sundays
back row are pretty slim
c) You are not being paid to do this.
You are probably being paid to
do something else, so set your
priorities accordingly
d) Sleep is a good thing. Try to
include some in your diary.
Pioneers of womens rugby at Letchworth Garden City RFC the U17s team at the Beckenham
Festival (top) in action (above).
John Birch coaches at Letchworth Garden
City RFC.
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The basic principles of the gameIn his article on the basic principles of the game, Jean-Luc
Barths, Regional Development Manager for French-speaking
Africa, revisits key concepts dating back to other major Frenchtheoreticians of the game, particularly Ren Deleplace and Pierre
Villepreux: GOING FORWARD to put pressure on the opposition;
and creating CONTINUITY of play through effective SUPPORT
in all aspects of the game, with or without possession of the ball.
1) Go forward
2) Support
3) Continuity
1) Go forwardIn all team sports in which the objective is to score points by reaching a
target of some kind, the most fundamental principle is to move forward to
get closer to the target. In the particular case of rugby, the target for the team
in possession (the goal-line) is very wide (up to 70m), which directly affects
the various ways the game is played. If tomorrow the lawmakers of the game
were to decide that tries could only be scored between the posts, the shape of
the game would change significantly.
The Laws allow the defender to make direct contact with the ball carr ier, so
players in both teams can go forward, the attacking team in an effort to score
and the defending team in order to prevent the attacking team from scoring.
Simply moving forward does not mean that it is always possible to score - or
to prevent a score - however, it does enable one team or the other to advance
beyond the gain line and shift the point of contact with the opposition back
into the other teams territory (Figure 1). In the end we shall see that the
Laws of the game and the space available in the field of play give rise to
several different ways of moving forward.
GAIN
LINE
TACKLE
LINE
In Figure 1, team A has carried the ball across the gain line and thereby pushed the
tackle line the point at which the defender makes contact with the ball carrier back
into the defending teams territory.
Figure 1
1.1 Pressure
Whenever there is opposition, each team sets out to dominate their
opponents. This means pressuring the opposition, forcing them to play
from a position of weakness, limiting their action in time and in space, and
putting the opposition on the defensive. Teams have particular strengths or
weaknesses, so it makes sense to pit strengths against weaknesses. Pressure can
be applied through good tactical decisions (keeping the ball and the players
moving in space) or through superior physical strength (wherever there is
physical contact between the teams, both individually and in numbers).
1.2 Going forward with the ball
The team carrying the ball will try to go forward to score or to exploit gaps
in the defence thereby enabling them to go forward again and eventually
score. Recognising the specific Laws governing off-side and the forward pass,
and the size of the playing surface (up to 70 metres wide and 100 metres
long), there are several options for moving the ball forward in the various
phases of play.
1.2.1 Types of play
There are several ways of moving the ball forward:
getting the ball out wide
penetration in numbers
tactical kicking.
With the exception of the set phases of play, when the defence mirrors the
formation of the attackers, the tactical decision how to move the ball forward
should be determined by where the opposition is at any given moment. For
example, we should get the ball out wide when the opposition are mostly
grouped in one part of the field, not simply because we decide ahead of time
to go wide with no reference to the disposition of the defenders.
Characteristics of each type of play:
Getting the ball out wide This means that the team in possession moves
the ball across the field, looking for ways to go forward, cross the gain line,
and eventually score.
The objective will be to:
- outflank the defence by playing wide (going round the outside of the opposition)
- penetrate through a gap in the defence (by moving the ball out, then
penetrating through a gap, Figure 2)
Figure 2
PLAYING WIDE PENETRATING MOVING THE
BALL WIDE
1) Go forward
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Total Rugby Technical www.irb.com 13
- stretch the defence across the field to create wider gaps through which to
penetrate.
This type of play will be used primarily against a defensive alignment concentrated
in one part of the field and not well organised across the field.
Penetrating in numbers This type of play moves the ball straight down the
field, across the gain line, and eventually over the goal-line.
The objectives are:
- to drive forward through the gaps in the defence
- to force scattered defenders to move in to stop the drive so they can then be
outflanked in the next phase of play.
It is most often effective when the defenders are scattered all over the field, out
wide and deep, but with gaps between the defenders.
Tactical kicking Kicking moves the ball downfield, across the gain line.
The objectives are:
- to get the ball into space behind the defensive alignment
- to regain possession downfield.
It is mainly used to counteract a very strong defensive alignment across the field
but with deep open spaces behind. These three types of play can be used in the
three phases of play.
1.2.2 Phases of play General play, which is the movement of the players and the ball after set play
breakdowns or phase play, rucks and mauls, when there is no whistle and play is
still going on, the players are moving, but the ball is not
set play, lineouts, scrums, kick-offs and restart kicks, when the referee has ordered
a stoppage in play, the ball is dead and the players momentarily stop moving.
The choice of the type of play will be made:
In general play the players will need to be able to read where the opponents are
positioned if they are to make the best tactical decision about where and how to
attack (Figure 3). To be able to do this during the game entails focussing practice
on the development of tactical awareness (ability to read and understand play, and
respond appropriately during the game) as well as individual skills. Of the two,
tactical awareness is the more important.
At the breakdowns (phase play), the location of the ruck or maul in relation
to the gain line will determine which team has the upper hand. This in turn
conditions what happens next, although the final decision should always be made
relative to the defensive alignment, as in general play (Figure 4).
D O1 O2
A X1 X2 X3 X4
X1 IS THE
BALL-CARRIER
Figure 3
The location of the players and the potential overlap on the outside suggest getting the ball
out wide
by Jean-Luc Barthes
Figure 4 ATTACKDIRECTION
B1
B2
B3
GAIN LINE
B1 The breakdown occurs across the gain line, so defenders have to retreat,
support is going forward. The best option is to release the ball quickly and
move it away to the outside in the same direction play is moving.
B2 The breakdown occurs on the gain line; the choice of play depends on
where there could be an overlap, but the ball should be released quickly.
B3 The breakdown is behind the gain line, support players have to retreat
whereas defenders can move forward. The ball should be released slowly in
order to allow the support players to reorganise, and enable a clearing kick
to relieve pressure.
2) Support 3) Continuity
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For example, when the breakdown point is short
of the gain line: most of the support players are
ahead of the ball carrier and they have to run
back towards their goal-line in support, whereasthe defenders can move forward. In this case, a
kick may relieve pressure. If the defending players
are moving forward in a random, disorganised
way, and there is space near the touch line,
playing wide will be a good option for exploiting
this open space while maintaining possession of
the ball (which is not the case when the ball
carrier kicks the ball away). A sound tactical
decision will only be made if the players first
reflex is to look at the defensive alignment before
deciding what to do next.
In set play - players align opposite one
another before the restart of play. There is no
obvious overlap, so the first movement by the
team in possession will be to create an overlap
somewhere on the field.
So decision about the type of play to be used for starting the move is made
before play restarts. This will be a strategic decision rather than a tactical one.
As soon as play restarts, the defending players move and we are back in a
tactical decision-making process (Figure 5).
The basic principles of the game (continued)
1.3 Going forward without the ball
If we accept that the attacking team is the one which is going forward
towards the opponents goal-line, then the team without the ball is attacking
when they go forward in defence and exert pressure on the team in
possession. The objective is to prevent the opposition from scor ing by closing
the gaps, and regaining possession in order to counter-attack.
The team in possession can still pass the ball (moving it out, penetrating in
numbers, or kicking), so defenders have to organise themselves to deal with
any of these three types of play.
Defensive alignment:
A first line of defence to counteract the opponents passing game, including a
significant number of players to defend across the field and target the ball carrier.
A second line of defence to cover the short kicks and defend against the players
who break the first line of defence, including a few players in cover defence who,
most of the time, will move parallel to the first line.
A third line of defence to cover the long kicks and defend against the players
who get through the first and second lines of defence, including one or two
players well behind the two other lines of defence who move, in most cases,
parallel to the first two lines.
Figure 6
ATTACK
DIRECTION
BCPOINT WHERE
BALL STARTS
OS
DS
IS
As soon as the ball begins to move we should be able to see:
BC ball carrier
IS (inside support) the last player to pass supports on the inside (deep enough in
relation to the BC to be able to burst through on the inside of the BC or to go in
on the BC if he is stopped).
OS (outside support) goes outside the BC in order to stay wide, draw the defender and
stretch the defence (only going in on the ball if there is danger of losing possession).
DS (deep support) the second last passing player (or any other player) in support behind
the BC. He stays inside the ball carriers inside shoulder so that he has the option of
coming through on the inside, going directly in on the ball or going on the outside.
2.2 Support without the ballDefenders have to organise themselves in three lines if they are to defend against
the three types of play. Once a player is no longer needed in one particular line
of defence, he goes where he is needed. For example: once the ball is passed
across the field it serves no purpose for the defenders on the inside to remain in
the first line of defence, so they drop back into the second line to scrape and
support their team mates still involved in the front line of defence.
Figure 5 ATTACK AND DEFENCE AT SET PLAY
2) Support2.1 Support with the ball
Sometimes the ball carrier will be able to go forward alone, but, most of the
time he will have to rely on support to keep the ball moving forward. When
its not possible to go on his own, the ball carrier may pass the ball to a team
mate in order to keep the movement going. Support needs to be organised
around the ball carr ier in such a way that the ball carr ier always has several
options (Figure 6).
Support needs to be organised around the ball carrier in such a way that the ball carrier always has several options.
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PASS
PLAYING WIDEPLAYING WIDE
PENETRATING IN
NUMBERS
PENETRATING IN
NUMBERS
DIRECT INDIRECT
Figure 7
RUCK OR MAUL
3) Continuity3.1 Continuity in attack (with the ball)
Even when the ball carr ier is going forward with organised support and the
players are executing a particular type of play, at some point this type of play
may no longer be effective in moving the ball forward.
Depending on where the opponents are, the attacking team must thenchange their means of attack and try to find another more effective pattern
of play.
We could call this a transition, designed to keep the ball moving forward.
When the transition is made through a pass, we could call it direct, and
when the transition occurs by means of a ruck or maul we could call that
indirect.
The pass is preferable because it doesnt give the defence time to reorganise
and get back into position. Indirect transition must be as quick as possible so
they should be quick rucks or mauls (where a minimum number of players
are involved).
3.2 Continuity in defence (without the ball)Going forward without the ball to prevent a score being made means closing down
the open space and regaining possession of the ball. Once possession is regained,
continuity of play is maintained by immediately setting up a counter-attack.
The type of counter-attack depends on where possession has been regained:
- Type I counter attack from the first line of defence
- Type II counter attack from the second line of defence
- Type III counter attack from the third line of defence.
The specific location of team mates and the opposition players in each of
these situations determines which way to counter-attack.
To score To prevent scoring
1) Going forward Creating spaces Closing spacesRegain possession
The aim: to put pressureusing the three types of play inrelation to the defence patternin the three types of play.* Global move* Fixing phases* Static phases
Global move:* Invividual and collective
landmarks for players movesin relation to the ball move
* Keep going in the same moveand with the same ball speedpass before tackle.
Organisation in lines to clashwith the three types of play in thethree phases of the game.
Fixing phases:* Choose the form (maul, ruck)
choose to restart
Static phases:* Strategy - choose how to start
the move* Choose how to structure the
set pieces
2) Support Organising the support in typeof play
Organising the support in linesMoving from a line to anotherone
3) Going on Choices of play in the move* Favouring the direct ones* Indirect ones - favouring quick
rucks or mauls
After turnover - counter attack on
* Line 1* Line 2* Line 3
Jean-Luc Barthes is the IRB Regional Development Manager for French-speaking Africa.
The basic principles
- Move the ball away from the point
of contact in order to try to shift
the pressure away from the side of
the field where the ball was coming
from.
- The player who gets the ball back
passes straight to a support player
on the outside (OS in Figure 6); if
a defender prevents the pass being
made to the outside the pass is to a
deep support player (DS in Figure
6) who then attacks on the outside.
It is essential that the player who
regains possession of the ball doesnt
run with it but simply acts as a pivot.
This requires a quick reaction by
all support players in order to:
- Create options around the player
who regained the ball (players
coming from inside)
- Create options on the outside of
the player who regained the ball
(going wide).
Possession regained deep in
cover defence (the third line of
defence)Characteristics:
- Outnumbered
- Depth of the counter attack varies.
Principles:
- Quick assessment of whether it is
possible to counter-attack or not
- Fix the first defenders
- Decide where to direct the
counter-attack in relation to where
the opposition is, and how much
space there is in which to counter-
attack.
Possession regained in the first or second lines of defence
Characteristics:
- Numerous players around and
heavy pressure.
- Opponents converge towards
where the counter-attack starts
which means there are few players
left out wide.
Principles:
- Go forward as quickly as possible
by passing or kicking.
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Continuity of Possession v Conti
Principles of RugbyTechnical Checklist
Rugbys Charter, our foundation
document, describes the Principles
of Rugby as they relate to playing
and coaching, and to the creation
and application of Laws, in respect
of:
Conduct
Spirit
Contest and continuity
Sport for all
Maintaining the identities
Enjoyment and entertainment.
Within these, it provides a
framework for a technical checklist:
Contest for possession
Continuity of play: attack and
defence
Multi-faceted game, and
Rewards and punishments.
You can find this on the IRB website
at: http://www.irb.com/about/charter
CONTINUITY OF PLAY
CONTINUITY OF POSSESSION
CONTEST FOR POSSESSION
The diagram shows the two extremes:
THE GAMEWE WANT?
Continuity of PlayCHARACTERISTICS
CHANGES IN POSSESSION TURNOVERS CONTESTED RUCKS / MAULS LONG DRIVING MAULS CONSERVATIVE PLAY KICKING CREATION AND USE OF LATERAL
AND LINEAR SPACE LOW SCORES A GAME FOR ALL PLAYER-DIRECTED PLAY
Continuity of PossessionCHARACTERISTICS
NON-CONTESTED PHASE PLAY FLAT LINE DEFENCE ELIMINATION OF LATERAL SPACE BIG HITS KICKS DECIDING GAMES HIGH SCORES LOSS OF GAME IDENTITIES PREDICTABILITY COACH-DIRECTED PLAY
Continuity of possession - minimal contest. One team retains possession
unless it loses the ball at the tackle or makes an error.
The IRB holds a Conference on the
Game every four years to monitor
whether or not the game being played is
in fact The Game we want. This used
to be annual, but is now quadrennial
following the Mens Rugby World
Cup. Twenty-seven months have passed
since the 2003 RWC Final, and twenty
remain until the crowning of the new
champion in Paris, October 2007. So
a mid-term review is worthwhile. It
is natural to focus on the top levels of
rugby because that is the game we all
read or hear about, or see on television,
and because the RWC is the producer
of money that Unions all around the
world rely on. But it is important to
remember that 99% of rugby is not
international or representative level.
The focus of this short article is to
review developments in the Game as
they are affected by the relationship
between continuity of play, continuity
of possession, and the contest for
possession. The relationship is important
because it determines the characteristics
of general play between set pieces
and also has implications for safety,
involvement by coaches, and for the
sponsors and broadcasters who want
to be associated with an attractive and
engaging product.
Continuity of Possession where
there is minimal contest, and one
team retains possession unless it
loses the ball at the tackle (one of
the consequences of this extreme
is big hits), or makes an error such as
a knock-on or forward pass.
When the contest for possession
at maul, tackle or ruck is minimal
- so that in the diagram play slides
to the right towards continuity of
possession, the defending team will
concede the ball at mauls, tackles,
or post-tackle rucks. The attacking
team is permitted to keep the ball
Continuity of Play where
there is maximal contest for the
ball, where both teams are likely
to have possession of the ball
between whistles, and
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uity of Playby Tom Jones
with minimum challenge as the
defending team concentrates moreon realignment so that it can make
the next tackle. Predictably, the
original attacking team will score.
The only question is when, and how
long will it take? When, however, the
contest for possession slides to the
left on the diagram, the defence will
be very combative at the point of
contact and at subsequent rucks and
mauls, so that there will be changes
in possession and turnovers. Play
will be less predictable, with ebbs
and flows, upsets and more space
for attacking teams to use because
the defenders must gather together
to challenge for possession. In each
situation, the whistle will blow if
a team makes a mistake, if a Law is
broken, or when points are scored.
But what a massive difference there
will be to the shape of game!
The early days of professional rugby
saw a game in which the contest for
possession seemed to be less important
than it had been historically. This has
changed. During the 2004 and 2005
Tri-Nations tournaments, the team
that secured most possession from first
phase finished third overall.
Indeed, in 2004, South Africa won
the tournament having secured the
least first-phase possession of the three
teams. This suggests that increasingly
there is a contest for possession at the
breakdown, and that turnovers lead
Continuity of play - maximal contest for the ball. Both teams are likely
to have possession between whistles.
to scores. It also means that South
Africa attacked effectively. Anecdotally,we seem to have emerged from an
era in which continuity of possession
has dominated the thinking of the
technicians.
The re-discovery of driving mauls
is welcome, so that lateral and linear
space is created. Teams which, after
causing turnovers, are best able to
react to defensive patterns and to
make quick and sound decisions, are
winning games. Overly planned play
is declining, flat line defences are
being breached and thus re-evaluated,
and there is reduced premium on
short range pounding close to the
breakdown. Evasive, rather than
confrontational running is on the
increase.
There are real - but not new -
messages for coaching in all of this.
Coaches, who are able to help players
to develop their abilities to look,
see, understand, decide and to act
effectively; and to combine this with
surety of possession at the restarts,
and to contest possession, will be
successful. At the post 2007 RWC
Conference on the Game, there will
be an evaluation of where the contest
is positioned in relation to continuity
of play and continuity of possession.
Perhaps change wont be necessary?
Tom Jones is the IRB Regional Development
Manager for NAWIRA
Coaching NewsEddie Jones on IRB duty
Former coach of Australia, Eddie Jones, is undertaking a review of
coaching in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga as part of the ongoing IRB strategic
development programme that is being managed by the organisationsPacific Islands Advisory Committee (PIAC). Eddie has always been
regarded as a forthright and strategic thinker. His review of the existing
coaching structures and processes in the Pacific Islands will give the
Unions a benchmark of where standards currently sit and provide a
bluepr int for moving forward, said PIAC Chairman Bob Tuckey. The
Pacific Islands are a hotbed of rugby and a renowned nursery for some
very talented players. It is great that the IRB is assisting the Unions
through such a substantial investment that