Fast line speed around the breakdown is crucial when trying to shut down an attack. Use this defensive activity to get organised quickly and put the opposition carriers under pressure.
An organised line of defenders coming up fast will reduce the opposition’s options and force mistakes.
Put four defenders on one side of a ruck (indicated by cones), with an attacking 9 and 10 opposite.
Blow your whistle and the defenders must get around the corner and into a defensive position onside.
On your second whistle, the 9 passes to 10 and the defenders fly off the line as fast as possible over the first 5 metres.
Develop with another two attackers and this time the defence has to react if the ball goes wide or an attacker runs through the middle.
Use touch tackling on the front of the attacker.
Finally, the defence come around the corner and – on your whistle – back-peddle 5m, do a down-and-up and then run forward as before.
This increases pressure on the defenders, who must produce a very high line speed to shut down the space between defence and attack.
Mauling is a powerful weapon and you don’t have to be a big side to use it. A great tactic is to set up a maul from the back of a ruck to create go-forward and tie in their defenders. MORE
I’ve been talking tackling to plenty of coaches in the last few weeks. That’s not unusual. Therefore, I wanted to share with you one of my favourite tackling “drills”: High pressure tackling reactions. I say drill because it’s a 1 v 1 exercise. MORE
The ball carrier uses a strong fend to create space and time to pass the ball to their supporting player while the defender aims to disrupt. They then turn the corner and repeat MORE
Good shape in rugby means your players are into position quickly to attack from the next phase. The shape refers to threatening alignments, with all ball-carrying options well supported. MORE
