Stop defences spoiling

challenge

At the breakdown, many defensive teams focus on scanning, then spoiling, the tackle area, before the attacking half-back gets their hands on the ball. Create a seal around the tackle ball and give your 9 a line of defence from would-be spoilers.

coaching points

• Attack spoilers beyond the ball
  The first two players responsible for clean-out ignore the tackler, attack defenders well beyond the ball and put them on the ground. If a player is off their feet, their ability to spoil is neutralised (see top illustration). Do not wrestle them to the ground, though – this is dangerous and illegal.
• Establish the ‘gate’ well beyond the ball
  The further beyond the ball your clean-out players can advance, the better. It changes the referee’s perception of the offside line and the position of the ‘gate’ for the defensive team, to the advantage of the team in possession (see the middle illustration).
• Designate a ‘scanner’
  Once immediate threats have been knocked down, try to get a third player sitting directly above the ball (see bottom illustration). They remove the tackler (especially if they are delaying release of the ball), scan for late counter-rucks by the defence, and form a ruck by being over the ball, creating an offside line if no threats come in.
• Physical traits of the scanner
  Typically, this third player is powerful, with a low centre of gravity, such as a prop or hooker. The lower and more powerful they are, the more difficult to uproot from their strong position astride the tackled player.