Contest at the Breakdown

“The Defensive Breakdown”Worcester Warriors held a Coach Education Evening at Worcester

on January 16th, presented by Andrew Stanley the Warriors Academy Manager. The following presentation has been compiled

by Mark Edwards & Dicky Davies after attending the session to share with the wider OL coaching team what we picked up, notes

& video clips we captured, any questions just ask!

The Defensive BreakdownObjectives of the evening were to demonstrate the strategy of the contest situation & the role of the players involved in the breakdown

How to turn ball over or slow play down

Counter ruckThe process or logical steps that a

player should complete when engaging at a defensive breakdown.

1st Defensive playerCritical the tackler dominates the collision( land on the player), low focus, take him low put him on the ground or low to high wrapping to stop offload...... Get the ball carrier to ground Land on top , opposition side and roll away on their side When clear of the contact: Stand up, get in the way! If no one else involved get on your feet and on the ball

Tacklers Process steps Make the tackle Get on your feet (regain) Win the "race to the space” the golden meter

between the breakdown and the meter beyond) Target the head and shoulders ( that's where the

ball will be) Beat supporting players," low man wins”

1st Player

If you can see the ball Can't see the ball

• Take the space• Heads and hands past

the ball• Be compact- minimize

clearing windows• Fingers under the ball• Elbows to knees-snatch

• Take the space• 1m past the ball• Stay low stay on your feet• Bear walk (very low, scrum

position, hands on floor (bridge) driving with your legs)

Listen to the refExaggerate the movement to show compliance

Talk to the referee, influence him

2nd man to arrive at the breakdown (Always target the inside shoulder)

When the tackler is on the floor

No attacking support Attacking support close to position

Turnover/ get on the ballSlow down speedEnter through the gate

Target their closest playerAttack clearing playerTackler position back on his feet

When the 1st Player is not on the ball

Bind on him keep him on his feetDouble up with tackling playerHammer past him (take the oppositions space)

Counter ruck opportunity What to look for

After a big tackle Good defensive numbers Opposition attacks in wide. Slow ball; pressure 9 &10 Line speed Outside backs covering

breakdown Outside channel backs v fwds Big v small Good v poor Lack of support Kick/chase poor counter attack Isolated ball carrier Static isolated catcher Serial Bridger

What to do!

Call - fire ( everyone knows a counter ruck is on)

Tackled Player on the floor

Our tackler lowStop the offloadGet on the ballGet him to the floorRelase him firstGet on the ball

Tackled player on his feet

Don't counter ruck first or 2nd defenderHook leg leverDrive back

Opportunity to hold tacklerCall chokeKeep tackled player up on or off his feet

Training Exercises with Video Clips

1LINK

2LINK

3 4LINK

5LINK

6LINK

7 8 9LINK

Warm up exercise to promote the tackling player to regain his feet (springing up)

Regain your feet, take control of the ball

Regain feet, secure the ball (under pressure)

VIDEO file too large, please ask

Tackle, regain feet, secure the ball

Tackle, bear walk, take the space

Tackle & bear walk with ball

2v2Tackle, defend/attack

VIDEO file too large, please ask

1v1Tackle exercise with bear walk+ development with 2 supporting players

VIDEO file too large, please ask

3v3 Tackle and 4 supporting players

Coaching point: drive the hips/use the legs to get up not pushing up from your hands

Focus past the ball, take the space advantage, Fingers under ball, strong wrists, elbows to knees snatch

Low body position, minimize the target, use opposition pressure to spring back & present ball

Regain position, wide feet, low body angle, take the space, secure the ball, present the ball

Strong low angled body position to stop defenders getting the ball

Strong low, over the ball, if driven back your be pushed onto the ball

Coaching point low body position over the player, take the space or drive the player: head in and drive as a rudder or hook the arm and drive the layer off

Body position and both hands placing ball

Low body positions, secure the ball/capture the space & the ball

Thanks to Worcester Warriors RFC

Andrew Stanley

Worcester RFC Academy Squad