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 Breakdown Objectives 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 ruck The process or logical steps that a player should complete when engaging at a defensive breakdown.

1st Defensive player Critical 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 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 ref Exaggerate 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 ball Slow down speed Enter through the gate Target their closest player Attack clearing player Tackler position back on his feet When the 1st Player is not on the ball Bind on him keep him on his feet Double up with tackling player Hammer 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 low Stop the offload Get on the ball Get him to the floor Relase him first Tackled player on his feet Don't counter ruck first or 2nd defender Hook leg lever Drive back Opportunity to hold tackler Call choke Keep tackled player up on or off his feet

Training Exercises with Video Clips 1 LINK 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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 2v2 Tackle, defend/attack 1v1 Tackle exercise with bear walk+ development with 2 supporting players 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