Defence Muscle Memory Practice Progression

By | April 3, 2016

Scrum and Line-out Open-side:

  1. Have enough defensive stations so that players can work in pairs and threes at each position in the defensive line so that this is also a fitness activity.
  2. Use cones to mark out attack line, defence line (including defence line alignment) and gain/advantage line.
  3. Use cones to mark out the inside-out “sprint” zone; “steady up” zone to force a decision on the attack but keep feet moving; and “step and impact” zone for a direct line into the ball carrier.
  4. Use tackle bags as ball carriers along the attack line.
  5. Have groups of 2 alternating in the tackler role.

 Alignment Progression:

  1. Have players position in a staggered alignment so that they have peripheral vision to see what is happening inside them.
  2. Position with the inside foot up so that the first step in an inside-out line giving the ball carrier only the outside option.
  3. Turn the head to see what is happening inside.
  4. Have the players run the inside out line in the “sprint” zone making sure no defenders get ahead of those inside them.
  5. Have them reload after they reach the end of this zone.
  6. Add the “steady up” zone to the sprint zone and reload.
  7. Add the “impact” zone to these 2 zones and reload.

Tackle Bag progression:

  1. Add the tackle on the tackle bags using groups of 3 with 2 alternating as tacklers and one holding the tackle bag.
  2. Hold with the holder’s knees into the tackle bag so that they are firm and the bag doesn’t just fall over.
  3. Each tackler performs each step of the tackle progression 5 times before changing roles.
  4. Start low and move up into the tackle making contact just below the centre of gravity on the rump. It is a good idea to put a mark on the bag at this point. This encourages the tackles to have their head in the neutral position to see this mark.
  5. Add drive with the legs as close to the bag as possible. “Plant” the leg and drive off.
  6. Add getting the shoulder “on”, same leg same shoulder to maximize the leg drive.
  7. Add drive through the ball carrier not to the ball carrier.
  8. Now and only now wrap with the arms by driving them directly forward and then coming together. The arms are not the means of tackling; they are the last step in a number of steps.
  9. Add getting into the space on the opposition’s side of the ball to delay the recycling of the ball.
  10. Add jackalling to recover the ball. Place the ball on the ground behind the bag.
  11. After each tackle the defenders move out one position until they are at the end of the defence line after which the rejoin the line at the first defenders post.

Live defence:

Jackalling on its own – beware the Law changes:

  1. In single file 2 groups of three oppose each other down a line.
  2. The first player in one group has a ball.
  3. On “Go” the ball carrier attacks and the first player in the other line tackles and jackals to recover the ball.
  4. This player is now the attacker who is defended by the next player in the other line.
  5. This players tackles and jackals and becomes the next ball carrier and so on.

 

Live Defence Progression:

  1. Replace the tackle bags with attackers each with a ball.
  2. Have 1 defender at each position in the defensive line.
  3. Repeat the activity in which each pair, one defender and one attacker move out to the next position after each tackle.
  4. Stay in the same roles.
  5. Alternate the roles.
  6. Double tackle – At each tackle the tackler who has just completed the previous tackle assists in making a double tackle:
    1. The first tackler, who tackles low, has made room for the second tackler who can then come in on the ball as the ball carrier is turned towards him in the tackle.
    2. The second tackler can rip the ball free or get inside the ball carriers arms and pull down or create a maul to get a turnover.
    3. If a ruck forms assess the situation to either:
      1. Get beyond the ball to slow the oppositions re-cycle or
      2. Jackal or
  • Join the defence line.
  1. Chop, Chop, Kill
    1. This is based on the attack, because they are keen to retain possession of the ball, committing more players than the defence to the post tackle/ ruck.
    2. In this situation they tend to go to the ground or a slowed up in some way.
    3. The defence makes the tackle in the first 2 tackles but doesn’t commit.
    4. On the third tackle, or a tackle at which the delay has caused the attack to have fewer numbers, the defence commits greater numbers to bind and drive past the ball.
    5. The players who join the ruck are those who have made the previous 2 tackles.

Defence from Ruck and Maul – Continuity Play:

The Set Up

  1. Start with a 15m X 15m grid.
  2. 2 teams of 8 – a ball carrier and a tackler and 6 other players who can be attackers or defenders depending on who wins the ball.
  3. To begin with the ball will not be contested at the tackle.

Defence pattern

  1. The defence pattern will be based on the attacking halfback’s option taking of which there are 2 – pass or run.
  2. Defence when halfback passes the ball.
    1. Defence moves up except the defender of the runner.
    2. The next defender out tackles the ball carrier outside in. This is from the player’s blind-side.
    3. The ball carrier will fall at the feet of the defender who hangs and this player can now get into space, jackal, grab the ball etc.
  3. Defence when the halfback runs.

For each step the halfback takes across the field the defence can take a pace forward cutting off the halfback’s running and passing options.

The Progression:

  1. Increase the grid to 25m long X 15m wide.
  2. Divide the players into 2 teams of 6 players.
  3. Position the players on the halfway line of the grid and outside the touchline on one side of the grid.
  4. Position the halfbacks on the halfway line and the touchline with a number of balls.
  5. On the coaches call each team runs down the touchline and enters the grid from the goal line at opposite ends of the field.
  6. The halfback passes the ball to one team who become the attack; the opposition will be the defence.
  7. The defence will practice the defence as the play unfolds. Play will continue until the attack scores or the defence regains possession.
  8. The next step is for play to continue until either team scores.
  9. When there is a turnover in close quarter play move the ball at least 2 passes to space before going forward.
  10. Once the ball has been moved support in depth, linear support, not in width, lateral support.

 

Add in Counter Attack From a Kick

  1. Increase the width of the grid to 25m.
  2. Finally have one defensive team and two attacking teams.
  3. Each attacking team attacks down one side of the grid. The defensive team defends across the whole width.
  4. Kick off to one side and that team attacks.
  5. After the attack has ended immediately kick to the opposite side for that attack to commence.
  6. After defending one side the defence must immediately defend the other side. This puts the defence under strain limiting numbers and enabling the counter attack to be successful.
  7. Base the counter attack on running at the city, where most of the defence are, and passing and supporting to the country, where the defence is not.

 

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