Lions 09 defence 04

Lions 2009 defensive systems

Lions 09 backs defence 4 man on man

Lions 2009 defence clip

Lions 09 - Team Defence

Practice of team defence is important for reinforcing effective systems of defence that require aspects such as communication, pressure and drifting

Lions 09 Backs defence 2

A clip from the 2009 Lions

Lions 09 Backs defence 3

A clip with a progression on defensive systems from the 2009 Lions Tour

Lions 09 Backs defence 1

A clip from the 2009 on defence systems

Lions 09 - backline defence in own 22

Where you are on the pitch can deterrmine the defensive system you play

Lions 09 - linespeed defence drill

Developing linespeed is fundamental to applying pressure to an attack line

Lions 09 - backline defence inown 22 option 3

Where you are on the pitch can determine you defensive system

Lions 09 - backline defence in own 22 option 2

Defensive systems change according to where the team is on the pitch

Lions 09 - backline defence - centre pitch

Where you are on the pitch can determine the defensive system that you can employ.

Lions 09 - Strike Moves

The Lions drill for developing awareness of attack and defence options

Lions 09 - Lions speed and tracking the player

Developing linespeed, footwork and tracking

Lions 09 Backs support lines 3

Lions 2009 support drills, with a progression

Lions 09 Lineout 1

The Lions practice their lineouts

Lions 09 Attack plays 2

A clip on attacking options from the 2009 Lions

Lions 09 backs support lines 2

Lions 2009 support and continuity work

Lions 09 - Lineout Movement

A dynamic practise for speed and quality of lifting in lineouts. This exercise can be used for 15's and 7's and for different age groups. The coaches can vary the distance of the cones and progress to both lifters moving. Coaches can add some fun by making it a competition. Key factors : The jumper must jump - Core body strength - Keep body stiff and straight - Lifters work together - Lock out arms - Bring the jumper down safely

Lions 09 - tactical kicking drill - kicking from 12

Tactical kicking can be undertaken by different players

Lions 09 Lineout 4

Lineout variation and practice

Lions 09 - Driving Body-position

A great practice for ALL players in the scrum to adopt the best position to drive from. You can use tackle bags as well as tyres

Lions 09 lineout 2

Lineout variation and practice

Lions 09 - tactical kicking drill - chase and return

Developing an awareness of applying pressure through an effective kick chase system

Lions 09 - tactical kicking drill 1

Developing an awareness of how to apply pressure through an effective kick chase policy

Lions 09 lineout 3

Lineout variation and practice

Lions 09 strike moves 4

Developing attack moves through the backs

Lions 09 Strike Moves 07

Developing attacking plays through the backs

Lions 09 lineout 5

Lineout variation and development

Lions 09 Strike Moves 3

Developimg attack plays through the backs

Lions 09 strike moves 10

developing plays in attack

Lions 09 strike move 11

Developing back play in attack

Lions 09 strike moves 6

Developing attacking plays through the backs

Lions 09 strike move 5

Developing play in backs

Lions 09 - tactical kicking - dropping back for kick-return

Positioning ready for the kick return is a systematic approach to countering pressure

Lions - Defence & turnover practice

Winning the ball back after the tackle is essential

Lions 09 - tactical kicking drill 2 blindside

A practice for developing understanding the role of chasers and counter kicking

Lions 09 - Clearing the tackler away

With the new adjustments around the tackle zone, what variation would you adopt now so that this drill is now legal?

Lions 09 - Support & Attack

The ability to create attacking situations quickly is fundamental to creating pressure

Lions 09 - Phase Play

This team play practice requires the team to be able to attacke with width and focusing on ball retention

Lions 09 - 3-man Scrum Practice

Develop the front row as a foundation for the building of the scrum

Lions 09 - Double-tackle

A good practice to work on stopping an effective ball carrying player

Lions 09 strike move 8

Developing play through the backs

Defence - Improving Defence Game

A good Defence is about players working in units and staying "Connected". This exercise develops the skills required to improve a players understanding of what to do and when to do it

L2 - Scatter Defence Game

Skill Practice Description • Ideal practice for when defences break up later in games or with counter attack decision making. • Attackers stand in front of a numbered cone and ball. • The coach calls a number and all attackers must run around their own numbered cone but whichever number was called, that ball becomes active. • At the same time a colour is called for the defenders and all defenders must turn and run around a cone of that colour. They must however choose different cones. • If a touch is made, the teams swap over roles. • If a try is scored, the attackers stay the same. • First to five tries wins. Key Coaching Points • Spatial awareness • Communication • Quickness of attack at a disorganised defence • Skills to attack space • Footwork and evasion skills • Scanning skills • Decision making • Importance of getting behind defenders Relevance to the Game • Great for coaching counter attacking disorganised defences from different angles. • Any player can be ball carrier and communication is vital as is decision making in identifying space and the best way to attack it successfully • Cones can be placed to shape different types of defence. Organised or scattered

L2 - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

Skill Practice Description • Within a game of touch the coach can at any breakdown - call blitz, drift and the defenders must run and touch the appropriate line. • The coach may also give players numbers in order to call specific defenders to leave the defence line which will create the need for defence to realign quickly. • Attackers must face the other way and attack when the ball is rolled from behind them. • On the coach’s call, the attack turn and the closest attacker picks up the ball and plays. • This ensures the coach can vary each player’s role and make the defence react. • Coach can then develop game by giving a visual clue to the defenders thus making the attackers react to an unexpected type of defence. Key Coaching Points • Visual Acuity-Looking for space. • Spatial awareness. • Highlighting defensive systems and attacking them appropriately. • Decision making. Relevance to the Game • This game is excellent for visual acuity and attacking differing defensive alignments. • Spaces are created by the leaving defenders, which the attackers have to identify

Sevens - Uncovered - Defence

The leading international coaches explain why defence is so important and how much emphasis they put on it. This clip features a variety of tackles and techniques and post good defence the opportunity to turn the ball over. Most coaches will use a system for their defence and here are some insights

L2 - Penetrating Defence Game

Skill Practice Description • The playing area is marked out in 5m channels. • When defending, players must stay within their channel throughout the game. • The attack must look to penetrate the defence by creating and preserving space. • The defence must use a two handed touch. • There is a 5 tackle turnover rule and once possession is turned over, the defence must get into a channel as the opposition can attack immediately. Key Coaching Points • Support players to hold their opposite number as long as possible before cutting a line to take the pass. • The defender can close the space as far as the edge of their own channel. • If the support player cuts too early or the ball carrier does not move their defender enough, the support player will be touched/tackled. Relevance to the Game • This game will help develop the footwork and running lines to effectively move defenders in order to penetrate the tackle line.

HSBC - Gatland Appointed Lions Coach

Former British & Irish Lions Jason Robinson, Gavin Hastings and former Wales international Jonathan Davies commenting on the appointment of Warren Gatland as Head Coach of the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

Drift Defence from Breakdown

After starting with a defence-focused game, this drill can be used to focus on organising a drift defence from the breakdown. The four defenders touch all cones in the tackle area to simulate chaos before getting into position.

Blitz Defence - Its simple If You Know How

When the experts explain things in simple terms it all makes sense. The Blitz defence can be confusing and delivering the coaching blocks to develop this policy can be tricky. Richard Thorpe explains things in easy to understand language

Coaching 7-a-side Rugby - 7 up defence

In Defence:

Stay alert, keep on toes, specific communication, react, work hard

Defend what is happening – not what you think is going to happen

Trust the defence system, trust your team mates – trust yourself

L2 - Attacking a Condensed Defence

Skill Practice Description • Two teams play normal touch rules. • 5 touch turnover. • When a touch is made, the game pauses and all defenders need to close in and place a hand on the shoulder of another defender. So all the defenders are bunched and in contact with each other. • The coach calls ‘play’ and the attack restarts. • The progression may be to leave one defender out of the bunch, which may provide a different challenge to the attack. • Then leave two defenders out of the bunch and slowly release the conditions to see if the attack can consistently identify opportunities to outflank or penetrate the defence. Key Coaching Points • Peripheral vision and general awareness. • Intuitive decision making. • Communication • Support and team work. Relevance to the Game • This game is designed to challenge the observation and decision making ability of the attack. • For the defence, it challenges the ability to cover quickly with both drift and sweeping defenders

Drift Defence Game

Practice being overloaded in defence. This game teaches your players when to be patient in defence and when to go for the tackle.

Defence - 4. Spacing

It is usual for the forwards to be defending around the break down areas. These players may need to align with tighter spacing than wider defenders for the direct attacks that may come from the breakdown. The spacing may be able to spread as the defence shape gets wider. This will prevent the defence becoming too narrow.

Defence Policy - What Is It?

Richard Thorpe has been a professional player for a decade and is now an RFU level three coach. He see's defence as the key to success and in this clip explains what "Defence policy" means

Geech - Lions Coaches were Years Ahead

Were the Lions coaches ahead of the game. The 1997 coaches discuss tackle techniques that are only being implemented now

Lions Memories - Part 2/2

Defence - Exit & Kick-chase

Defence - Exit & Kick Chase

Quins Defence - 1 v 1 tackle skills

Close contact in a small channel ensures the players work their movement skills in both attack and defence. The coach reinforces the skills for contact prior to progressing this exercise

Defence - Blitz or Drift

In the last ten years two defence systems have been coached and implemented. The Wasps academy coach provides some of the latest ideas and how to use games to coach the skills and cement the understanding

Turning defence into attack

The Northampton saints approach to defence is to "Turn over ball" and to this end the tackle is only the start of the process and the coach outlines this approach and provides some examples

Quins - Defence Spacing & Line Speed

Tony Dirpose from Harlequins delivers a unit defence exercise on spacing and line speed

Lions - Attacking channells

From the Lions 2009 tour, a support drill in a channel to encourage the ball carrier to move the defender and make space for the support player

Lions - Backs options from scrum

Lions 2009 clip on attacking options

Defence - 8. Compromise Alignment

The widest defender is often better placed to assess situations

It may be that the discipline of the defence shape needs to be compromised to reduce attacking options

This is often a calculated gamble

Defence - 6. Groups of Three

The defence should work and communicate in groups of three. This means the individual player and the two defenders either side

Defence - 5. Team Mate Awareness

It may be that a slower forward is in the midfield defence between two faster players

These faster players should to be aware that they may need to close the space around the slower defender

Defence - 9. Widest Players Organise

The widest players are most often best place to assess the threats and have a major role in directing the defence

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 1

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 1

Back Row Defence

Back Row Defence

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 3

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 3

Women's - Lineout mail good defence

Women's - Lineout mail good defence

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 2

Men's - Lineout maul good defence 2

Simple hands beat Bunched Defence

When a defensive line is 'bunched up', a single pass can take several defenders out of the game. Here, Richard Hale benefit from a bunched Filton College defence, executing lateral passes along the line to attack space out wide.

Tackling 18 - Man on Man Defence

Tackling 18 - Man on Man Defence

Defence

Here are some good examples of defence to help you in your coaching process

IRB 7s - Stronger Defences

The statistics showed that defences in the Sevens World Series are improving, and this is changing team's tactics.

JWC 2012: Defence

Statistics from the 2012 JWC show that teams with stronger defences performed better.

Blitz & Drift Defence Drills

This video takes you through the basics of both blitz and drift defences and provides great drill ideas.

QBE - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

QBE - Attacking a Drift, Blitz and Cover Defence

Quins - Beating a Drift Defence

Some warm up exercises with varied catch & pass skills in preparation to move onto fixing defenders and how to beat a drift defence

Coaching Defence with Games

The Wasps academy manager uses games as the central learning principe for coaching defence and the systems he wants to introduce to his players

Defence Philosophy - Collin Osborne

Ex Harlequins coach Collin Osborne walks you through his defence philosophy and explains why your team would benefit from a philosophy or buzzword/phrase!

Attack vs Defence Continuous Drill 4V2

The attackers work to beat the defence, setting up a 'tip' (running a hard line) and 'pull back' option. They should read the defensive movements and make a decision to hit the tip option or pull out the back.

Game - Defence Touch

Another conditioned game that will test your players' fitness. This requires all defenders to perform a 'down-up' after each touch, before re-aligning. As players become tired, more gaps will appear, testing the defence even more.

Lions Memories - Part 1/2

My Dream Lions Team

Geech - Bringing a Lions Squad Together

Warren Gatland as Lions Head Coach

Fringe Defence at the Breakdown

Building a defensive system starts with the first three defenders and what they need to do at the breakdown. The Northampton saints coaches go through the steps and progressions to help younger players learn the key movements and techniques

Lions Strike Moves 1

Developing attack plays through the backs

British lions - support & attack drill 1

This drill illustrates how attack can go from narrow channels to wide play very quickly, and players should practice this continually

Defence - 3. Press Up and Out

This illustration is an up-and-out system and not a drift
This relies on the defenders continuing to press forward, closing the space as they shadow the attacking players

British Lions - Team play

The practice of a semi opposed team run is important for understanding by the players of their roles and responsibilities

British lions - team play 3

team play practice in a semi-opposed style assists the players in learning their roles and responsibilities

British Lions - tackle then jackal

It is important to practice not only the body shape of the defender but also those doing the clearing out of the defender

Defence - 1. Primary Threat

If the ball is tucked under one arm, the ball carrier is unlikely to throw a 10 metre miss pass. So are the attackers 2 and 3 places out the primary threat?
If the ball carrier is running with the ball in both hands, the immediate threat may have a wider radius

If two centres are running at a centre and a prop, the primary threat may be the space defended by the prop

Principles of Defence - Stay Square

Ex Harlequins coach Collin Osborne explains his second defensive principle - Staying Square

Lions - 3&5 man scrum practice

A progression from the 3 man scrum - developing body shape and positions

British Lions - tackle then Jackal then clear out

Many of these drills require repetition, here we see how the importance of good body shape in contact can be practiced as both the jackler and those clearing out the tackle