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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 15/04/2008 17:05:17
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| I am seeing this described more and more, and apparently the Welsh were using this defence on occasion against France. What is it, and how does it work?
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 02/02/2012 14:47:41
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| Actually the Welsh were using the spot blitz, where the line comes up fast, but no faster than normal, but one player goes in front to hit or intercept around 12 or 13 channel. Mainly this was Gavin Henson. Less risky than a normal blitz because the line discipline is easier to maintain.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 17/01/2012 20:00:07
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Shaun Edwards has done a wonderful job there. I read that Wales only conceded 2 tries in the Championship or something. Excellent from all concerned. Well done Wales.
As I understand it the "blitz" is really just a case of moving the line up quicker than one might ordinarily. In a drift you might not press forward quite so hard. The "spot blitz" is as Dan describes - it goes under a number of names. Jim Love wrote an interesting piece on the subject in Dan's "Rugby Coach" newsletter a few issues back.
For a very graphic illustration of what it looks like when a player comes up fast out of the line see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA9RRC6g8nE
Here we see Steve Matai in devastating form for Manley, on a number of occasions operating in this blitzing manner and angling in to attack the ball carrier from the outside. Excellent timing and technique are required. The player must be highly skilled in the approach phase of the tackle, able to cover the ground rapidly but not arrive at the tackle with so much momentum that he is easily stepped. The tackle must be made or all that has been achieved is to leave the line a man down. If you have a player who can hit like Matai you have a very potent weapon. He can really hit! Once a player has been rattled up by some hits like that he will always be concerned about what is coming from his blind side as he waits to receive the ball.
Interesting to note also how the defense operates in these clips, the tackler generally coming from outside the ball carrier.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 06/01/2012 09:46:25
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| Thanks cjp. I've embedded your link below for ease of use. I think it's a great illustration of the "spot blitz" defence. One word of caution for the uninitiated, though. Pretty much all of the tackles would be illegal in rugby union.
Toby Curthoys
Publisher, Better Rugby Coaching www.betterrugbycoaching.com
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: 06/01/2012 09:46:25
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Also, attached is a description of the blitz and an illustration of the "rabbit blitz" (aka the "spot blitz") from Dan's Rugby Coach magazine.
Toby Curthoys
Publisher, Better Rugby Coaching www.betterrugbycoaching.com
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 02/08/2008 21:07:33
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| Hi, Is this system prone to leaving gaps in the defensive line, or do you get around that somehow?
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Supreme Being
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Leaving a gap is a risk. Jim Love suggests (in the article Toby attached) using a loose forward to do the job from broken play. Best to think of such things as "moves" - just like attacking moves. The move is called and the players know what is going to happen and can fill in. No reason why a team cannot deploy a number of planned defensive moves/patterns as appropriate in a game.
Toby is right re the league tackles - it is a very, very tough game. Shoulder charges are permitted and chest high hits are the norm. Tackling is very much an offensive weapon, aiming to intimidate. Techniques are also very much geared to locking up the ball and preventing the offload. Going low allows an easy offload to support runners or, failing that a quick play-the-ball as the ball carrier goes down quick and will often land on his front. Both scenarios are pretty much a disaster for the defense. If you are a legs tackler in league you will be ruthlessly targetted. I noticed Jerry Collins doing some superb offloads from low tackles to great effect in S14 - the commentator described them as "Sonny Bill Williams passes" (after the league star (Bulldogs and NZ) who is adept at these (and shoulder charge tackles too - eye watering stuff)).
It will be interesting to see how things develop in union in this regard. Coaches across the sport are well aware of the potential of the offload. The subject has been covered a number of times in Dan's publications. If offloading skills develop it will cause significant issues for defenses. It will be interesting to see how defensive coaches react and tackling techniques develop to cope. In my view it would be almost inevitable that players look to tackle higher and to attack/lock up the ball. This could lead to conflict with officials and law makers. I have seen league converts such as Brian Carney get into trouble with refs for completely harmless tackles just because the looked high. The technique he used was to get one arm over the top of the ball, the other either grabs the back of the player or goes under the ball. The top arm was the issue for the ref. I assume.
Toby - how do you embed clips like that?
Also, what is the law re scragging? What would be of Gordon Tallis here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_f5Rr93v_Q Quite superb!
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