1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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”

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Training Exercises with Video Clips1
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

8. Thanks to Worcester Warriors RFC Andrew Stanley Worcester RFC Academy Squad