R80Rugby's video: Fighting for the Space Past the Ball 2-019

Players fight for the space past the ball to get control of the post tackle breakdown. Former Crusader loose forward and CRFU staff coach Angus Gardiner takes you inside with the Crusaders to demonstrate this defensive tackle turnover defensive training drill. This drill is designed to replicate the movement a tackler makes to manoeuvre them self into a strong ball wining position. It is important that players learn to get back to their feet as quickly as possible in an attempt to dominate the space past the ball. In doing so provide them self with a great opportunity to effect a turn over. This key skill is reinforced consistently in the Canterbury and Crusader environment and can be taught to players of high school age and up. Level: High School & Above Categories: Defence Coaching Points: 00:0:09.000 - Players contesting need to get to their feet as dynamically as possible 00:0:10.000 - Players should seek to ensure their legs are ‘tucked’ as closely to their chest as possible when moving into a position to enter the ‘gate of the tackle’ 00:0:40.000 - Ask players to attempt to win the space just pass the ball by getting shoulders under their opposite 00:0:20.000 - hands over the ball Common Faults: . Players get too high when getting to their feet . Players legs are too ‘long from the body’ in the initial movements . Players not supporting their own body weight . Players contesting before they have aligned themselves with the ‘gate of the tackle’ . Players not being aggressive enough Instructions: . Players lie prone on the ground at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock respectively. . Place a ball on top of a tackle shield with each player placing a hand alongside the ball. . On the whistle players must get to their feet and contest the ball. . The secret is to encourage players to begin the contest (i.e. fighting for the space past the ball) as soon as they are on their feet (when both knees are off the ground). Contributors: . Angus Gardiner - Former Crusaders Loose Forward, Canterbury Staff, Current Montpellier Assistant Coach Angus Gardiner enjoyed an outstanding career filled with success, which included featuring in two Super rugby final-winning teams and playing 69 games for Canterbury. A highly respected and astute thinker of the game, Angus held numerous coaching roles within Canterbury and Crusaders rugby before taking up a coaching role with French team Montpellier in 2010