Rugby Principles of Defence - Using Analysis to Design Coaching Practices by GDD

Video Analysis of professional rugby matches can be really useful to design practices for all ages. Here I use video footage from the Gallagher Premiership to design practices for my club team to improve their defence.
Key Principles include:
- Get Onside
- Get Square
- Get Connected
- Good Spacings
- High Linespeed
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The video match footage is not in any way owned by myself - credit goes to the Gallagher Premiership.
I am in no way wishing to infringe copyright laws or the rights of the copyright owners. The videos are entirely educational and aimed to boost the public love and understanding of the game. All under the Fair Use law.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use."

[@melvinesmith]

Thank you! Great video and exactly the type of insights I was looking for. Your presentation is nice and clear and so applicable. Loved it!

[@ELLISRUGER8]

Brilliant stuff, well presented. I constantly search for new ideas and approaches, very clear and very useful, keep them coming.

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thanks, Geraint! That’s very kind of you to say. Some new ones coming soon!

[@franklinclark8517]

Good Stuff Geraint, I have been working on similar drills to get linespeed particularly in the narrow channel, I will use these drills to make it a bit more game like. Thanks for posting.

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thank you! The key is trying to replicate the information and pressures found in the match environment and representing them in practice. I'd call these practices 'Game Related Practices'!

[@michaeldavies5840]

Really enjoyed this video, already given me ideas thank you.

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Glad you like it. Those practices seemed to make a decent amount of difference to our performance in the last few weeks of the season!

[@Kwaks365]

World Class, thanks mate

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thank you! Glad you like it 👍🏻

[@letsielomabitle9398]

I like the defesive drill very much

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Glad its of use!

[@andrewdonnan2169]

Great video, will definitely use these drills

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thanks, Andrew. Hope you enjoy trying them out!

[@Headhunter_212]

Well done Geraint!

[@Headhunter_212]

At 3:41, You said about getting square “shoulders...parallel to the touch line”. I think you meant “perpendicular”.

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thanks, Daniel - glad you like it 👍🏻

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Daniel Sullivan perpendicular would definitely work if you’re explaining the concept to players with reference to the front of the shoulder/chest. The parallel language is used in reference the edges of the player I.e. sides of their shoulders running parallel to touch line, which I tend to favour!

[@Headhunter_212]

Geraint Davies Rugby Coaching & Analysis whatever’s clever, coach! Again, Nice work. It’s great for a non-player like myself to see the how the strategy connects with technique

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

@@Headhunter_212 That's great to hear, hopefully you'll find the next one as useful!

[@rodrigofigueiredo3789]

Brilliant content. What software do you use? Thanks in advance

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

Thanks, Rodrigo. I use Final Cut Pro X and CoachPaint!

[@rodrigofigueiredo3789]

@@GeraintDaviesGDD thanks!

[@zachariatekawaare4761]

I reckon you meant to say that being square was to have the shoulders perpendicular to the touch line. Parallel would cause a bloody mess. Otherwise a very informative and useful video. thanks for all of your posts.

[@GeraintDaviesGDD]

There are 3 sides to the shoulder; anterior, lateral and posterior. The lateral aspect of the shoulders run parallel to the touchlines. Given the sentiment of the player running in a forward facing manner I judged that lateral and parallel would be the best way to describe the positioning so that people could understand what I meant. Perpendicular would be correct for the anterior aspect?
Glad you enjoyed the video otherwise!

[@zachariatekawaare4761]

@@GeraintDaviesGDD thanks Geraint. I am currently coaching college rugby in the USA where most players have little or no exposure to the game. To simplify I explain a straight line from l shoulder to r shoulder, l elbow to r elbow , and l foot to right foot. These lines are then held parallel to the cross field lines or perpendicular to the touch line. Again many thanks for all your vids. kia oraPlease let me know what you think of that adaptation.