Wide base of support

The larger the base of support, the greater the stability – keep feet wide apart. Poor practice Good practice

The greater the contact with the ground (friction), the greater the stability – keep feet on the ground and use small, quick steps to facilitate stability and balance.

Lower centre of gravity (CG)

Bending the knees lowers the CG and provides greater stability.

Leaning towards an oncoming force (in contact) provides more stability.

Posture

Correct alignment of the body to facilitate safe contact comprises:
- Look straight ahead
- Chin off chest
- Flat back

Game-related examples of stability and posture

- At the line-out.
- At the scrum.
- In contact.

Taking the ball into contactM

- Aim for the space around the defender, not the body. 1
- Keep the chin off chest and the eyes open. 2
- Adopt a crouched position, ready to drive up. 2
- Take a big power step into contact. 2
- Keep your body between the defender and the. 3
- Keep the spine parallel to the ground and in line the direction of drive. 3

Going To Ground

- Avoid putting the arms out to break the fall – try to land on backside or back. 1
- Body first then ball – do not rush to release the ball. 2
- Look for support throughout, and try to offload. 3
- Try to land with your back facing the opposition. 4
- Play or place the ball immediately. 5

Arriving Players

- All arriving players must enter the tackle area through the gate. 1
- Only players on their feet may compete for the ball. 2
- If clearing or driving out defenders: 3 4
* chin off chest, head up, hands up
* sight the target
* keep the spine in line with the direction of drive
* low to high
* make contact with the shoulder, not the head
* close arms around opponent
* drive the player away and clear the ball
* bind with a team mate to improve stability

Tackler

Position inside the ball carrier.
On approach, keep the ball carrier on the outside. 1
Enter the tackle with a low body position. 2
Keeping the eyes open, position the head behind or to one side of ball carrier. 3
Make contact with the shoulder on the ball carrier’s thighs. 4
Keep the chin up and the back straight.
Squeeze the arms tight while driving with the legs. 5
Roll to finish on top and get back to feet quickly. 6

Ball Carrier

Initially, establish a strong approach on contact, with a wide base and bent knees. 1
Protect the ball – use both hands and keep it away from the tackler. 1
Turn towards the tackler on contact. 2
Control the fall (knee – hip – shoulder) and keep elbows tucked in. 3
Play or place the ball immediately. 4

Setting up the maul

# Try to beat the defender. 1 2
# Turn early in a stable position. 3
# First arriving support player rip ball and drive. 4
# Original ball carrier turn back fully to face opposition. 5
# Subsequent support (second and third arriving players) bind on both sides of original ball carrier. 6
# Additional support move the ball further back from opposition. 7
# Heads and shoulders should be no lower than hips and players must be bound. 7 (Note blue team is now in possession.)
# All support players to consider basic safety key factors:

* chin off chest, head up and hands up
* sight the target
* keep the spine in line with the direction of drive
* move from low to high
* make contact using the shoulder, not the head
* bind onto team mate or opponent.

# Bind and drive forward in a balanced formation. 7
# Adapt to defence and either release ball or re-configure the maul.

The ruck

# Support players keep head & shoulders above hips at all times. Poor practice 1
# Good Practice 2 Support players bind on each other and the opposition players, and drive over and past the ball. 3 4
# Nearest support player plays the ball. 5

Arriving players at the ruck and maul

# All arriving players must join from behind the foot of the hindmost team mate in the ruck or maul. 6
This represents the offside line.
# Players who leave must immediately retire behind the offside line.
# Observe basic safety coaching points for the ruck and maul.

Posture

The starting point is to understand the individual body shape required of all participants.
# Keep a stable base with feet approximately shoulder width apart. Poor practice 1 2
# Bend at the knees and hips. 5
# Keep head and shoulders above hips at all times. 3
# Ensure that feet, hips and shoulders are all square and flat. 2 4
# Keep a straight flat back with spine in line with the direction of drive. 5
# Keep chin off chest and look through eyebrows. 2 5
# Remain stable and comfortable in the crouch position. 5

Pre-engagement

# It is most important that there is no forward pressure on the front row prior to engagement. Assume the correct posture for your position.
# Bind firmly and continuously throughout. 1 2
# Keep weight off heels and stay on the balls of the feet. 3

* Poor practice: Greens.
* Good practice: Blues.

# Ensure each prop is close enough to touch the opposing prop′s outside shoulder. 3 indicates front rows are too far apart.
# Prepare for engagement on the referee′s call by ensuring feet positioning and binding are correct. 1 2 3 indicates front rows are too far apart.
# If not in a safe position, shout “Not ready ref”.
# Front rows keep eyes focused on the target area – Sight your slot. 4 indicates front rows are too far apart.
# Do not pre-empt the engagement sequence.

Scrum engagement

Getting the timing, binding and posture right throughout the scrum engagement sequence are key principles of competitive and safe scrummaging. To improve technique in a safe manner It is best to prog ress from one 1 2 to three 3 to five 4 5 to eight 6 7 player scrums – if possible, using a referee.
# The front rows should set up opposite their engagement slot rather than directly in front of their opposition (offsetting).
# Engage after following the sequence and only on the referee′s call of “engage”. (This is not a command, but an indication that front rows may come together when ready.)
# Loose-head prop uses the left arm to bind onto the back or side of the opposing tight head props jersey.
# Tight head prop binds on to the opposing loose head prop′s jersey using the right arm.
# Props must not exert downward pressure.
# No player other than a prop may hold an opponent.
# All players bind firmly and in accordance with the Laws throughout and until the scrum is complete.

Jumper

# Starting position:

* Chest and hands up 1 2
* Bend Knees 3 4

# Explode upwards from a two-footed take off. 5 6

Jumper (continued)

# Move dynamically into a position from which you can easily be supported. 7
# Maintain a long body shape (brace by squeezing butt cheeks) to ensure that both you and support players can maintain control. 8
# Sight ball through hands as you extend arms to catch. 8
# Communicate with your support players to manage your safe return to the ground. 9
# Make a two-footed landing and bend at the knees. 10

Support players

# Move with the jumper into space.
# Wide base – feet shoulder width apart. 1
# Adopt a squat position with a flat back, bend at the knees and keep the chest up. 2 3 4 5
# HINT: A good way to teach this skill to improving players is to use the progressions shown here: support players only, support players with tackle shield, support players with tackle bag, support players with jumper.
# Grip with palms towards jumper and fingers open. 6 7 8 9