Second phase defensive pattern

The whole point of expending so much energy in the first phase scrum and lineout is to make the first tackle on your terms, with your defense on the front foot, and the opposing team struggling to make a decisions.

Second phase defense starts with a good tackle. The first four pictures detail two to most effective tackle forms, and the most effective things for the second man to the tackle to do. A good tackle should stop the runner, give the defense a chance to make a play on the ball and let the defense set up.















The Chest to chest tackle is one devastating way to tackle. If players have the form and upper body strength this tackle will stop the offense cold, and prevent the offender from making a good pass.



















The low tackle is another great form. It allows the defender to deliver a tremendous amount of energy into the opposition, stopping them cold, and immediately dropping the opposition.


















If supporting players are immediately on the tackled players they can do one of two things. The can hold the offensive player up, tie up the ball and prohibit the offense from gaining possession. The Cal #10 is doing this against Navy in Yellow.
















Another technique for man #2 in a low tackle is to smother the ball. The Utah player in white is doing just that in this picture.










If supporting players are not immediately part of the tackle they should fan out in defense. Supporting players should look primarily to set up the second phase defense on either side of the tackle. There are three things the defender should not do.
1. They not try and form a ruck over the tackle.
2. They should not try and poach the ball.
3. They should not be offsides.

The following pictures of the nations best college rugby teams should give an indication of what perfect second phase defense should look like, and reinforce the three things defenders should remember.















Cal Defenders are forming a perfect wall against Navy. Notice there are zero, 0 Cal players in the ruck. Defensive rucking is no longer a viable strategy. Burn that into your cortex, no defensive rucking.

















Arriving defenders should not be trying to poach. These Cal players are not poaching, the player leaning over pulled the runner to the ground. the other players are getting ready to form the defense.














Wyoming defenders committing no one to the defensive ruck, and have fanned out.

















BYU against San Luis Obispo, BYU tack brings man down, arriving players immediately position themselves in defensive positions.
In conclusion: tackle hard, tackle high, tackle low stop the offensive attack. Arriving defenders should immediately reform defense. Remember 3 things, no poaching, no rucking, no offsides. If you follow this pattern you should absolutely stifle any offensive patterns.