3/15/2011 7:21:00 AM

Hey Scott

This in my opinion is quite complicated because as seen on the weekend gone Wales vs Ireland what they were doing is Ireland was doing was using the tackle assist law to slow down there ball and it worked as i think they won 4 or 5 kickable penalties for it

2/23/2011 12:43:00 PM

I haven't seen any videos specific to coaching this approach, but I'll keep looking.
It is a difficult change to get used to, but should help avoid some of the pileups at the breakdown.
For training players, there is now mroe emphasis on having defenders in position to pounce from their side of where the tackle ends. Good "poachers" will roam just behind the tackle line so they can dig in as soon as the tackle is completed (player brought to ground).
It also increases the importance for ball carriers to work to drive forward before going to ground so that any defenders on their feet and grabbing at the ball end up beside the tackle, and so have to release and move around to the "gate."

2/21/2011 10:03:00 AM

Hi Scott,

I have found this interpretation difficult to get accustomed to, as are the players I think. Are there any coaching video clips available that could be posted to the site?

2/15/2011 4:59:00 PM

As many of you have noticed in televised games, there is new emphasis on defenders that are involved with the tackle releasing the ball and ball-carrier prior to trying to "poach" possession. The tackler is the player that goes to ground while tackling a ball-carrier. A defender involved in the tackle that DOESN'T go to ground is called a Tackle Assist. An example of this is a defender that grabs the upper body/ball as the ball-carrier is going to ground-often in an effort to pull the ball away.
Previously, the ball-carrier in that situation might get a penalty for not releasing, since the defender was still on his feet. The emphasis has been revised to now force the defenders involved in the tackle-whether standing or on their feet- to release once the ball-carrier is tackled before contesting for possession.
Of course, once the standing defender releases the ball-carrier, they will have to contest possession from on-side (through the gate-so watch for hands reaching in before the feet get aro