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Defence - Team Basics - All with Sir Graham Henry

Building a Team Defence system is crucial to stopping your opposition. In this series we detail the basics of a successful Team defence which you can create with your players.

Part 1. Top Defence Top Team

0:09 Free video

Your team’s character is epitomised by its defence.

 

Part 2. Defence alignment & basic defensive structure

15:13 Member content

Rugby Site Founder Brendon Ratcliffe believes a good defensive structure relies on individual players clearly identifying WHO they are responsible for, aligning on them, then working together as a defensive unit to shut down the opposition attack and turn over possession.

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Part 3. Keeping Line Integrity

7:31 Member content

Ex All Black coach and defence master, Sir Graham Henry’s share’s his philosophy of defence and also introduce specific activities that he believes in and use to build and test defence systems, from set piece through to general play.

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Part 4. Defence when Numbers are Down

5:12 Member content

Can 4 players defend against 9? Or 6 against 8? Ex All Black and World Cup winning coach and defence master Sir Graham Henry with his line up of future international stars demonstrates how it is possible.

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Part 5. Lineout Defence Setup

4:48 Member content

What is your lineout defensive policy?

Are you up against a 52 or 43 lineout structure?

Do the opposition have specific launch structures?

Where is the blindside wing located?

Ex All Black and World Cup winning coach and defence master, Sir Graham Henry considers different lineout defence options.

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Part 6. Scrum Defence Setup

8:19 Member content

Do you defend a left side, right side or middle scrum the same or differently? Ex All Black and World Cup winning coach and defence master, Sir Graham Henry considers different scrum defence options.

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Part 7. Defensive Structures

12:55 Member content

British and Irish and England lock Courtney Lawes takes you through a number of defensive systems and structures, outlining where each player has to go and what responsibilities they each have for their role.

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Part 8. 1 on 1 Defensive Tracking

3:41 Member content

Former London Irish and now All Blacks 7s coach Clark Laidlaw runs through some 1 on 1 defensive tracking drills.

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Part 9. Alignment, Connection & Line Speed in Defence

11:17 Member content

Ex All Black and Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo is with the Wellington College (NZ) under 15s working on their defensive structure during phase play.

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Part 10. Reacting & Adjusting to get Alignment in Defence

6:20 Member content

Ex All Black and Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo and his Wellington College (NZ) under 15 players build on their realigning defence structures.

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Part 11. Defence Practice Plan

4:08 Member content

Ex Rugby Site Manager Ben Herring has put together a session plan for coaches to develop new players defensive skills in a fun and safe environment.

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Part 12. Defence Analysis Promo

0:34 Free video

Rugby Site Founder Brendon Ratcliffe introduces his new 3 part Match Analysis series focusing on team defence.
Find out the best way to interpret match day video and then provide solutions to fix breakdown in team play.

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Course Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12
Duration 79:33
Topics Defence Youth Coaching
Applicable to Coaches
Languages English
Click on CC button at top left of video for other translation options.

Course reviews

I think it’s important to understand that if I defend too much on the inside shoulder, I give the attacker the opportunity to beat me on my outside shoulder. If that happens, my inside teammate (from a defensive point of view) would have to leave their own attacker to cover for me, which breaks our defensive structure.

This type of defense can make sense when we’re outnumbered and need to drift across the field to cover space. It helps us shift more effectively as a unit. However, in a one-on-one situation, I would always aim to defend from the outside shoulder to prevent the attacker from breaking through and to maintain our defensive line.

 —  Germany

This is a good defence drill, one to take note of and use as defence is most vital aspect of each and every team.

 —  New Zealand

This is a great intro to defence alignment and basic organisation. I coach at U12 and right now, their defence is ‘enthusiastic’ at best. Will be introducing these drills as a regular session. Great job!

 —  England

Very good

 —  New Zealand

This Video is Valuable in defense, well done Ted!

 —  New Zealand

Great drill will definitely use

 —  New Zealand

hey guys, love all the videos. how do i just selected part 7 to forward to players?

 —  Norway

excellent !

 —  Argentina

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