Defending at 10

[numba2tonumba10]

Hi all. My first post on the forum so apologies if I've posted in the wrong place or anything. I was just hoping for a bit of advice:

I've recently switched from 2 to 10 having lost a lot of weight and having always been a good tackler I'm just struggling a bit with defending at 10. For instance, when my opposite 10 runs a switch, should I follow him or should I tackle the 12 who's taking the ball on the switch? Do you always follow your man or just defend the space in front? Any tips on this? And indeed, any tips on getting the rest of the backline defending with me? Eg all rushing up or drifting etc. Thanks for any help and advice!!

 

[TheOvalBall]

First of all, welcome.

Always defend your opposite player, your opposite 10. Your team mates should each cover their own opposite numbers.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Depends on the defensive system your team played really. For a switch move it really depends on what else is going on but usually the 10's goal running a switch is to get the opposite 10 and 12 committed to him causing a gap between 12 and thirteen and between 10 and the inside defender whether it be the open side at a scrum or the last pillar. If you run a zonal defence you should try to commit at the latest possible moment, if he hits 12 you take 12 if he dummies you get to him before he can release the ball, that'd be how I deal with it at scrum time. If the run it off the back of the maul you should have at least two defenders inside you so you can push and drift, if he hits 12 your outside pillar has him, if he goes himself you have him and if he releases the ball you want your 12 not to have committed so there's no gap in defence.

Other than scrum time you should be pushing and drifting once the ball has been released and keeping communication with the defensive line, make sure the pillars are set and if someone runs at you take them down.

 

[valley commando]

Hi all. My first post on the forum so apologies if I've posted in the wrong place or anything. I was just hoping for a bit of advice:

I've recently switched from 2 to 10 having lost a lot of weight and having always been a good tackler I'm just struggling a bit with defending at 10. For instance, when my opposite 10 runs a switch, should I follow him or should I tackle the 12 who's taking the ball on the switch? Do you always follow your man or just defend the space in front? Any tips on this? And indeed, any tips on getting the rest of the backline defending with me? Eg all rushing up or drifting etc. Thanks for any help and advice!!

Any tips yes watch Dan Biggar.

 

[petite]

Any tips yes watch Dan Biggar.

yes but watch him next wc ;D

 

[TobesHodges]

I've played 10 a few times and got some really good advice from an ex pro, that was simple and affective..

Basically you have to talk to you your open side flanker (the flanker closest to you.)
The 8's primary job is naturally to defend blindside, so you should never rely on him.

Most coaches will always say defend on the inside shoulder of your opposite and push out, but Fly half is the exception, defend on the outside of your opposites shoulder.
Your flankers job is to firstly cover wing inside of 10 and then push to the fly half himself.

Your job is to push to the gap between 10 and 12, if the winger try's to hit this space and then push to 12.

12 then pushes to 13.
13 then pushes to 15 (between the outside centre and end winger)

This also allows your open side winger to be able to drop way back for kicks, but he should be reading the game and hitting the last winger if it's obvious no kick is coming.

Also defending like this will make the pitch much more narrow and allows your backline to use the touch line as the last defender.

Conclusion: Have the conversation with the flanker and your backline that these are there roles.

Obviously this applies scrums either side of the pitch, usually with scrums in middle of the pitch, mark man for man with 8 and blindside going one way and scrum half and open side going the other..
Lineouts you can talk about all day with the different forward numbers in the line out.
Hope this helped slightly, it does take bit of an overhaul of defensive structure in your backline.

Re: When I was saying where you should be pushing to, this is the zone you should be hitting.
Obviously teams will run moves and you should stay hitting your zone regardless of where your opposite number goes (in terms of switching to someone else's zone).