kingofthehill wrote:Dave wrote:It is the defensive system that is causing confusion and chaos. Leinster played with linespeed we didn't. Which system is right/wrong? All defence coach gurus insist on linespeed no matter what system you play. As Gustard states: " it covers a multitude of sins". Also the idea of one player missing a tackle is ideologically wrong. It is the team that missed the tackle.
https://youtu.be/OJencUYieiU
That’s a very general view ‘all defence coach gurus insist on line speed no matter what system you play.’
Line speed comes when you have equal numbers or numbers up. This will generally come from the attack being within the 15m line and touchline.
Or
Slowing their ball down (through positive tackle) makes it easier for defences to get ‘square’ and numbered up with the attack allowing line speed.
‘Soft’ defence is a system. Numbers down
‘Drift’, ‘get square when numbers equal’, ‘tackle’.
Gustard is excellent, big thing for him is ‘bodies on feet’. Very simple mind frame.
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All fair comment but what hasn't been mentioned is the all important gain line battle.
A rush defense will obviously get over the gain line quicker and provide impetus to keep an oppositon on the back foot.
If successful, moving the ball wider off the back foot becomes virtually impossible regardless of numbers.
Reversed if the defence concede the gain line it's impossible to apply a successful rush off the back foot and a cold defence has to be applied as a last resort.
Reference Australia down to 13 v Wales in the last world cup.
The Aussies rushed the Welsh for that period inside their own 22 and shut them out.
Despite being down on numbers they could afford to continually rush as they didn't concede the gain line.
Coaches now refer to defence as attacking without the ball as it can only be achieved realistically with rushing at every feasible opportunity winning shoulder battles and gain line collisions.
Any side which doesn't apply effective line speed where possible invites an opposition on to them, concedes gain lines and will therefore lose collisions and invite pressure as opposed to applying it.
They can't slow ball as a consequence giving less time to organise so defenders can be isolated and picked off at will by the oppositon.
Sound familiar?