Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Skills | Tags: catching, grip, old balls, passing
The modern rugby ball is sticky. It has some sort of magical quality that makes it hard to drop when being carried in one hand.
That makes exercises like a simple one handed ball wrestling easy to perform. It is exercise. It is an excellent activity because players have to manipulate the ball, shaping their hands and there is an element of competition. Both players put one hand on the ball and then the one “pull” it from the other’s grasp is the winner.
Try it will an old ball and it is a different exercise altogether. I had a go with a size three and found it very difficult.
It reminded me that I need to train my players with old balls to make them work harder at catching.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Team Management | Tags: Dan Carter, injuries, rugby talent, selection
When Dan Carter returned to All Black colours a couple of weeks ago, he made a difference. A big difference.
If you are wholly concerned with results, you know you want your best players on the field to win your games. Imagine South Africa without Montgomery, Smit and Matfield in 2007, or England without Wilkinson, Johnson and Hill in 2003.
Carter was injured in the French domestic season and was not fit until after the All Blacks returned empty handed from South Africa. Whatever the talent in New Zealand, he adds something extra. For the sake of the All Blacks, he needs to be fit.
But he can’t play all the time and he certainly cannot be played when he is half fit. Hence, a dilemma.
Last night I watched my local team limber up for their first match of the league season. I know they have a couple of key players back and training. If they stay fit, then who knows. Last season, close games slipped away in their absence. What can the coach do? Give them some weeks off to keep them fresh and injury free – madness perhaps.
I would contend that the bravest coach rotates for a long term campaign. He keeps more players interested and makes it easier to fill in the gaps when there are genuine injuries. Only at the end of the season does he go for broke. However it might be too late by then…it makes for an interesting strategy.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, International Rugby Journal, Rugby Coaching, rugby defence, Rugby Training | Tags: Craig Leseberg, defence, defence drills, International Rugby Journal, tackling, tracking
I have just interviewed Craig Leseberg from the ACT Brumbies. We talked about many aspects of the game and in particular defence. One of the areas he said it was essential to work on was tracking.
Here is a video explaining tracking.
More detail on the interview including some excellent insights in individual and team defence coming soon in the International Rugby Technical Journal.
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