Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby News, Rugby Skills, Rugby Team Management, Rugby Training | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, Rugby Team, Rugby Team Management, England Rugby Team, Brian Ashton, Martin Johnson, Six Nations, England World Cup
Few will disagree that it is sad that Brian Ashton is leaving the England rugby coaching set up. Given a pretty
tough situation to start with, he is still able to show us two runner’s up medals: one from the World Cup and the other from this year’s Six Nations.
But change was always been coming and though the manner of the change has been ham-fisted, the transformation is important. Not just for England, but also for you as a coach.
Martin Johnson, the former England World Cup winning rugby captain, arrives with no formal rugby coaching qualifications or the experience of managing a team.
What he does bring it something you can use yourself to move your coaching output ahead.
Before I tell what it is, I want you remember the man in question.
He is big. He towers over most people and many players.
He never took a step backwards on the pitch and rarely off the pitch. This meant his word was the final word, to a team mate, opposition player or even the referee.
He led from the front and took on all comers, sometimes over aggressively. He would front the charge from the kick off, often beating the winger to the catcher.
So what can we all learn from “Johnno” ? It is that unswerving belief in yourself and your goals can carry you over many rough paths. It creates momentum, it pulls others with you and it doesn’t care about the setbacks.
I have just completed part II of a series on what we can learn from one of the world’s most success sports coaches, John Wooden, for the next Rugby Coach Newsletter. He would see Johnson as one of the main building blocks in his Pyramid of Success, based on his intention.
Do you have that personal belief? Can you reaffirm your goals with greater rigour? Then you might just find you have energised yourself and, as a happy consequence, your team.
I believe Johnson’s belief will do the same for the England rugby team.
Filed under: Dan Cottrell, Rugby Coaching, Rugby News, Rugby Skills, Rugby Team Management, Rugby Training | Tags: Better Rugby Coaching, Rugby Coaching, Rugby Team, Rugby Team Management, Welsh Rugby Union, 2008 Six Nations campaign, Rugby Tactics
Do you want to make a real difference this weekend to your rugby team?
And that means during the game. Here are three ways to watch the game differently so you can pass on some key messages.
Actually I am inspired to write this because I have just been to a talk by Rhys Long, the Head of Performance Analysis for the Welsh Rugby Union. The Welsh are heading the way in terms of up-to-date game analysis and it provided a competitive edge during their successful 2008 Six Nations campaign.
You won’t have access to all their technology, but some of Rhys Long’s analytical processes can help inform you better.
1. Gain line efficiency
A simple scoresheet will tell me how well we are doing at the gain line from each phase. Plus, zero or minus is enough to note down to tell me whether we have crossed the line. If we are not getting over the gain line much from first phase, then I will change the set piece moves. If we are bad at the second phase, then I will question whether players are following the patterns. I will then look again at third phase.
2. Redundant rugby players
Forwards need to make a difference at the breakdown area. They must be “hitting” rucks, not resting on them. If they are not in the ruck, they should be actively involved in the defensive line or offering options to the decision making 9 and 10.
Not active? Then they are redundant. I will be sending on a sharp reminder.
3. Tackle systems not tackles missed
If a rugby player attempts and misses a tackle, there is little you can do as a coach to change that. But you should be not be watching for missed tackles. If the line break was made due to a defensive system error, then you can correct that. Either remind players of the system or change the system.
In summary, I will just note “+”, “-“ or “0” for every attacking phase. I will check that all the forwards are making a difference. In defence, I will note whether any opposition line break is because we have failed to follow the system.
Then I can change the rugby tactics and make the difference.
