\u2018Principle of Defence\u2019: \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 Defensive System<\/b><\/p>\n

At the same time the other real challenge then of a coach is to design and plan ‘Deliberate Practices’ that provide players to work on the key areas, i.e. the 20%, that makes up the 80% of the results, i.e. the \u2018Principles of Play\u2019, skills and techniques, so that you create the best possible environment for your players to become that best that they can be…knowing that they are working on things that are going to have a really big influence\/impact in a game…and make a difference against the players that they are playing against…<\/p>\n

How do you design these \u2018Deliberate Practices\u2019…that provide players to practise the \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019…in game-like situations…?<\/b><\/p>\n

First let us take a look at what we mean by a \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 Defensive System:-<\/p>\n

\n
• What do we mean by \u2018Back 3\u2019…?<\/li>\n
• What do we mean by a \u2018Pendulum\u2019…?<\/li>\n
• What do we mean by a \u2018Defensive System\u2019…?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  What do we mean by \u2018Back 3\u2019…?<\/b><\/p>\n

  \u2018Back 3\u2019 means that it is 3 players that are at the back of the defending team.<\/p>\n

  The key question then is: WHO are these 3 players…? Everyones\u2019 answer is going to be the Full-back and 2 Wingers…correct…?<\/p>\n

  So I ask you this question: What qualities would you like to see in these \u2018Back 3\u2019 players…?<\/p>\n

  Do your \u201cFull-back\u201d and \u201c2 Wingers\u201d meet all your criteria…? If your answer is \u201cNO\u201d to this question then who should these players be…?<\/p>\n

  What do we mean by a \u2018Pendulum\u2019…?<\/b><\/p>\n

  Here is a video of a Pendulum swinging side to side:-<\/p>\n

  https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lZTaX4u-Z_k<\/a><\/p>\n

  \n
  • A ball that constantly swings from one side to the other side in the same arc\/shape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What do we mean by a \u2018Defensive System\u2019…?<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
    • \u201cDefensive\u201d means our team does not have the ball and is defending.<\/li>\n
    • A \u201cSystem\u201d is \u201ca set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole\u201d (www.oxforddictionaries.com<\/a>).<\/li>\n
    • A \u201cSystem\u201d is \u201ca set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organised scheme or method\u201d (www.oxforddictionaries.com<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      So what does the \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019<\/b> look like when we put all its component parts together into the system…?<\/p>\n

      The overall set-up looks like this:-<\/p>\n

      <\/a><\/p>\n

      Some real examples can be seen on this short video here…(https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MQkv8paydKQ<\/a>).<\/p>\n

      When the Attack break through out wide…it looks like this:-<\/p>\n

      <\/a><\/p>\n

      Some EXCELLENT examples can be seen in the following video clips:-<\/p>\n

      \n
      • Ben Cohen: England v. Australia RWC Final 2003 (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5tk4TKS77dM<\/a>);<\/li>\n
      • Mils Muliaina: New Zealand v. South Africa (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=93p303FISvM<\/a>);<\/li>\n
      • Ugo Monye: Harlequins v. London Irish (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vH-c3hYfU4k<\/a>);<\/li>\n
      • JP Pietersen: South Africa v. England (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Iy0bg-rQmxY<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        When the Attack break through the middle…it looks like this:-<\/p>\n

        <\/a><\/p>\n

        Some EXCELLENT examples can be seen in the following video clips:-<\/p>\n

        \n
        • England v. South Africa (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5B4p55PQhYQ<\/a>);<\/li>\n
        • Cheetahs v. NSW (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gR6VfyLmSPk<\/a>);<\/li>\n
        • New Zealand v. Australia (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ErwfxM4DwWg<\/a>);<\/li>\n
        • NSW v. Auckland Blues (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=l05Tgb6iGXA<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          What does the evidence say to back-up why \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 Defensive System should be a \u2018Deliberate Practice\u2019 that you use in your coaching…?<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
          1. Try Scoring Stats: <\/b>From the 1157 tries scored that I have analysed to date…from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres…from all types of competition…from club games to Provincial games to International matches…including the likes of The Rugby Championship, Super Rugby, the Heineken Cup, Autumn Internationals, the Top 14…58% of tries are conceded because of NO<\/b> \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019;<\/li>\n
          2. Match Video Clips: <\/b>Watch these video clips showing NO <\/b>\u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 in action…and see what the end result is each time:-<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
             \n
             • <\/b>Auckland Blues v. Queensland Reds (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UtmGWSmDHDs<\/a>);<\/li>\n
             • <\/b>Adam Ashley-Cooper: Australia v. New Zealand (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HXc02m0oHSc<\/a> and https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FIEoJ1a2qIg<\/a>);<\/li>\n
             • <\/b>Ben Foden: Northampton Saints v. Saracens (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ib4vdMdW2oQ<\/a>);<\/li>\n
             • <\/b>South Africa v. New Zealand (1st Half) (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=RWyeGFyz4bE<\/a>);<\/li>\n
             • <\/b>South Africa v. New Zealand (2nd Half) (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tyx3HjgZNeE<\/a>);<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

               = TRYTIME…EVERYTIME…!<\/p>\n

               Now watch these \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 video clips to back up the reason by \u2018Back 3 Pendulum\u2019 Defensive System should be a \u2018Deliberate Practice\u2019:-<\/p>\n

               \n
               • New Zealand v. Wales: RWC 2003 (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=B9EmQM4W3BE<\/a>);<\/li>\n
               • Bryan Habana: South Africa v. Australia (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=anLpc7rdN5Q<\/a> and https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=v4g-55pDk-Q<\/a>);<\/li>\n
               • Ben Foden: Northampton Saints v. Leinster in the Heineken Cup Final (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=w9mNKrrOg18<\/a> and https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NmUvQ11fk14<\/a>);<\/li>\n
               • Ben Cohen: England v. New Zealand at Twickenham with England beating New Zealand 31-29 with 78:22 on the game clock…and their \u2018Fortress Twickenham\u2019 name tag on the line…watch Ben Cohen\u2019s try saving…game winning…tackle…..(https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZsTe4ZAvEEg<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                 So how do you design these \u2018Deliberate Practices\u2019…?<\/b><\/p>\n

                 \n
                 1. The Basic concept:-<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                    \n
                    • Create the set-up in the diagram below:-<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      <\/a><\/p>\n

                      \n
                      • The size of the area and\/or the distance between the players depends on:-<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                        \n
                        1. The age of the players;<\/li>\n
                        2. The physical conditioning of the players;<\/li>\n
                        3. How hard you would like the players to work;<\/li>\n
                        4. How often you would like to question the players on their understanding;<\/li>\n
                        5. How much you would like to challenge their communication;<\/li>\n
                        6. How much running you would like your players to do.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
                           \n
                           • The \u201ccoach\u201d either grubber kicks the ball LEFT or RIGHT:-<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                             <\/a>