I have been trying to work out the reason for the obvious failure of certain players in the tackling department, (my initial draft said ‘tackle department’ but then I realized that that could just get me into trouble), and figured that this was as good a place as any to pose the question(s).
Then when Lance said in Memo to Melbourne: Tackle or be Damned : “… there are technical deficiencies and in some players a failure of the heart. I reckon tackling is 40% technical 60% ticker.” I started to think even more. He’s got a point.
There are many players out there who stimulate much discussion regarding their defensive performance, but there are others that even the most one-eyed supporter would need to admit has definitely got issues.
QC (Quade Cooper)…… ahhh yes the whipping boy for all defensive issues in the Reds and the Wallabies. I am not saying that popular opinion is incorrect. As a Reds supporter, even I would say that if he was the last line of defense between an U12 half-back and the try line, I would not put the house on a try not being scored. But is this a lack of technique or a lack of ‘ticker’? During 2011 Quade has shown that he can tackle. There were at least a couple of times when he was caught out of his normal defensive position (i.e. caught where a 10 should be defending) and did manage to pull off some effective and, dare I say it, dominant tackles. So does this mean that he can actually tackle, just doesn’t want to?
I have said since I have seen him playing that it looks like he is scared of contact, even in attack. An aspect of his game that does not seem to have improved and I would go as far to say that it appears to have become more evident with the hits being harder in the top grade. Scott or RGS might have some messures of this and if it is justified or not. This has then developed into his Hail-Mary, pass at any cost, low percentage off loads and plays. Why would that be? And how do you get the attitude of a Berrick Barnes or Ant Fangia into him?
Now I am not saying that either the afore mentioned has an impeccable defensive style\strategy. The amount of time that BB spent not quite knowing where he was during the last super season showed that perhaps his technique needed a little work. Ditto for TPN. However, none can fault their enthusiasm for wanting to get the job done. At least with BB, JOC (James O'Connor), and many others, we can be confident they will take the contact and recycle the ball in attack if there is not a viable alternative option.
So for all you coaches out there (armchair or otherwise) :- How do you encourage someone to make the tackle, take the contact, or generally get involved in the physical aspects of the game?
I have an exercise for QC (Quade Cooper) – Imagine that every player you are going to tackle is Ritchie. But that might be counter productive as then he will have in the back of his mind the fact that the rest of the team is going to take their pound of flesh when they get the chance.
