Ok lads ... we have a lot of opinions on here and much of it is pointed at our right side defence. Let's have some answers, in fact let's follow the old rule of no problem to be highlighted without a solution, no matter how outrageous it might seem. Here we go:
1. This has been a symptom in our team for a long time.
2. With so many personnel changes it is unlikely that every combination has had the same fault, therefore
3. The fault must be in the structure of the defensive strategy.
If so then what can be done about it:
1. Sliding defence (up and out)
2. Up and in
3. Umbrella
4. Up and hold
5. Up and decide
For what it's worth I prefer:
The Up & Decide style which incorporates the advantages of both Up & In as well as Up & Out.
With this type of defence the first four defenders either side of the ruck (A, B, C, D defenders) use a zone style Up & In combined with a slight umbrella formation with the "D" defender.
This is done to force the close ruck plays back in to a "hitting zone" & dictating where you want the ruck to be. If the ball should get outside the "D" defender then the other players will play an Up & Out (Slide) style of defence - pushing them to the sideline. And there are added extras:
Due to the defenders racing up off their line at such a great speed time is needed to re-set in defence; so numbers are needed in the tackle to give the defenders re-set & refresh time.
But attacking plays are aimed at getting on their fronts (elbows & knees) as soon as they get touched to gain the upper hand in the battle for the ground (the speed of the play-the-ball). So the defenders must rush into the attacker with the purpose of getting under his upper body using his armpits as levers to keep him upright (remembering also that the tackle is made ineffective if the ball is allowed to be promoted).
Once this is achieved then the attacker is turned side-on so that assistant defenders can "dance" with the attacker for a short time (a second or two), is put to ground with all tacklers present, then a peeling motion is undertaken to secure more time for the defensive line to re-set.
Under this system seven-second play-the-ball times from initial contact are not unrealistic but in the end it all comes down to the ability of the players to follow their structure and execute the tackles ... our choices always seem to to be the wrong ones which could mean (1) poor execution, (2) lack of practice or (3) lack of direction from behind ... I'd bet on (3).
C'mon guys ... there's a start, now debate it.