Prop

Question
I'm a 15 year old starting prop currently playing in Year 10 A at my school's comp in Australia. We won a premiership last year, but fell short in '09. We had an awesome backline and we used it to make up for the forward pack who struggle in rucks, mauls and scrums.

I feel like I'm one of the better forwards but I'm relatively inexperienced and looking to improve to the point that i can make some rep teams and play first XV in Year 12.

What are the more dynamic skills I need to take my game to the next level and become one of the better players/leaders, considering many of our best players are moving up to a higher grade due to age differences? (I'm not old enough)

Ultimately, I'd like to move to a position with more ball skill, etc and are wondering how to go about it, I'm currently 6'1'' & 81kg.

My tackling is in need of improvement, expecially against faster/smaller players. How do I know when to come out of the defensive line and take someone on and when to wait for them to come to me?

Would cutting runs around the rucks and mauls to pickup a cheap 10-15m be appropriate next year?

I basically just want to get more involved and get my hands on the ball.  

Answer
Hi Robert

You should always be working on your ball skills. No matter what position you are in you should have just as good ball skills as a half back or a flanker. I know of top level props who actually have spent time after training to get tips and practice half back passes for the event where they are the only one there to distribute the ball when the half back is no able to do the job (he is trapped in a maul or not at the break down).

Play a lot of touch rugby in summer and get into the drills a practice. Stay after training to warm down with passing and get to practice early to get in passes. Grab your mates at lunch and on the weekends to do some simple drills and touch rugby.

The runs off the side of mauls and rucks should be a staple that you always look for as an option but that is the point. Learn to assess your options quickly. If the side of the maul is unprotected then take the run if there is a wall of tacklers then draw the defense and pass. Take the best option at the time not a pre-decided option.

Cutting runs are great - as an option. If the defense is dumb and do not seal the hole then keep taking that option if they adjust their defense then take other options - a chip kick over the defending line or passing the ball quickly out wide or set up a driving maul.

Play the options, make decisions based on the best way to take ground.

Your desire to get you hands on the ball is great but make sure to keep up with your core duties as a prop the 1st phase of the maul or ruck. You will not be needed in the first maul after a scrum but you may be needed to run off it as a ball handler. If the run is not an option you may need to get involved in the maul.

Learn to love scrummaging and mauling as much as having the ball in your hands equally and you will become a truly valuable prop.

Here is some tackling advice:

The aim is to make a tackle to stop the play/player. Drive in hard and execute the tackle forcefully and wrap the player up well with your arms. The game of rugby moves fast enough that this will be enough to give your team the advantage.

Below is a past answer to a similar question. If you focus on the line of the players shorts / jersey or the string of their shorts then size will not be an issue. If a player is really big then letting them go buy and tackling from behind and sliding down the legs will bring them down. A firm grasp around the waist then drop down with all your might while squeezing their legs together.

Your head should go to the side that is "out of the way". If the player is running at you going to the left you head should go to the right side and vice versa. If the guy is running directly at you it would be best to put you head on the side the guy hold the ball but really don't over think it on that angle. The big thing is to drive your shoulder into the guys gut or lower sternum.

When tackling from the side the rule of thumb is "cheek to cheek" face to butt.

Here is a simple method for improving your tackle. When a player is moving towards you (or vice versa) do not look at their body as a whole, instead focus on the point of center between their hips. Often a coach will tell you to "eyeball" the "string of their shorts". This focus will allow your brain to only register the runner's center of gravity: the "mass" of their torso or core. No matter what a runner's arms, legs or head does the torso is usually stagnant.

Keep your feet active, stay on your toes either moving towards them or running in place. Close the space between you and the runner swiftly but stay in control. This is to limit the runner's options as much as possible. If you over commit to running into the tackle the player has a better chance of stepping you.

Focus on the "string of their pants" and drop your center of gravity to set up the hit. Bend at the knees, eyes up, straight back, hips lower than your shoulders like a prop in a scrum. Aim the shoulder to that string."Punch" into the players core with your shoulder and wrap the player up with your arms. Drive hard with little punchy steps of your legs.

To summarize:

1. keep the feet active "live"
2. focus on the "string of their pants"
3. drive the shoulder through the "string of their pants"
4. wrap the player up and drive with the legs in short steps.

Don't try to pick the player up, this is dangerous and will probably get you penalized. Drive hard with the shoulder and legs

This link to UTube is VERY good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQJ39bbq2uU


Study technique a lot, here are some places to start:

Here is a link of technique  / body position which you should treat as your gospel:

Scrummaging:

http://www.coachingrugby.com/rugby/coaching/unitskills/scrum/buildingthescrum.ht...

http://www.usarugby.org/media/EDocs/scrum.pdf

http://www.texasyouthrugby.com/download/748/docs/Building_the_scrum.pdf

Also there are some GREAT pointers on You Tube. If you go to You Tube and search using the key words: "building the scrum" you will find a great set of videos about scrum technique originally from www.rugbydevelopment.com Get the whole team to view them. Key word search "Mike Cron scrum" for direct tips from the All Black scrum coach.

Keep looking on You Tube for video by Mike Cron and other professional coaches about scrum technique.