The shape
Match the opposition numbers in the line, with your jumpers opposite their likely targets and your lifters ready to go up against the throw. The hooker stands in the five-metre channel, the scrum-half marks their receiver and the number 8 takes the tail as the last defender of the line. The back line sets ten metres back from the line of touch: 10 on their 10, centres on centres, the open wing on the touchline, the blindside wing on the short side and the full-back deep as sweeper.
Roles
- Front row. The props match up on the front and middle jumpers and contest where the throw is readable; the hooker holds the five-metre channel.
- Locks. One goes up for the steal on their main target, the other stays down and sacks the drive.
- Back row. The flankers lift for the contest and the openside pushes off early to tackle 10; 8 is the tail defender for the long throw and the peel.
- Scrum-half. Stands up to their 9 looking for an interception or a tackle on a shuffling pass.
- Fly-half and centres. Hold the 10 metre line until the ball leaves the lineout, then come up as one; 13 leads the drift.
- Wings and full-back. The open wing holds width, the blind wing the short side, the full-back sweeps.
Strengths
- Matched jumpers give you a chance of a steal in a good spot.
- A set tail defender takes away the long throw and the peel.
- The ten metre gap gives the back line time to organise its line speed.
Weaknesses
- Guessing the jumper wrong leaves the ball uncontested.
- Forwards who break the line early concede a penalty.
- A heavy maul goes straight through a defence that does not sack it quickly.
When to use it
Every lineout you defend, with the emphasis set by field position. In your own 22 the priority is stopping the maul and the five-metre drive, so stack the line and sack early. In midfield, contest in the air if you have the jumpers; otherwise hold shape and tackle. On a wet day do not jump recklessly, because their throw will be inaccurate anyway and a solid line that tackles wins more. Where lifting and mauling are not allowed, defence comes down to the jump and the first tackle.
What to coach in training
- Reading the throw: a thrower and a jumper against one defender, who watches the hooker's hips and calls front, middle or back before the ball goes.
- A lineout contest on cones with lifters and jumpers for both sides, only where lifting is permitted; otherwise an unopposed jump followed by the tackle. Add the maul sack, coached one step at a time.
- The back line holds the 10 metre line on a whistle and rises as one on the call of "out", with a coach watching the line.
Works well against
It copes well with a predictable attacking lineout that throws to the same jumper, because your jumper learns the pattern inside a half. It handles a team that drives every throw if the sack is quick and legal, and a side that plays off the top to a flat 10 is met by 7 and 10 arriving together. Against a team short of jumping options, contesting the front and middle forces a tail throw your 8 takes.
