In the early stages of every player's rugby career, defence is a very individual thing. Each tackler focuses on the ball and the ball carrier is often chased by several defenders.
Good individual running skills and basic passing skills are all a team needs to be successful in attack at this level.
As defences become more structured, these rugby skills are no longer enough and it becomes essential for teams to develop the ability to work together to break down the defensive line.
Manipulating the defence
When faced by a disciplined, organised defence you need to manipulate the defenders.
When the defence becomes disorganised or stops, gaps appear and the attacking players have the upper hand. Speed of thought becomes just as important as physical speed in breaking down an organised defence.
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