Under valued rugby skills

The steal


This is a skill which has been made difficult by recent ruling which enforces a tackler to completely release the ball carrier before he attempts to turn the ball over. However, even with this added difficulty, it is still a skill which can be used and should be practised. Adjustments need to be made due to the new rulings, but there are still opportunities in games for players to steal the ball one on one.


Before the change of rules there were certain players who had mastered this art, and had it down to a "T". Back rowers such as George Smith and Phil Waugh, and centres such as Brian O'Driscoll, were making tackles, regaining their feet and snatching the ball in the blink of an eye. Certain players were getting three or four turnovers a game, and in the modern game, these statistic are massive. Now the emphasis is on the second defender at the the break-down to steal the ball, as the first player is often penalised for not releasing the ball-carrier.

The one-on-one steal is still possible though, but the dynamics have changed. If a defender is strong enough and has the right technique, it is possible to dominate the contact and stay on your feet during the tackle. From here the defender is standing over a tackled player, is in a great position, and there is no reason he cannot get into a position to steal the ball. A split second raise of the hands to show there has been release may be necessary depending on the referee, but there is still a place for stealing the ball from a player.


Stripping


More recently there have players using a ripping or stripping technique in the tackle. During Wales' recent victory over England James Hook got the the ball carrying arm of an attacker and simply ripped the ball loose two or three times. With more and more upper-body tackling and grappling going on in rugby union there is now this option. Why risk giving a penalty away by trying to steal the ball on the ground when it can simply be ripped free when the attacker is still upright.

James Hook is not a massive guy, nor a renowned big tackler, but he has been clever enough to realise there is an opportunity to gain possession using this technique of attacking the ball. During one-on-one tackles the initial aim should be to get the attacker on the ground, but if the option is there, and the attacker is wrapped up why not try to get to the ball before the player hits the ground.


A safer and perhaps more efficient technique is for a second defender to join the tackle while it is still upright and get to the ball and try to rip it out of the attacker's hands. Even if it is not stolen, the nuisance of a player being on the ball will slow the ball down.


There is certainly an opportunity to target the ball during tackles, and teams should be working on techniques and skills which can cause the potential for turnovers.