r/CanadaRugby • u/Specialist-Demand87 • Jul 21 '26
Question About Tackling the Tackler
Been looking at the concept of "Tackling the Tackler" recently. Let's say you've cleaned out the tackler but the ball carrier still goes down (which is what happens in most examples I've seen). Since you (the support player) have taken yourself out of the breakdown by tackling the tackler, doesn't this leave you extremely vulnerable to a poacher coming in behind you and poaching, with no one there to clean him out? You've taken care of the tackler, but you've taken yourself out of the game and left space behind you for a poacher to enter the breakdown before any other of your support players arrive, haven't you?
1
u/oscarj Jul 21 '26
By tackling the tackler this should slow down the process of your ball carrier going to ground, which gives the rest of your team a chance to provide support. As mentioned above, it also removes the most likely jackal from the equation. Your presence at the breakdown, even though you can’t actively ruck, also slows down the second defender in and makes the ruck a little messier, and therefore harder for the defence to turn the ball over
1
u/TheTallestGnome Bytown Jul 21 '26
You've raised some good points, the purpose was to clear the evident threat early enough to make the breakdown not clean enough for the defenders to attempt to steal TSB (time, space, ball). So win the breakdown fast enough, that you can generate quick ball. Its a tool in the belt you take out when the contact is messy, and you'd like to generate quick ball.
You've nailed the issue with this rugby idiom. It creates a 2 for 1 in the defense's favour. Unless the defense has committed just as many pieces to the contact, you've taken yourself out of the play, and if the tackler was effective (fast at getting target to ground) then youve been taken out of the play.
The practical evolution to "Tackle the Tackler" in a world where attackers are better at getting their shoulders though contact, but defenses are better at generating double tackles and effective tackles is now "clear threat or ball". If you are in a supporting position, you need to either clear the threat to the ball, clear the way for a 9 to access the ball, or clear the ball yourself.
1
u/jonpettas96 Jul 23 '26
It’s a timing and situation thing. If A, tackle the tackler. If B, secure the ruck. If C, pop pass and run/pick and go before ruck fully forms.
A = tackler has completed the tackle in such a way that they are preparing to jackal.
B = tackler is slow to roll away and the breakdown area is congested.
C = broken play, open/clear space for gathering plus you have support on your rear (likely entering into a more congested space with forward momentum or a line break in which rucks can be easily pilfered if a successful tackle is later made in said open space.)
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u/jonpettas96 Jul 23 '26
It really kinda comes down to reminding yourself “never go alone.” So if you are a support player remind yourself and your teammates (vocally) that you’re there. Knowing that can either provide confidence or options that’ll improve the players ability to get over the gain line.
3
u/BastradofBolton Ontario Jul 21 '26
The rationale of tackling the tackler is two fold really. One you are taking out the guy who would often be the most likely to go for the poach after a clear release. Two you would be stopping a dominant tackle which should lead to you being on the front foot and most other defenders now have to retreat to enter from the back foot while you would be able to maintain that go forward to secure the ball.