Line speed: a high-risk rugby strategy
Bok defence coach has little time to perfect new system
● Rugby’s lexicon is always changing and a relatively new addition is the concept of line speed. It’s so new that there isn’t even clarity on whether it should be one word or two.
Semantics aside, it’s an aspect of the game that coaches like to reference. “Their line speed put us under pressure”, or “we got off the line quickly and stopped their momentum”, are phrases heard regularly.
The “line” referred to is the offsides line, an imaginary dash measured from the last line of feet at a ruck.
Teams that employ a defensive system using line speed, aim to close down the attacking team’s time and space.
When done correctly it’s stifling and hugely effective. But it’s a system that requires total commitment from the players to all aggressively close space while it also exposes individual defenders who miss their target.
“Line speed is about hunger and desire,” says Stormers coach Robbie Fleck.
“Modern rugby is all about line speed and putting the opposition under pressure. The modern laws favour the attacking team, so how can you put pressure on them without line speed?”
New Springbok defence coach Jacques Nienaber, who was the man behind the Stormers’ years of suffocating defence in Super Rugby, isn’t convinced that it’s the only way to defend in the modern game.
“There are two aspects to consider – line speed and line integrity,” Nienaber says.
“It’s a linear scale with line speed on one end and line integrity on the other. You have to find your balance, depending on the type of players you have and also how you want to play.
“Line speed essentially means that a tackler is on his own. If he goes for a ‘read’, and commits to tackling a player, his teammates on his inside and outside can’t come with him for a double hit.
“It’s about taking time away from the ball carrier and putting the attacking team’s skill set under pressure by forcing offloads.
“Line integrity, which is what we used at the Stormers when I was defence coach, was about the defence staying connected and letting the attack come to us.
“It was passive, if you like, but allowed for double hits. It worked on the basis of whether a 100kg ball carrier attacking our line would meet 200kg of defence.”
Nienaber concedes that all professional players should be comfortable with the concept of line speed, but it’s not as straightforward as it seems.
“Some players do it better,” Nienaber says. “A 130kg prop is not going to be as effective at shutting down space as a 90kg centre.”
And because the South African Super Rugby teams are not all using defences based purely on line speed, the Bok defence has a problem.
“The challenge for us as a new Springbok management is building a defensive system that we are all comfortable using with such a short time to prepare,” says Nienaber.
“This June we have Wales in Washington and we will probably have time for one 45minute defence session before the test. Because of conditioning needs and the travel schedule back to South Africa from the US, against time, you won’t get more than a 35minute defence session before the first England test.
“In 80 minutes of training, there is no way we will be able to enforce a defensive system. So the key for us will be to select players based on the type of system they played at their Super Rugby franchise and then start building towards our end product 18 months from now.” And who leads defence?
“I don’t look to one player to lead the defence, but there are certain types of players that are key to doing it well,” Nienaber says. “And it’s not necessarily position specific.
“At the Stormers Jaque Fourie (centre) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8) did it and at Munster Jaco Taute (centre) and Jean Kleyn (No 4 lock) were the main defensive initiators.
“Personalities play a major role in defensive strategy, especially when initiating line speed, because you are putting yourself in an uncomfortable position.
“You are alone and have to commit to shooting up. There is no bail-out on your left and right and that responsibility only sits well with a few personalities.
“It’s not about the bravest person, but someone who is willing to do a lot of analysis of the opposition and also self-analysis.
“On defence, you can’t cover everything. If you have line speed you are opening up space somewhere else. That’s a fact.
“You have to accept that when you have total line speed you are vulnerable elsewhere on the field, and the entire group has to buy into the philosophy.
“Are we willing to accept some vulnerability against the probability that the overall strategy improves our chances of winning?” Nienaber asks.
Personalities play a major role in defensive strategy Jacques Nienaber The Springboks defence coach discussing the currently vogue issue of line speed in rugby