Scottish defence hold firms around double tackling and simple system

For obvious reasons, the analysis and punditry of the France v Scotland game focussed on the moment Mohammed Haouas threw away a chance at a possible Grand Slam game against the Irish. However, Scotland showed impressive defensive solidity both before and after the red card to restrict France.

France obviously did manage to score tries even after the red card. After all, it is difficult to keep an on-form team completely silent. However, the Scottish work to restrict the French attack was incredible. To begin with, we are going to look at their defence of a French attack starting from a turnover. 

France have gained possession after strong counter rucking and look to strike the scottish blindside. However, Scotland are quick to react to France’s sudden possession. The fringe defenders, on the openside apply pressure to Dupont. The blindside defence, however, makes 2 key actions which prevent the French from developing quick ball and a threat. Firstly, Blair Kinghorn instigates action jumping out of the line, turning Vincent inside. The move is bold from Kinghorn but plays on the French line lack of depth. Having just turned it over, Penaud tries to accelerate normally and attack Scotland whilst Vincent is caught close to the line under pressure having been previously defending. This prevents him releasing the ball, and makes him all the more aware of Kinghorn in his eyeline.

The second key action is the double tackle by Scott Cummings and Ali Price. With France trying to attack the blindside but with Vincent’s options closed off, he has to straighten and initially makes a strong carry through Ali Price. With Scott Cummings coming from the inside and going high it could cause problems, but he manages to wrap up and hold Vincent. This slows the French ball, and Cummings is also able to man-handle the french centre and disrupt his ball placement once he has been tackled.

Skipping ahead a few phases, we see France has worked to an edge. This allows Scotland to push up, only having to worry about the openside. This shows their overall defensive structure close to their own 22. Scotland is operating a 14+1 defensive system not worried about kicks to the chip zone and instead has Ali Price covering in the defensive line, with both wingers high in the line. Scotland has also deliberately positioned their back row in the centre of the defensive line. 

Taking a look at the tackle situation, you can see Scotland’s entire back row supporting 2 Front Rows in the centre of the field. This means they have mobile defenders ready to assist and cover after a line break and also crucially present a jackal threat. 

This threat is increased, with the personnel that Scotland can call upon. Fraser Brown at hooker in this game has covered at Openside flanker on occasion for Scotland. To name a couple versus Russia and against Ireland (from the bench for Hamish Watson), at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. This means that Scotland have 3 effective ball threats, allowing them to target and slow down French ruck speed. This ability was key in helping Scotland prevent the attack from prospering. 

The French attack is incredibly simple and safe, playing just 0.9 passes per phase on average against Scotland’s 1.5. This is incredibly low from showing a tendency to play a narrow game. But it also offers a key insight into how their attack functions. By playing off 9 and regularly keeping it close with pick and goes even from range, we see that they are merely waiting for an opportunity. Slowly driving forward, preparing to strike. This is why the Scottish selection and personnel was so key. Brown, Ritchie and Watson are all jackal threats and as such, they can slow the French down reducing the quick ball the French strike opportunities require. The whole system from Scotland relies on slowing down the attack ball, which worked to great effect against France.

Here again, Scotland executes a double tackle aiming to slow down the ball.  This continued tactic resulted in Scotland averaging 1.96 tackles per French ruck (ESPN Match Data). They managed to slow down the ball, crucially in this example prevent an offload. Bouthier runs a tight out to inline hoping that Vakatawa will be able to remain on his feet and offload. However, Harris goes high and wraps the outside centres arms and prevents any chance at an offload.

This French attack ends with a turnover, with very little ground gained. This goes to show the strength of the Scottish defence. By preventing any real opportunity for France, with a relatively simple set up.

Skipping ahead to a clip at the start of the second half, on this occasion Scotland started on the back foot. Despite the French not managing to score there are a few faults in the Scottish system from the start. Firstly, they have started with Hogg and Maitland both covering the deep. However, they have also matched France in the lineout with the position of Ali Price in the 5m Channel, covering Antoine Dupont. This means Fraser Brown is covering the chip zone. The Chip Zone in this example is the Zone directly in behind the Scottish defensive line. Fraser Brown (Scotland 2) comes from the tail of the lineout to cover this space, but because he is naturally slower, it opens the opportunity for a chip kick. With the ball bouncing Hogg can’t gather the ball, allowing France to regain and attack with true momentum.

Starting from this situation, however, France doesn’t manage to score from this chaotic regained kick. So the question to ask is how did Scotland bend but not break.

The first step of rebuilding the wall is by settling down and preparing. This calmness and composure is normally associated with a firing attack. But here, Scotland calmly settled into defensive formation. This is helped by Jallibert playing out of the tackle zone, meaning Scotland don’t immediately need to commit. Instead after the initial press, they hold their feet ready to cover Jaliberts options.

Despite being able to settle, Scotalnd are still exposed out wide after a couple of phases. Yet again the actions of the winger, on this occasion Sean Maitland, prevents a true scoring opportunity. Maitland shoots up and gets in the vision of the French second receiver playing behind a screen. Maitland forces the short conservative ball and this means France begin to play diagonally burning the space for their numbers and are unable to utilise a major overlap. The Scottish defence also pressures the French with an early press in the midfield before holding their feet and allowing Jalibet to use his options and drifting pushing Penaud on an angle. 

This is an example of a “soft” drift with Scotland conceding ground in order to cover the additional options. This proves key and creates an opportunity to challenge the French ruck. As Harris rolls with the tackle and to the blindside. This means that Hogg can shift back and limit the decision-making process. The effect being that Jamie Ritchie can attack the ball and just disrupt the French flow.

Jumping ahead in the play, France has developed a real opportunity. They’ve busted into the Scottish 22, and have begun to run wider pods who are latching and are driving toward the Scottish line. Still, Scotland is able to deploy its key strategy and eventually win a turnover.

Scotland again use a supporting double tackler. Like Cummings earlier, Hamish Watson offers support to the smaller Ali Price in the tackle. By tackling from the side it helps negate the effect of the latch and pulls down the pair of French runners. Importantly, it also allows an easy fold for the Scottish tight forwards. As despite heading backwards, they don’t have to concentrate on the ruck instead they are able to bounce around and fill the guard.

To win the turnover, Watson is yet again used. The importance of the Scottish back row can’t be overstated. So let us examine this final ruck which prevents France from busting the Scottish line.

Yet again this is a double tackle with both Sutherland and Fagerson, hitting Dupont. However, it’s their actions after the tackle which enables Watson to pilfer the ball. The Scottish pair begin by painting a positive image to the referee, Paul Williams.

Sutherland immediately gets to his feet and moves against the grain without looking at Williams. By painting this image, of normal action Sutherland has 2 effects. Firstly when he stands up he tilts Olivon off balance. But as Paul Williams deems this natural movement it warrants no further look. Secondly, it gives Zander Fagerson additional time to move. When Fagerson does roll out the way it prevents the emergency clearers from being effective. Francois Cros (France 6)clearly stops his feet, while Willemse (France 5) has to shift angle and can’t explode into the ruck due to the combined efforts of Sutherland and Fagerson. 

The key to this positive image is that it allows Watson time to jackal and win the turnover. By preventing effective clears at the same time Scotland has managed to survive. Showing how they managed to bend but not break under French pressure.

Overall, Scotland’s defensive efforts were a clear reason for their victory over Les Bleus. Whilst the red card opened up French defences later and allowed Scotland to score points. Even against the full complement, Scotland stayed in the fight with their use of their flankers and hybrid hooker providing a pressure release valve. The double tackle clearly played a massive role in preventing the French developing any real momentum. It was their main combatant to the French use of pods and close play and enabled them to cause mistakes, and prevent the french momentum developing.