Defence has become an increasingly important facet of the game. So while my last piece looked at scoring from lineout and the flair of attack. It is time to look back, to a wonderful example of grunt, guile and grit as Wales took on Ireland in 2015. The defence shows the importance of adaptability, ruck policy, and collective intelligence.
For the first attack, Ireland began with a 7 man lineout. This has the advantage of trapping all of Wales forwards in a concentrated area of the field. And although, they can drop players back into the defending line. Wales decided to number up. Wales have a simple structure in the lineout. They deploy Dan Lydiate as a tail gunner, helping to protect Dan Biggar by having two strong tacklers in Lydiate and Warburton coming across from the tail.
Lydiate (Blue Circle) plays a key role in protecting the hinge off the defence. Having previously come from behind the lineout just inside the 15m line he has moved around and enabled Biggar to push wider. However, the crucial role here is that he has played a connecting role. This enables Wales to protect the weak inside edge of their defence. It has also enabled them to hide Rhys Webb, who would traditionally defend at the tail, in the 5m channel as Wales look to protect their half backs.
In the tackle, Lydiate and Biggar combine well, showing one of the key trends of the defensive set, the double tackle. Throughout the first defensive set they made 24 double tackles which accounted for 72% of the overall tackles. These double tackles play a key role in slowing the ball down. This enables the remaining forwards from the lineout to find their positions. The props are positioned in the centre of the field, meaning they had shorter distances to cover in remaining phases.
As the phases continued, Ireland began to settle into shape and continued to work to an edge. This enables Wales to compete at the breakdown. Warburton, wearing 7, has competed at two of the four rucks, and is dramatically slowing Irish possession. In the example above, two irish clearers are required for the welsh openside removing players from following attacks. This constant targeting of the ball at the breakdown, enables the welsh players to fill necessary gaps while maintaining a general formation.
The formation adopted by Wales leaves their tight five forwards between the 15 metre channels. In the clip above, as Warburton slows down the ball Taluape Faletau, 8, folds round. This might not seem particularly interesting, but he works around the breakdown while Alun Wyn Jones can stay in position. This means defensive connections are maintained close to the ruck, while 17 can return to line and fill Faletau’s position.
However, Wales don’t always get it right, and as the phases continue they do become tighter. This enables Ireland to reach outside the Wales defence. While Ireland were able to expose Wales, the outside channel was able to shut down the move. Dan Biggar is defending in the 15m channel, a place designed to protect him from a high tackle load. As the move wraps round though Biggar begins to move and gets in the passing lane between Rob Kearney, 15, and Tommy Bowe, 14. The angling in of Biggar stops the passing threat and as Ireland have a lower speed due to the earlier spill enables him to make a physical tackle. Then as with so many tackles in the move another player begins competing immediately. Roberts targets the ball and slows it down, so that Wales can begin to realign.
Ireland play into the wide channel off Johnathon Sexton. This plays is targeted at exposing the welsh line speed. Johnathon Davies jumps to try and shut off the play outside the back. However, Sexton identifies this and lifts it short to Paul O’connell. O’connell’s line cuts across the welsh defence. However, while the linebreak is easily created it enables us to examine Wales backfield coverage.
Wales are defending with a 14+1 defensive system, earlier in the move. Only Halfpenny is covering the backfield. However as the play continues, this morphs into a 13+2 defence. As shown in the image above, Ireland has no threat on the blindside. As Sexton rotates round, it means Halfpenny only has half the field to cover. While this could be dangerous and leave space for kicking, Ireland instead are chasing the game and are looking for a score. This means Halfpenny only has to worry about the openside and he can sit in the chip zone and be ready for breaks such as the one shown earlier.
However, Wales have adapted their structure as the position of the ball changes. As Ireland have a ruck in the midfield and are still looking to attack the same way, Halfpenny has drifted wider while allowing Liam Williams to cover the backfield morphing the defence into an 13+2. This adaptation on the fly is an impressive element of the defence. As Liam Williams is covering he is able to identify threats and then act as additional cover once Ireland break the line.
After the break, Wales still maintained a 13+2 defence. In the clip, you can see Halfpenny slowly filtering around and acting as a sweeper, ready to fill in holes. As play continues, you see him marshalling the defence. Meanwhile, Liam Williams is drifting further out wide. By doing this, Williams is able offer a chip zone deterrent and also acts as a second sweeper ready to fill holes should they emerge. The effortless communication and adaptation by the welsh winger and fullback is great to watch, and shows the importance of a strong backfield coverage.
As play continues, Wales continue to lose ground. However, Sam Warburton carries out an important dominant tackle and forces Ireland back. Rory Best was carrying a little high, but Warburton makes the dominant tackle. He also lands on the top of Best while also holding onto the Irish hooker. This means that Warburton can immediately compete for the ball. As a result he makes a double positive impact, driving Ireland back and then slowing down the ball.
As the attack carries on, Ireland ends up going side to side making little ground. However, using a bounce play off 9, they are able to exploit Wales and attack yet again in the wide channels. While they make no ground. Liam Williams gives away a penalty after 31 stoic phases of defence.
Williams locks down on the ball. He drops off his feet, and while he gives away the penalty it yet again shows Wales intention to slow down the ball at almost every single breakdown. This simple strategy enabled them to remain competitive in defence and prevent Ireland scoring.
On the next Irish forray, the Welsh defence does become exposed off first phase. However, Wales have a sweeper in Liam Williams sitting behind the defensive line. This means that despite Ireland’s break through the Welsh can scramble and prevent the score.
At the first ruck, Rhys Webb targets the ball while Liam Williams plays a supporting role. Because Wales managed to turn the maul this means that only Johnathon Sexon is able to clear out, meaning Webb can slow the ball. At the second ruck, Liam Williams comes in and pushes Murray back. In the tackle he wrapped his arms around the ball preventing any reach from Murray while the remaining welsh defence could fold round and begin to gain some semblance of structure. These combined efforts prevented Ireland bashing over and played a key role in allowing Wales to recover.
As play continues Ireland continue bashind off 9 and aim to work in one direction towards the centre of the pitch. As Henshaw plays scrum half in an attempt to move the ball quicker, Wales are stretched and Biggar normally defending out wide makes a crucial tackle in the centre of the pitch. The contact may not be dominant but the technique and skill in making the tackle can be a real focus in goal line defence.
Biggar came off the line fast, but as soon as he made contact he collapsed to the ground with a grip around Rory Best’s back. The immediate collapse to the floor from Biggar is crucial in preventing the latched Irish player pushing best closer. It also means that Johnathon Davies is able to realign faster as he’s not needed to slow the ball down. The simple action of accepting the contact by Biggar and rolling with Best enables Wales to fold round the corner with both Chatteris and Lydiate able to fill in at the traditional guard and bodyguard positions.
Dan Biggar’s previous tackle allowed Jonathon Davies to be ready for the next phase. Davies was able to get off the line and crucially into the passing channel between O’brien and O’connell. This means Wales manage to isolate O’brien and are able to slow the ball down as Warburton leads an attempt to secure the ball. This counter ruck also shows how comfortable Wales have become, as they feel confident enough to lose numbers in the line as 5 players are committed to the ruck.
Ireland are aware how many welsh players are in the ruck, but Wales have adjusted. The flat 14+1 defence has been created with Halfpenny sweeping behind the line once Ireland begin their attack while the front line drifts on the ball. With no runners to hold them Wales are able to easily defend and then prevent over-folding as Liam Williams pushes Faletau back.
Meanwhile Wales again aim to slow down the Irish ball. Rhys Webb lies on the wrong side slowing the Irish clearer. However, it is the action of Roberts challenging the ball from the inside that is crucial. By challenging from the inside, Liam Williams can be maintained in position, while the ball is slowed.
The challenge also gives extra time for Webb to roll away as Wayne Barnes focuses on the challenge for the ball rather than the scrum half who is making a clear effort. This will have benefitted from earlier in the attack where Wales have made concerted efforts to show Barnes they are not in the way. Since the yellow card to Warburton early in the first half, Barnes will have wanted to see a change in behaviour and Wales make sure they are showing this.
As we enter the final stages of this mammoth defensive set, Wales are yet again in danger of being exposed. Nevertheless, Halfpenny circled in green makes an effort to go for a ball and all tackle. This causes a spill, as shown below, that enables Wales to scramble and fill the outside channel to prevent Ireland outflanking the red wall.
North manages to make the tackle on Zebo and drag him backwards. In the clip though it’s the actions yet again of Halfpenny that show why the defense is so strong. As Davies and Williams counter ruck trying to make the most of this dominant tackle. Halfpenny instead slides behind the ruck and becomes crucial in positioning the fringe defenders. Scott Baldwin, fills in at guard, and throughout the rest of the time Halfpenny begins to constantly talk and organize the defence. So while tackle from Halfpenny doesn’t stop the ball and North has to complete the phase, it is his immediate reaction to fold behind the line that shows how this defence works. It is based on a collective intelligence and ability to adapt.
This defence eventually wins the turnover as Wales position their backrow in the centre of the field. This creates a triple threat that Irelad enters a panic to clear. The low chop tackle from Faletau means Sexton loses his balance and ends up flopping over the ruck. The lack of dominance in the carry, then means Henshaw has over run and is forced to enter from the side and give away the penalty.
The mammoth defence was a key part of the victory that data, and showed the importance of an organised defence. Wales were in a state of constant adaptation changing the back field coverage, and maximising their chances in the front line. The changes between 13+2 and 14+1 defence helped create dominance, while due to the context Wales were able to control Irish thought. This was the first key part of the defence, the ability to adapt and change. Secondly, they had a strong ruck policy.
By not allowing Ireland quick ball Wales were able to maintain their structure even when their line was broken. While Ireland fans may have rued the missed opportunities the Welsh covering and targeting of the break down was key. Each ruck contest was also superbly well managed, while Liam Williams gave a penalty away in the first set for a ruck contest, you can see clear interaction between players and referee on both occasions.
Thirdly, there is a controlled aggression within the defence. While there is a concerted effort in defence to apply pressure, there is a collective intelligence, with the big hits coming when there is an opportunity rather than merely rushing from the defensive line. The sweepers always seem to be in the right place to cover the holes, while when Wales did apply pressure in the ruck, they dialed down their pressure in the line and allowed Ireland to play in front of them.
Overall then, this defence is built on constant adaptation, a strong ruck defence and a collective intelligence. The collective intelligence was crucial in creating pressure at the right times and binding all the structure of the defence together.
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