Can someone please explain Blitz Defence!

I have been watching rugby for many years now on TV and I have never come across the term and the usage of this Blitz Defence phenomenon. Anyway, could someone explain in layman's terms what exactly a blitz defence is and what benefits and drawbacks it brings to a national rugby team like Wales.

Basically it's using a fast line speed to close the space for the attacking team to use. It depends on speedy outside backs, and a good solid line. Primarily it's advantages are making teams have less time to use the ball and so encouraging more mistakes, however it can be very susceptible to chips over the top or deep passing to get on the outside of the 'shooter'.

The Shooter being an outside back who targets a man with the ball.

The NRA love rugby.

Thanks for the explanation.

Rush/blitz defence is used to close down the attacking side.
Means lying flat to the offside line,to be REALLY effective you have
to be offside when you move.
IF the Ref is on the ball chances are you will be whistled off the park
Well timed chipkicks/grubberkicks can negate it BUT poorly executed
can mean intercepted kicks.

Also if the defender does get to the ball carrier they have the forward momentum for a big hit to drive them back, rather than passively waiting or worse backpedalling as an onrushing attacker gets up to full speed and hits them.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Also if the defender does get to the ball carrier they have the forward momentum for a big hit to drive them back, rather than passively waiting or worse backpedalling as an onrushing attacker gets up to full speed and hits them.

Would a blitz defence have been effective for Wales and England in the 1995 World Cup V New Zealand with a Jonah Lomu in his prime? Also when a team like England or NZ with potent attacking options everywhere is 5m out from an opposition team's tryline, which defense system is best/most effective for a defending team to adopt in such a desparate situation?

Ireland used it effectively in the second test in June so when executed well it does have an impact, particularly on the opposition confidence and ability to move the ball wide.

It can also be negated with multiple phases where when the blitz is on the ball carrier sucks in the defence and with quick ball moves the attack to another area too quickly for another blitz to be formed.

Part of its effect is therefore surprise and speed and as Alan says, an offside mentality based on smashing the attack before it starts.

Its one of many techniques but by no means a sure bet on its own.

Australia are the best team in the world at playing against a blitz. They use multi layered back moves and dinks over the top to great effect. Masters at playing against a blitz as seen v England in the AIs.

France have used the blitz for years in the 6 Nations. You must be fairly new to the game if you have not noticed.

Morgannwg wrote:France have used the blitz for years in the 6 Nations. You must be fairly new to the game if you have not noticed.

Gatland really used it to great effect with Wasps.

Yep. He's a one man game plan though.

GunsGerms wrote:Australia are the best team in the world at playing against a blitz. They use multi layered back moves and dinks over the top to great effect. Masters at playing against a blitz as seen v England in the AIs.

Have to agree with that. You need some level of predictability of attack to be successful and Oz mix their lines up so much it forces the inevitable one on ones in the end.

Thats why theyre so missing a more stable Cooper, JOC to complement the just as unpredictable Beale and Ioane who run such fantastic lines. Can't wait to see that again this year with them all back.

It has been said how much more time on the ball the players had in amateur days.But this is in many cases incorrect certainly pre 1964,the offside line was the centreline through lineout and scrum.Defending backs lay flat to it often in the case of the lineout thickened by backrow forewards.
Man for man marking everyone was expected to at least tackle his opposite number.12 was often a fearsome tackler like Jack Mathews,Fitz`s dad,mannie Roux etc.This was backed up in NZ at least by the famous Forward cover defence.A web unwinding from Scrum/Lineout at any time in a match had doubt where he should be he corner flagged.
So efficent was this it was considered in NZ at least impossible to score from first phase possession.THE RUCK a la Vic Cavanagh and the Otago Game being the answer.