Tighthead
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Tighthead
Introduction
What to do if you have a Weak Tighthead?
I am still of that old school that believe that 80 % of games are won at Tighthead. So if you have a Weak Tighthead, the short term future is never rosy. The good news is that you don't have to look far for someone to blame. Blame yourself. Tighthead is one of the most coachable positions on the field. If you have a Crap Tighthead its usually because you did not put enough attention to the position. Not enough attention in the Gym, Not enough attention in technique, or you probably never gave the guy the real love and attention which, as a matchwinner, he deserves.
What do I need from a Tighthead . Not much. Support the jumpers in lineout and kickoffs, scrum decently, protect the Shoulder of the Ruck in Second Phase and assist the Runner when we attack Channel 1. He really doesn't have to do much more than that - and Oh yes - he must be the fastest man on the field.
"WHAT? Philip. You're losing it - how can that fat kid be the fastest man on the field?"
I know this because I played this position and I WAS the fastest man in the field. When I got to American Football I met guys that were even faster than me, which is why I could never play Centre and had to settle for Guard and Tackle - the second fastest positions. Fast? OK I don't mean sprinting down the field for 40 meters, I mean exploding over the line for 1 meter. If he is the fastest over 1 meter, he is also pretty handy over 5 meters. The good news is that if you spend the effort training your Tighthead, no matter how dorkie he starts out, he can become the fastest man on the field - over 1 meter.
The Scrum
There is not much you can do in a scrum against a Stronger Prop. However if you have done your Gym work properly, you should always be competitive in this area. The good news is that Strength is not the most important thing. SPEED is far more important. If you can get your Tighthead comming off the Ball faster, he will beat Props stronger than himself. This is particularly relevant to our Ball. If we win the first the first 1 meter and the scrumhalf throws the ball in instantly, the scrum is all over before strength even comes into play.
If your tight head moves quickly on the engage command, he is leading the contact into the opposition. The earlier he shoots forward the stronger he is. A slow opposite number can get caught in the "Sticking Point". The sticking point is that point in weightlifting where the bio mechanics is such that the explosive power is less. An example of this would be at the bottom of a Squat.
I see the following front row mistake in most First class and International players. This was brought to my attention by Nick Tatalias. In the Crouch and Hold position, the Tight head is pushing backwards with his butt into the Lock. The first movement forward is an upper body "heave" like a "Good Morning" in a weight room. A far better starting position is for the Tighthead to be leaning forward, away from his lock, with hips and thighs coiled in the hitting position. In this postion, he is actually "held back but the Lock". If the Lock were to let go, the Prop would fall on his face. But most importantly he is already past the Sticking point he is in the Maximum power postition. This is typical of the position found in The Eggshell Scrum. Then on the "engage", he explodes forward, split seconds before the fat guy in the other side can even move out of the Sticking position. The release is actually controlled by the Lock who "Lets Go" in "engage". We win the first half meter or more, put the ball in immeadiately and Viola - Clean Ball.
Channel 1 Defense
This particlalry in the second phase. If we are defending, The Tighthead would be one of the last to arrive a the Ruck/Maul. He then lines up on the Shoulder of the Scrum. He duties are:
- To stop anyone comming though Channel 1
- To advance and shut the play down in their back field
- To hit the runner who dares to come in there so hard that it causes a turnover.
Great posture and "Comming off the Ball " are essentiall skills to getting this right. But do this correctly and their options are severly restricted.
The Tighthead needs to learn posture for this job. In particular he must know the Hitting position and the Down line position. He must have his feet correctly possitioned for explosion.
It is amazing at International level how many Tighheads use this phase to "rest". They are quite happy to stand with their hands on the their knees and wait for the runner to arrive - over the advantage line.
Channel 1 Offense
The Tighthead will not usually be our ball carrier. But he has to have the Speed to arrive as close as possible to the runner when they hit the contact point. He must be looking to make a "Block" onto the defenders. This is not the classic Block of Gridiron, but is close enough. He comes in through the gate, but instead of try to "push" his own runner, he is looking to make a hit on the defenders. He will usually meet a smaller weaker Defender and should relish the concept of "blowing him away"
Practice Practice Practice
Training Kit
These exersises must be practiced with intensity. Its like a Golf Swing, A Karate Kata or a Tennis Stroke. If you haven't practiced it for 2 days you start losing it. These actions are best practiced in Helmets and Pads to avoid injury.
Goal Line
Goal line Defense takes a 4 point stance. This is that ridiculous looking thing in American Football where players look like they are doing pushups. THis is an unnatural position and taeks practice. THe cloder to the centre of play, the more level the players feet must be.
Its a bit more tricky on their ball. But if you are able to do this to them then your Captain should point out that their scrum half is putting the ball in uder their feet. and not over the mark.
Gym
If this kid is going to be the strongest and fastest man over 1 meter. Then he needs a really strong strength and power program. So while the rest of them are running up and down the sand dunes. Give him the time to do specialised weight training. Be there with him. You will only know how good he is when you see him under a weight that won't move.
More then anyone, this kid must be able to Snatch his own Body weight. Take Snatching Slowly but it has to be a part of his weekly routine all through the year. Supplement with Overhead Squats. Cleans and Snatches must be done with Fast Feet Must do drills to improve Speed of the Feet
Drills
There are a number of Drills for "Comming off the Ball", that will help you with Scrumming, Channel One Defense and explosive running. There is nothign more poserful in Rugby that 125 KGs delivered at pace, except 130 Kgs.
I Illustrate thse drills more fully int he Iron Rugby Manual, but they basically involve repetittion and making the player comfortable with the 3 and 4 point stance. The basicl steps are
- Introduce the player to the 3 point nad 4 points stance
- Always keep the head up.
- Bloww off the line 5 meters and into the brreakdown
- Doit with Side step to avoing onbstacle
- Do it with radical sideways movement
- Must be able to Shuffle
Drills for improving explosion times
Take a simple barroom table. Two opponents stand opposite each other, facing each other. In the middle of the table is a match box. Each opponent has his grabbing hand equidistant from the matchbox, below the end of the table. The coach stands in the middle and calls "Crouch - Hold - Engage". On Engage, and not before, both opponents grab at the matchbox. The guy that consistently wins these contests is your Tighthead. Amazingly you get better with practice. You learn to anticipate the "Engage" and to go marginally before it.
