Tackling then getting quickly to your feet?

Question

Right, i'd love to play openside flanker full time but I can't put myself forward for it as I know i'm not quite there yet.

My only problem is one of the most vital parts of openside play. I can tackle really well except for one thing. I always end up underneath the tackled player with no chance of getting to my feet to try and win the ball.

Is there anything I can do to try and stop this happening.

Other than this one thing i'm there. My rucking isn't superb but that is ok because I have the pace of a winger and always get to the breakdown first. Like i've said my tackling is good but not effective for a flanker. And i'm a useful crash ball because of my tackle breaking ability.

Answer 1

thats exactly what i was going to say; manipulate the ball carrier so you end up on top.

it isnt always about turning over the ball, that happens very few times, even at the top level. its really more about disrupting their offense. seems like you could do that with your pace.

Answer 2

When you are tackling the player try & twist them whist falling to the ground, this should allow you to get the player facing your team whilst allowing you to roll away quicker.

Answer 3

If you are getting caught at the bottom of rucks then you really need to look at your situations.  Getting caught at the bottom of a ruck tells me that you are making the initial tackle in a built up envoriment (lots ofplayers around) what you really should be doing as an openside flanker in those situations is letting the initial tackle low come from your team mate, where you attack the upper body.  This in must cases will give you an advantage of staying on your feet (tackling low naturally causes you to fall unless you lift and drive you opponent), you would then want to use gravity and there own body weight to force them down (remembering your team mate has already gone low), again this will leave you standing and giving you an oppurtunity to attack the ball straight away.  This is a very fine line way of staying standing as some refs may not see you as the first tackler, but if you attack the ball quick enough then this should not affect the play as a ruck would not be formed (requiring 1 player from each side to form and the ball on the ground).  Open side flankers are scavengers, timing is everything and you must read the game and players around you.  By all means manipulating the tackle is exactly the same but it doesn't necessarily need to be you making the tackle to attack the ball if your timing is right.  Good luck and this is only from my experience.  Each situation must be summed up as it happens, but the final result you want is to be on your feet as long as possible.

Answer 4

you should put your head on the side that they will NOT land on.... so if you tackle them, and they land on the right side of their body, your head should be on their left. this means at most, your arm will be stuck under their thigh/waist and you can pull it out easily. but as a flanker, your job is to tackle, and to ruck. remember, there are 7 other forwards with similar jobs. flankers are meant to get there first and do a lot of work. if you have tackled them, don't be too worried about the fact that you are not immediately rucking over the top afterwards. your team mates should be doing that too.

Answer 5

i know the feeling but my coach told me to tackle the way i was doing it but try and stay on my feet then u have more chance of scoring

Answer 6

try changing your tackling . go high and into the chest and then roll them in the tackle this will give you an edge

Answer 7

its easy you just go to him get low take his legs tackling him with whatever side yo prefer and as you tackle him your momentum should make you stay on top of him sorted really. try and go onyour side after the intial impact them your halfway ther getting up .