Marist Albion RFC Premier Players' Advice for Loose Forwards
Advice from St Bede's Old Boys
In the current environment it’s important that we ‘control the controllables’. Today, this means being focused on our own training at home and increasing our understanding of our roles within the game so we are ready when the season does start.
For loose forwards, the Premier 1 Marist Albion flankers and No. 8s have offered a few ideas for you to concentrate on over the next week of the lockdown and into the future.
2005 1st XV player Ben Enoka, who has played over 200 games for the MA RFC Premier 1 team, rightly points out that this downtime can be used to ensure you have a good routine for getting ready to train or play. Mindset, Activation, Mobility and Stretching are all important. There are plenty of videos on YouTube covering activation and mobility. These two pillars are often overlooked but they will help to ensure your longevity in the game and reduce the risk of injury! No one wants to be out for the playoffs!
For 2015 UC Championship 1st XV captain Declan McCormack it’s all about getting up off the ground quickly to contest the ball. This is where your strength and conditioning comes in with burpees and up-downs, but also flexibility with a wide base once you are up to ensure a strong position over the ball. Being a threat at the breakdown might lead to a turnover, at least to slow ball for your opposition and therefore more time for your teammates to get into the right position to make the next tackle.
2016 1st XV player Darragh McGregor, talks about the footwork into the tackle. If you have access to a ladder that’s great! You can use this to practice your footwork by coming into the ladder laterally. If not, use some chalk and draw a ladder on the concrete footpath or around your house. Short feet in and out of the ladder will ensure you’re not getting stepped on the inside!
As a ball carrying loosie, Moeaki Toma focusses on being a threat with the ball in hand. There are a fair few videos floating around so he suggests using this time to practice the offload. If you get confident with this skill at training before trying it in a game there is more chance that it will be successful.
Information about what to do while in isolation is probably coming thick and fast and may be overwhelming, but we hope that these four messages from past Bedeans and proven performers will help give you some focus going forward.
Strahan McIntosh
Marist Albion RFC RDO