“Stay low to the
ground, so low that nobody
can get underneath you. An
opponent can now come into a
breakdown at a 45-degree angle,
where in the past you had to go
completely through the gate. That makes
it harder for the jackler. In your
peripheral vision you have to see
him coming and rearrange
your feet to deal with
that threat.”“You have to
know your referee. You
have to establish a good
relationship with him and talk to
him at the breakdown. It’s important
to listen to him and show him that
you are listening to him. You have
to understand what kind of ref
you have. Homework is
really important.”INTERVIEW
Tom English.
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Scotland back-row Hamish Watson’s top tips for winning the battle of the breakdown
HOW TO WIN
TURNOVERS
PRO INSIGHT“Decision-making
is huge. You’ve got a
millisecond. It’s about knowing
when to go for it and when not to.
If you’ve been warned a few times
and you’re close to your own line,
then do you really need to risk it if
it’s not a clear opportunity?
Those actions can be
massive.”“It sounds obvious but
speed to the ball is critical.
Beating the attacker is paramount.
Once you’re on the ball you have to dig
in and stay strong because you know the
big hits are coming and nowadays those
hits or rolls or twists might not always be
safe. There’s a lot of talk about that right
now. I hope the jackal stays a part of
the game. The momentum shift
can be immense at times.”