Plays for: St Francis’s
Known for: His ability to play as a forward or back
Greatest moment: Being his team’s captain and also its youngest player
Name: Nathan Davidson
Position: Number-eight
Plays for: Clifton Grammar
Known for: His seemingly unlimited energy
Greatest moment: Regularly landing twenty-metre-long passes to teammates
Name: Kane Williams
Position: Utility-forward
Plays for: The Saints
Known for: His accurate kicking for touch
Greatest moment: Playing in every forward position last season
Name: Sean de Groot
Position: Utility-forward
Plays for: Clifton Grammar
Known for: His ‘never give up’ attitude
Greatest moment: Winning a grand final with an extra-time try
Name: Kian Hardy
Position: Utility-forward
Plays for: Clifton Grammar
Known for: Always walking off the field covered in mud
Greatest moment: He has played for three Premiership-winning teams
NICKNAME: Izzy
BORN: 3 April 1989 in Minto, NSW
HEIGHT: 195 cm
WEIGHT: 103 kg
POSITION: Fullback
TEAM: NSW Waratahs, Australian Wallabies
2007/08: NRL Melbourne Storm
2007–2009: Australian Kangaroos
2008–2010: Queensland Maroons
2009/10: NRL Brisbane Broncos
2010: NRL All Stars
2011/2012: AFL Greater Western Sydney Giants
2013–present: NSW Waratahs
2013–present: Australian Wallabies
Tackling is one of the most obvious features of a rugby match. Not only does tackling stop the opposition in their tracks, it often causes them to turn over the ball. Each player will perform many tackles in a game, so it is something that everyone needs to practise regularly. Without a good tackling technique, ball-carriers will break through your defensive line and there is a greater possibility of injury. With proper training, every player can make effective tackles, whatever their size and strength.
There are four things to remember in order to tackle properly.
1) Be ready.
Keep your eyes open at all times. Know who you are tackling and where on their body you will be making contact. Be alert.
Keep your head up. Don’t duck or bend your neck as the runner approaches.
Keep your back straight. If your spine is aligned, you will reduce the risk of hurting yourself.
2) Make contact with your shoulder.
Approach the tackle with the leg and shoulder on the side of your body nearest to your opponent.
Let your shoulder land on your opponent first, then wrap your arms around them. If you only use your arms, your tackle will have no stability or strength.
3) Use your knees.
Your strength should come through your knees, not your upper body. Be stable and be strong.
4) Keep your toes close.
The closer your big toe is to the tackle, the better it will be, because the closer you are the more likely your shoulder will engage. Don’t be afraid to be close to the ball-carrier.
If you are unsure about your technique, practise tackling some padding before trying it out in a real game. Find your confidence. A weak tackle is a waste of time, so make sure you commit to it one hundred per cent. Be strong and do your best!
Here are tips for when you have mastered the basics.
Step to one side as the ball-carrier approaches you. Tackling them in motion is more effective than tackling them from a standing position.
Make the tackle as early as possible.
Worry about the ball after you have landed your tackle, not before. Focus on stopping the player first.
Remember: Tackling should only be practised under the supervision of your coach or other responsible adults.
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Version 1.0
Izzy Folau 4: Standing Tall
9780857986689
First published by Random House Australia in 2015
Copyright © Random House Australia 2015
The moral right of the author and the illustrator has been asserted.
A Random House book
Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd
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www.randomhouse.com.au
Random House Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com/offices.
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Creator: Harding, David, author
Title: Pushed to the Limit/David Harding and Israel Folau;
illustrated by James Fosdike
ISBN: 9780857986689 (ebook)
Series: Izzy Folau; 4
Target Audience: For primary school age
Subjects: Rugby Union football players – Australia – Juvenile fiction.
Rugby football coaches – Australia – Juvenile fiction.
Rugby football – Coaching – Australia – Juvenile fiction.
Rugby Union football – Australia – Juvenile fiction.
Other creators/contributors: Folau, Israel, author;
Fosdike, James, illustrator
Dewey number: A823.4
Front cover image of Israel Folau by Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Internal image of Israel Folau by Matt King/Getty Images
Illustrations by James Fosdike
Cover design by Christabella Designs