# Blitz defence

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The **Blitz defence** is a defensive method used in sports including [American Football](/source/American_football) and [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union).

## Rugby union

### Origins

It was brought to prominence by [Shaun Edwards](/source/Shaun_Edwards), the head coach of [London Wasps](/source/Wasps_RFC). In many ways, the blitz is similar to the defence used in [rugby league](/source/Rugby_league) which can be explained by Edwards's background in that code.

### Method

In a blitz defence the whole defensive line moves forward towards their markedman as one as soon as the ball leaves the base of a [ruck](/source/Rugby_union_gameplay#Ruck) or [maul](/source/Playing_rugby_union#Maul). The charge is usually led by the [inside centre](/source/Centre_(rugby_union)).[1]

The idea of this technique is to prevent the attacking team gaining any ground by tackling them behind the [gain line](/source/Gain_line) and forcing interceptions and charged-down kicks. However, the defending team can be vulnerable to chip kicks and any player breaking the defensive line will have much space to play because the defence are running the other way and must stop, turn and chase.

### Historical record

The blitz defence paid dividends for London Wasps with the team winning the [Heineken Cup](/source/Heineken_Cup) in 2003-04 and 2006–07, the [Premiership](/source/Guinness_Premiership) title in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 and the [Anglo-Welsh Cup](/source/EDF_Energy_Cup) in 2006. Not only this, but this style of defence played a significant role in the [2008 Six Nations](/source/2008_Six_Nations) Grand Slam for the [Welsh national team](/source/Wales_national_rugby_union_team), who conceded only two tries over five games.

## American football

The term blitz defence is a defensive play in [American Football](/source/American_football), where the defence players (usually [Linebackers](/source/Linebacker)) pile forward against the offensive line *en masse* in the hope of tackling the [Quarterback](/source/Quarterback) while he is still in possession of the ball.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Pros and cons of drift and blitz defence in rugby"](https://www.rugbycoachweekly.net/rugby-drills-and-skills/defence/pros-and-cons-of-drift-and-blitz-defence-in-rugby). *Rugby Coach Weekly*.

## External links

- [Shaun in Defensive Mode](http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s96/st94096.htm)

v t e Rugby football terminology General Ankle tap Blitz defence Blood replacement Bomb kick Cap Cauliflower ear Crash ball Drop goal Dummy Field goal Flying kick Goal from mark Grandfather rule Grubber kick Hat-trick Mark Offside Penalty Penalty box Place kick Professional foul Set piece Tackle Dump High Spear Touch Touch judge Try celebration Rugby union Glossary Bonus point Dangerous play Drop kick Experimental law variations Eye-gouging Free kick Gain line Giteau's law Line-out code Numbering schemes Penalty Scrum Test match Rugby league Chicken wing tackle Grapple tackle One on one tackle

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Blitz defence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitz_defence) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blitz_defence?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.