The Mental Side Of Rugby (VIDEO ESSAY)

My thoughts on the psychological side of rugby...Signed NGJ

[@realnamek1123]

“ Johnny Wilkinson, my hero and of course yours.” Sir I’m sorry but I’m Australian.

[@Gary-n]

Haskell has touched on this in House of Rugby how the Americans are so far advanced at training compared to rugby. The mental side of rugby is huge. It takes a certain level of mental wellbeing to place yourself in extreme physical encounters at rucks, mauls, tackles at speed, etc. Players such as Henson have shown that a loss of mental fortitude can affect your game from a tackle monster to someone who bottles contact. I have seen this with other players too. Great video. Definitely a theme you should continue in future videos.

[@crassman3254]

well said! Stopped playing rugby myself aged around 15-16 as I'm a skinny guy and was constantly getting thrown around the pitch by bigger players, however, looking back I see that I had no mental space to consider my role in the sport properly - I quit because if I wasn't a "winner" then why was I there? Instead I could have benefited hugely from learning that if I enjoyed the sport then I should play the sport. Instead I went through months of feeling "weak" and depressed and eventually left. These mental problems obviously continue up to the professional level, glad people are starting to talk about them at last!

[@hallkennedy88]

Bro, I coach rugby in Canada. Your videos are so useful, I use them all the time with my teams. Cheers

[@olliestorer9130]

Amazing video man. Really related to it!

[@owenotieno1951]

the soft spot for Sterling is a Jamaican connection 😂

[@noahsgaming1990]

Love the video man still waiting on part 2 of Japan winning the world cup on rugby 08

[@HakatimeRugby]

Type "No Pressure Richie McCaw" in to the KZbin search. Or the Red Blue model by Dr Ceri Evans. I find the mental side of rugby fascinating. I find the story of how the All Blacks turned their ultimate weakness (choking under pressure) in to a great source of strength and therefore world rugby dominance for 12 years. Ok the message has less impact after Saturdays results haha (congrats England), but the lessons in this video provide great insight. Id be interested in your thoughts.

[@dewetrademeyer2861]

Do more south African rugby please

[@sircharleswake6404]

That Joe Marler tackle at 9:20 was brutal but so funny at the same time.

[@gregropp1003]

As an American baseball player and later coach once said "Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical."

[@benjones1691]

It's a shame we dont have any characters like Antonio brown playing rugby cause then the mental state of players would probably be a lot more looked at.

[@benjones1691]

I'm not saying players should be like Antonio brown but if a couple high profile players started to clearly struggle mentally then the issue would be seen as much more important.

[@mikeharris1586]

ABs been talking about the mental side of the game for ages, mate!

[@kaylebkiritapumorehu1490]

It's why they have been and still are the best team on the planet they got the mental prep down to a tee you hear all kiwi coaches at top level speak of getting players mentally prepared and keeping that mental focus under Intense presure from start to finish it's nothing new it's been the edge nz have had over everyone since the beginning of the professional era why is this man talking like it doesn't exist in world rugby or teams don't implement these strategies.??? he must be watching amatuer rugby just look at what jamie joseph and tony brown have archieved with Japan they have turned them from a team that just participated and made the numbers to top tier slayers why?? Because they changed there mindsets worked on there mental fitness an prep and self belief because mental fitness is more important than physical. Joe Schmidt has also taken this tatic with ireland and look what they have archived they've beaten the all blacks twice in there history something no other Irish team have done. This dude needs to do more research on player mentality and game management I have no idea where he got his info or what he's watching he difinitly not watching tier 1 rugby smh

[@FitnessAndHealthHQ]

I couldn't understand why I performed exceptionally at training, but I was the worst performer on matchdays, hopefully, this video is going to help me.

[@patrickthomas8101]

where can you find the swing low sweet chariot dvds?

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

I like the Skip and Shannon salt fest too. I think you need a legend to take rugby to the discussion to the next level. You missed the Lomu gold and the Carter and Wilkinson focus. The best mental documentary might be the Richie diaries. It seems to me the coaches have cornered the mental edge at the moment. IMHO the toughness and endurance facade has obscured the individual side.

[@shanedonovan09]

@Catherine Fraser what's the Richie's Diaries?

[@archielong9523]

Never knew you grew up in Wembley, I currently live there. Did you ever play for or against Hendon ?

[@sirspooks4968]

What would you recommend for a possible new rugby player I have no experience in the game but I’ve taken an interest in the game and possibly playing on a team I’m out of shape and I’ve never played any contact sports and I’m afraid I’m gonna try out for my college team

[@Jmooooney]

Us rugby Americans love u bro

[@HakatimeRugby]

Hey bro. Love your video. Are you interested in a collab?

[@Snop28T]

Estaria necesitando Sustitulos al Español

[@mujahid_janodien]

W

[@alexandermacdonald499]

Just something that you should be aware of with American sports and discussing the Mental Side of the various sports. The Mental side of games is often used as a way to devalue black players that most often occur in American football. There is a pretty good ESPN documentary on it, I am sure you can find various KZbin compilations of Draft analysts like Mel Kiper being pretty racists on national TV.

[@Goobtard]

You don't hear about the mental side in rugby because there isn't much opportunity for "big pressure moments" other than for the kicker. If you look at a penalty shootout for example in football, English commentators/pundits will talk about a players mentality, body language, confidence, etc.

[@timmado8441]

is this a joke bro? rugby is pressure for nearly the whole game, trying not to miss a tackle, scoring when you are trailing so many examples in rugby. Soccer is scoring a goal and celebrating like a Hollywood diva for 80 minutes. What a joke your sport is.

[@gordonhenderson1194]

I don't agree, every position has its high pressure moments. Whether it be a second rower calling a lineout to a prop winning scrums against a pack that massively outweigh them. A hooker trying to throw good ball in awful conditions and find their man. A wee scrum half is constantly making decisions and they can't afford to get it wrong. Collectively it's all pressure on everyone all the time. Clive Woodward, was probably the first modern coach to look at the mental aspect properly with TCUP (thinking clearly under pressure). The brain has a nasty habbit of relying on the rear part under pressure, that bit makes you agressive but stops you making the right decision well. Basically you resort in fight or flight. TCUP is teaching yourself to have the hunger to win, but still have the emotional maturity to stay calm and make the right call..... Even when your being lined up by a couple of 110kg forwards who will hit you like a 40 ton wagon.

[@jamesonobrien828]

Please get a louder mic