Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Keven Mealamu gives some tips for throwing into the lineout

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Keven Mealamu gives some tips for throwing into the lineout

From time to time I like to feature a random coaching clip in the hope that a few of you out there will find value in what's being told by the expert at hand. Today this clip features All Blacks hooker, Keven Mealamu.

Mealamu, now 31 years old, is back in the picture again as a shoulder injury to Andrew Hore has meant that he gets his starting jersey back after playing second fiddle to Hore for some time.

After making his debut in 2002, Mealamu has been around the block and amassed an impressive 73 test caps, some of which came as an impact player off the bench over the past two seasons.

He will be taking to the field against the Springboks as first choice hooker this coming weekend though, with the prospect of beating the old enemy bringing a smile to his face. "There would be nothing better – especially playing them in Auckland," he said.

Mealamu was able to take time out recently to tutor a few 1st team hookers in the fine art of throwing into the lineout. While a lot of it is about basics, a guy like Mealamu has so much to offer and just by watching this clip, the hookers out there will hopefully pick up one or two valuable tips that will help improve your game.

Once again, the clip is interesting for all, but mainly targeted towards hookers. Over time, coaching clips that target other positions will also be posted.

1st babaey yeah !!

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 9:12 pm
2nd.

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 9:50 pm
damn i wish i had a coach like that here in the usa. here the coaches know jack squat, i play in the backline, and when ever we get a new player, someone thats never played before, coaches just tell the player to "pass it". no emphesis* on technique, footwork, posture. here kevin is giving them pointers from all ends of what to expect.

By VictorSoCalRuggger, at July 07, 2010 10:05 pm
Wonder if Anton Oliver does the same?

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 10:43 pm
I don't think he's a good coach. I can barely understand what he is saying. Just because he is a good player doesn't automatically make him a good coach.
I mean, i'm a native english speaker but it doesn't mean I would make a good english teacher. Ask me about english grammar and I wouldn't know anything.

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 11:20 pm
^he's got a kiwi accent. give him a break. just because you cant understand him dosent mean he's a bad coach.
im irish and i could understand him fine.

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 11:25 pm
even for a kiwi he was difficult to understand, he needs to make his points clearer, i would never question him as a player but maybe if he took some coaching classes he would be better.
making yourself understood is a vital aspect of coaching, so yes it would make him a bad coach.

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 11:28 pm
^ someone has a dose of the grumpies.

He's chatting to fellow Kiwis.. in a Kiwi accent. They seem to understand fine.

I dont get why some people are so hypercritical and negative in life ?!

By Benson, at July 07, 2010 11:32 pm
@Benson

Call me hypocritical when you actually understand what the word means

By Anonymous, at July 07, 2010 11:55 pm
@ Muppet, hypercritical, not hypocritical.

By Benson, at July 08, 2010 12:05 am
Nice pointers Kevin......Any chance you could show us how to SPEAR TACKLE a good bloke??? Dirt!!

By Outside Centre, at July 08, 2010 12:51 am
Thought his tips were excellent. He broke the technique down, from approach to the lineout, the set, release and follow through, concentrating on those areas that needed most attention. He has a staccato delivery, but he was clear enogh for me. Most of the problem was not his delivery but the quality of the sound!!

By steviegen, at July 08, 2010 12:59 am
As an aged and English speaking hooker, I understood every word he spoke and saw some good points there.
He's not a coach, but as a good player he can convey what he is trying to get across, a coach may have put is differently, but that's how life is, nobody is trying to say he's a coach, it's an All Blacks / Adidas publicity thing. Good to see them getting down with the youth though.

By Von, at July 08, 2010 1:10 am
@Benson

I got a really good laugh out of the anonymous poofter trying to call you stupid. Open mouth insert foot.

By Jordan, at July 08, 2010 5:02 am
Kevin Mealamu gives tips on how to throw the ball in for Victor Matfield... lol

By Anonymous, at July 08, 2010 6:44 am
He made some very good points, and it was clear that the players were benefitting from his coaching - he could pick up what they were doing wrong, communicate it to them, and offer them tips on how to improve.

You could see the players understood what he was saying and that they were implementing the changes and improving.

Thanks RD - really enjoy these coaching videos, along with the ones from McGeechan earlier this year.

By Wolfman21, at July 08, 2010 9:37 am
fantastic guys well done this is a great idea...I'll be passing this clip onto my nephew who plays on the under 13's for CILL DARA RFC IN KILDARE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND.
Love your site and my nephew and I get some great laughs and winces at the different clips you post.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
Dave Kildare Ireland

By Anonymous, at July 08, 2010 11:18 am
I think he's just a bit camera shy but I understood everything he said and his points about elbows and how throwing has evolved were really interesting. Obviously a guy who cares about what he does and understands where he's coming from.

By Disco, at July 08, 2010 12:29 pm
lol to the anonymous near the top ^, LET IT GO MAN! douche. =)

Awesome player, interesting little clip.

By David, at July 08, 2010 6:12 pm
20th

By Ryan, at July 08, 2010 7:28 pm
I don't know why so many people have problems with Kevin Mealamu's coaching.
Am I'm sorry that so many people think a 70-80 cap all black should not be giving line out throwing advice to highschool students. Where obviously this is a terrible idea, that will only serve to ruin not only his students game but his.
And I guess if tiger woods or armstrong want to offer me any tips in there field I should say no or do the opposite.

By Craig, at July 09, 2010 1:06 am
As to the argument that a great player doesn't make a good coach (which I agree) I think it is important to remember that
1) Kevin Mealamu is not currently a coach, he is offering some teens a specific lineout throwing session, which is no diff from carter or wilko offering place kicking advice. It is not like he is developing game plans, selecting players, motivating players, organising defensive patterns etc etc (which are roles of a rugby coach).
2) If you want to be a good coach, you actually have to practice coaching. And teaching kids how to perform specific skill sets would be a good starting point. It is not like he is going from player to england coach with no coaching experience. Who would be silly enough to do that?
3) Helping others will also help his own game, and may help him decide if coaching is something he is good at and wants to get into.
4) I'm a kiwi and I had no problems understanding him, and it appears neither did the people in the video.

By Craig, at July 09, 2010 1:20 am
Is it common for new zealand teenagers to have mullets and patches of their hair died blonde? I understand that the look made an unfortunate revival in the early 2000s but it's 2010 now. Doesn't make you look like a tough rugby player, ha!

By binthunter, at July 11, 2010 3:11 pm