Use your strengths - if you are agile and quick, then speed is better than strength. Running forwards drawing your man in field the cutting on the outside to break the line. Look at New Zealands Rokocoko. In fact the who backline for New Zealand - Rico Gear, Doug Howlett, Muliaina are probably the best line breakers in the world (except for Jason Robinson!!). If you watch them play, look at how there is always a man in support when tackled and how they always look for the off load to the supporting player. This quick tactic will open up the defensive line. Again New Zealands Tanu Umaga is one of the best players in the world at looking for the off load.

A hand off is becomes a punch when you have a closed fist. And that is about it. YOu can still hit with full force with open palm in the face and there is no problem with it. But the laws have clauses in them that allow a referee at their own discression to determine if a play is dangerous (like spear tackles - not illegal but dangerous) and can penalise if they believe it is so. Thats why there is some differences in refereeing throughout a season with referees interpreting laws slightly different.

I'd agree that Jason Robinsons' running style is not good enough to make him a good tackle breaker.
It was a nightmare with the scrumhalf in my last game. He might just as well roll the ball to me than to pass me an incredibly low ball in which even me as a smallish players needed to crouch down to receive it, which already loses much time for breaking through tackles.

What about defending against massive players?
Can i state that in international rugby, it is probably better than amateurs because the physique difference is comparatively smaller than amateurs, hence players compete in more or less the same level?

Physical qualities of international players has changed since the advent of professionalism. But there is still some big differences in playing positions.

If a player is bigger than you, tackle them low - text book style!!

yeah textbk tells us to tackle low but when arriving to you in speed, you might not be inthe right time to crouch your body as he runs towrds you.

Then you need to improve your tackling skills in the preparation of tackling. It is unnacceptable to be unprepared for a tackle if someone is running straight at you - there are some exceptions when the line has been broken etc. But you need to be prepared - those who are prepared will have a greater potential for success in tackling. Learning how to get into a position in preparation is far better than continually running at a tackle bag. Let someone run at you for better practice.

Look at Englands defensive line from Six Nations 2002 to World Cup 2003 - especially the summer games against Oz and more impressive against New Zealand with only 13 men on the pitch! Tackles were not just stopping the man but slowing the ball down, potentially turning the player and actually penalising the opposition for not releasing. Tactically, England tackled to a set plan. This is a level you need to be working towards.

Juke

As one of the "heavies" who knock wings over I can sympathise.

I have a few suggestions though.

Buy some videos of Shane Williams, the Welsh winger. He is only 5'7 but can break tackles simply because he stays very low. When you are in the initial stages of the tackle (if you want to break it right down) the most important thing to do is keep the legs pumping. This allows you two things, one, to help keep your balance and two get the guy off you.

As well as this, the Kiwis are big, but they are also very skilful, spend some time watching the Super 14 on Skysports and you'll see what I mean. They tackle like-for-like (ie 6ft 8 19stone monsters against 6' 8 19 stone monsters). They all, without fail try to go outside their opposite winger, but then when the tackle comes in, lean into them to avoid putting a foot out. It might be worth doing some balance exercises to help you with this.

You can also try and "roll" the tackle, where you try and pirouette past your man. 9 times out of 10 on an amateur field this ends with you getting hammered by two flankers though!

In defence, the simple answer is to remain as low as you can, but players like Harry Ellis and Matt Dawson who are quite small tackle effectively by trying to disrupt a wingers rhythm before they get any speed up. They are fairly upright but still manage to do enough to keep a winger from flying while the back row get there to support.

Dwayne Peel and Shane Williams are also good at this tactic. Williams blocks his opposite winger while Peel gets in to support, they do enough to slow the ball down so the Charvis' and Sidolis' of this world can get in support.

But I agree, the only way to make sure one-on-one that you put your man down is to get low, tackle the midriff and slide to the legs.

Hey Folks been checking out the replies good advice. my two cents here.
Avoid the contact. sounds simple but you need to set up the contact on your terms. If the biggies are running straight at you run around them make them think you are going one way and wait for them to react once they lift their foot to turn in that direction accelerate into the gap you have created. Practise your sidestep, swerves, mis direction moves. run at the angles of the body think of a tree you run into their trunk they are strong , run at the limbs they are weaker. don't think that just moving your head is going to sell a mismove your body language must make the defender think that your are going in one direction then when they either slow down to check their speed or direction you accelerate away or in opp direction. also think about the speed at which you are making your evasion moves at the setup should be in relative terms slooow then fast also think about the distance from the defender whenyou decide to do your moves.

All the Best

useful advice guys but i also think the classic swicth move is also a simple and effective way of going about it