Most opposition teams have one or two “danger men” who can control the game. Stop them playing and there is a good chance the opposition will grind to a halt. This session works on cutting down the space and time for a danger man, without compromising the whole defence.
Most opposition teams have one or two “danger men” who can control the game. Stop them playing and there is a good chance the opposition will grind to a halt. This session works on cutting down the space and time for a danger man, without compromising the whole defence.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 10-15
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7
What to think about
Mix up who you have playing the “danger man” in the session. It will need to be one of the more skillful players in the first instance.
You can also use less skilful players, who might enjoy the attention. However, it may dent the self esteem of some players who cannot cope with the pressure.
It is interesting to see how players react under the extreme pressure of being the centre of attention. Your playmakers may benefit from the lack of time and space to make better decisions in games.
set-up
Identify and close down the space for the “danger man”.
Don’t over commit. Keep balanced in defence and keep communicating.
What you get your players to do
Play four defenders in the middle of the box against an attacking 9 at the side of the box and five attackers spread out along the edge. Identify one attacker as the “danger man”.
Have 9 throw the ball into the area. Play onehanded touch rugby, where the attacking team has two seconds to pass on the ball when touched. However, the “danger man” must be touched by two defenders using a two-handed touch.
Give the attack five attempts to score before swapping over the players, using a different “danger man” each time.
Play normal touch rules, with two seconds to pass the ball except the “danger man” must be touched by two different defenders.
Development
Adjust the numbers in attack and defence as the game progresses. With a very fast danger man, increase the number of defenders.
Make one of the defenders the only player who can touch the danger man.
Related Files
Advanced-202-danger-man.pdfPDF, 205 KB
Put six attackers (with one danger man) and four defenders at one side of the pitch. On your signal they spread out, and start playing after 3 seconds.
Game situation
Put six attackers, with one player identified as the danger man, and four defenders at the side of the pitch. When you shout “GO”, the teams spread out and play full contact rugby after three seconds, with the defence starting on the offside line. Allow offloads, but not rucks and mauls.
The attacking team score 1 point for every time the danger man touches the ball, 4 points if he holds it for more than two seconds without taking contact and 6 points if he scores a try. Otherwise a try is worth 2 points.
The defence don’t receive extra points for tackling the danger man, which would be a disincentive for the attack to pass the ball to him.
Give the attack four attempts to score before swapping over the players and rotating the defenders.
What to call out
“Keep balanced, but closer together nearer the danger man”
“Pressurise the danger man by letting him know you have him covered”
Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is the assistant coach with University of Bristol Women's team and is a coach mentor for Broad Plain RFC mini and juniors section.
He was Head Coach of Swansea Schools U15 and has previously held coaching roles with the Young Ospreys Academy and as Assistant Coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup. He was director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. P...
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