Inside and outside clean

Protect your rucks by covering against the “inside” defender in the tackle contest. Have a player who works on the “inside clean” to drive this potential stealer of the ball and the “outside clean” to check the even more savvy defender.

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Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-8

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What to think about

Most “jackals”, the players who steal your ball at the tackle, arrive on what is called a cheat line. They step through the corner of the tackle gate, and reach in for the ball. Because they have not gone over the ball from directly behind the tackler, attacking ruckers will probably not clear them out. Therefore, you need to protect the insides and outsides of the tackle area.

It is important the arriving cleaner takes an “L” shape line, so he is square to the tackle contest. Otherwise he will be penalised and not be able to clear away the threat effectively.

Set-up

1. Inside and outside support players at the tackle contest must square up and protect the sides of the ball carrier, not over him.
2. Identify the threats and drive them out.

What you get your players to do

Put a receiver about 2m away from a 2m square containing a defender. Get a feeder to pass a ball to the receiver who runs into the “tackle box.” He has a support player on his inside and outside.

Another defender runs a cheat line on the inside with the inside support player clearing out this threat (see picture 1).

A receiver taking the ball into the tackle box, with a support player cleaning on the inside and another player on the outside. A defender runs on a “cheat line” to challenge for the ball (optional for him to have a ruck pad). The “cleaners” need to run an “L” shape line before hitting the ruck so he is square into the tackle contest.

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Development

Develop by including another defender who needs to be cleaned out by the “outside clean”.

Where two groups of players move up and down a 10m corridor, with the ball being passed between one line of players. They must keep a 3m gap between them.

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Game situation

Put two groups of four players about 3m apart in a 10m corridor. One group passes the ball along its line, walking/jogging forward or backwards depending on your command (see picture 2). The other group follows, keeping the 3m distance.

When you shout “PLAY”, the ball carrier runs forward. He cannot pass but otherwise play normal rugby. Check to see if the attacking team can protect the ball effectively. If the ball is with the end player, then at least one of the attackers on the inside will have to get around to protect the outside (see picture 3).

You shout “play” and the current ball carrier runs forward. Play full contact, but the ball carrier cannot pass the ball. Check to see if the ball carrying team can retain possession in the contact area.

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What to call out

• “Take an ‘L’ shape line into the tackle area”
• “Drive the defenders ‘out from’, not ‘into’ the ruck”