
Turnover attack
A quickly executed attack from turnover possession causes the opposition problems. This activity focuses on players’ decision making after winning turnover possession. MORE
EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
All too often defences can tell exactly where the ball is going and who the strike runner is going to be. “Options open” is all about creating as many realistic attacking options for the passing player and keeping the defence guessing until it’s too late.
The patterns are basic and can be achieved by any team.
Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7-10
Many clean breaks are made only for the cover defence to somehow stop the try being scored.
Support is everyone’s responsibility. Once a break has been made, everyone within range should be working hard to get on the ball carrier’s shoulder.
In an ideal world, when faced with cover defenders the ball carrier should have options on both sides. This makes the defenders’ job tougher.
Players need to face these types of situations every week in training and to be put under pressure to score everyone of them.
Line up five attacking players, three in front and two behind. They have to move the three defenders to create space for a strike runner. Let them experiment as much as they want, but insist that every player must be a potential strike runner in every attack.
Play one phase only and use a two-handed touch tackle on the hips. If tackled, the ball carrier can only pass to a support player within two metres.
Players 2 and 3 split the two for defenders, creating space up the middle for player 4, who hits the space as late as possible.
This time the defender comes in to cover player 4, creating space for player 3 on the outside.
Beat the cover
Two teams of five play a full contact game. The defence has three players up in a line and two others who can only come into play once the front line has been broken. The attacking team has to beat the first line of defence and then support the strike runner to beat the cover defence.
Score a point for a try, two points if the attack beats the defensive front line cleanly (not a missed tackle) and another two points for a try scored without making any contact.
The two covering defenders can start anywhere they like along the back line of the pitch.