Quicken up with one-pass plays
From a tight or close ruck, a one-pass play can create fast-paced running options outside the fly half or first receiver. Use this session to open your players’ minds to different possibilities.
From a tight or close ruck, a one-pass play can create fast-paced running options outside the fly half or first receiver. Use this session to open your players’ minds to different possibilities.
Warm up time: 5
Session time: 6-9
Development time: 6-9
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7
What to think about
One-pass plays are low risk and so should be executed with greater confidence.
The key comes in timing runs from the first receiver. Plenty of practice at this will help players learn what works for them.
Ideally, try to rotate the first receiver between players who would normally play in those positions – 10s, 12s and occasionally 7.
set-up
- First receiver: Attack the line before releasing the pass. Listen to your one-pass receivers to work out who most wants the ball.
- One-pass receivers: Run hard at the line, change angles, look for spaces, call for the ball if you think you can find a gap.
What you get your players to do
Set out the cones as in the top picture. Get a player to feed a first receiver (10) who runs forward about 3m before either passing to one of three players (A, B or C) or dummy and go himself.
You hold up a coloured cone. One colour indicates dummy, the other indicates pass (this keeps the first receiver looking ahead as well as looking at the other players).
The other three runners aim for different gates, running and cutting angles.
The 10 passes once he gets to the cones in front of him. The other players run angles to cut through the cones. If the coach holds up a certain coloured cone, the 10 dummies and goes forward himself.
Development
In the same area, get three players to hold ruck pads and stand 3m behind gates of cones. They have to run forward through the gates before changing direction to mark attackers. Run through as for the main session.
The ruck pad holders run through the gates and then change angle to cover the lines of running of the second receivers.
Game situation
Set out three rucks labelled A, B and C inside the box. Put a group of at least six attackers and five defenders at the side of the box.
Get one coach to tell the attackers which ruck to work from and how many attackers they have and another coach to tell the defenders how many will defend.
A feeder with a ball runs to the called ruck, waits for the attackers to set and then passes. The attackers have one pass from the first receiver to break the tackle line. They can pass out of the tackle to score.
Each coach tells their group how many will attack and defend. The attack coach says which ruck to play from. The feeder runs to that ruck and passes when the attack is ready.
What to call out
- “Always be ready to receive the ball”
- “Look up, look at the spaces, change angles, run hard”
- “Don’t plan, do”