‘Run over’ turnovers

by Dan Cottrell in Defence, Practice plans, Rucking & Mauling

Defending at the side of the ruck provides an excellent chance for a turnover because of the closeness of defenders. If the first defender can put the attacker on the ground, the second defender can cause the turnover by quick thinking. In this session, we develop the “run over” turnover.

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

What to think about

There are three main actions a second defender can take if he is close to the tackle:

Tackle assist to bring the attacker to ground.
Tackle assist to hold the player up, to create a maul.
Tackle assist to rip the ball out before the tackle is completed.

Here, we concentrate on his role once the ball carrier is taken to the ground. He leaves the tackled player alone, and instead drives beyond him. He literally runs over the tackled player.

This creates a problem for the attack, who have to now go around this player at the ruck to protect the ball, and it will look to the referee that they are coming in from an offside position. This delay will allow the chance for another defender to come in to steal the ball.

Set-up

Put the ball carrier on the ground quickly, either with one or two tacklers.
Second defender release the ball carrier and then “run over” him and onto the attacking side.

What you get your players to do

Put two attackers and two defenders (A and B) at the side of a ruck pad (see picture 1[1]). Get one attacker to pop the ball up to the other attacker who runs forward. Initially, the attacker is passive in the tackle (or wears a tackle suit) (see picture 1[2]).

When the ball carrier is brought down by A, defender B runs over to where the tackled player has fallen and drives back the other attacker by “running over” the player on ground (see picture 1[3]).

Increase the intensity, constantly swapping roles. The ball carrier should start within a few metres of the ruck pad but can run as wide as he wants.

An attacker being passed a ball, getting tackled by A and the other defender (B) “running over” the tackled player. Start passively to check technique.

Development

Put a set of three players at each end of a 10m square. Put a ruck pad in the middle of the box with a ball on either side (see picture 2[1]). Shout out which group will attack (in this case “white’). Both groups run forward, with the attacking group lining up with a player on the ball, and a player either side. The defence puts a player back from the pad and a player either side of it (see picture 2[2]).

Get the ball passed to one or other attacker who goes forward. The defenders and the other attacker join in, with the aim of winning the ruck ball.

The nominated group of three moving forward into an attacking formation (one each side of the ruck pad), and three players taking up defensive positions. The ball is passed to one of the attackers who gets support from his team mates. The defence aim to turnover the ball.

Game situation

Put three attackers in one half of a 10m x 8m box and four defenders in the other (see picture 3).

The attack aims to retain possession in the other half of the box for more than 10 seconds.

The defenders are not allowed to go into the attacking half of the box.

Where the attack aims to keep the ball for more than 10 seconds in the defenders’ side of the box. The defence is not allowed into the attacking side of the box.

What to call out

“Second defender, help check the momentum of the ball carrier but leave the ball alone”
“Don’t get too high in the run over – look to have your shoulders below the hips of oncoming attackers”
“First defender, aim to meet the ball carrier before the gain line”