EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
The new ruck laws are designed to encourage turnovers in the game. It is an area you can’t afford to ignore. A quickly executed attack from turnover possession causes the opposition problems. This session – “Turnover attack” – focuses on the players’ decision making after winning turnover possession.
Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 15
Development time: 15-20
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 7-10
It is important to have a team call when there is a turnover. You can use the same call whether you have won or lost the ball.
The closest player to the turnover calls it and everyone has to react and get into their new role. Either they are moving up to form a flat defensive line or getting deeper, ready to attack.
One of the main reasons teams don’t capitalise on turnover ball is that they don’t get organised quickly enough. As soon as the call is made players need to get into as deep an alignment as they can.
You should always be looking to move the ball 2 or 3 passes away from where the turnover was won to exploit the space away from the reorganising defence.
Set up four players with ruck pads and four tacklers opposite them. Have the four tacklers move up as a line and hit the ruck pads. They drop to the ground and get back to their feet quickly. As they are hitting the pads roll out a ball. The nearest player picks up the ball and they attack against the two defenders coming from either the left or right side.
After hitting the pads, the four tacklers drop to the ground to simulate the tackle.
The closest player recovers the ball on the ground. The four tacklers become attacking players.
Set up two teams of seven players (as the bottom picture). Start the game by passing the ball to a player in the middle. The ball carrier is tackled by the player opposite, who turns over the ball.
The tackler counts loudly to 5 before playing the ball. While he counts, the two deep players on the defending side run to one side of the pitch. The two deep attacking players have to run to the opposite side. The attacking players then attack the least defended side of the pitch. Finish each attempt after an infringement or a try.
Start with touch tackling before moving on to full tackling.
The ball carrier allows himself to be tackled and turned over. The ball winning team now attacks the least defended side.
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