Unleash your line breaker

Set off your penetrating runners like missiles. We know that hitting the tackle line at pace will break tackles or give good go forward opportunities. It needs timing from passer and runner. This session works on both.

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

What to think about

This is simple rugby physics. A ball carrier going fast into a relatively static defender is likely to break the tackle. If there is only an arm tackle then a break is even more likely. This will leave the rest of the defence chasing back. Though it is a basic idea, it is hard to execute because it requires timing, both on the part of the runner and the passer. The pass has to sympathetic to the runner so he does not break stride or find it tough to take the pass. Also, unlike normal handling, it is acceptable to take the ball into the body immediately. The penetrating runner is not worried about passing the ball on – not for that moment anyway.

set-up

1.  Passer: attract the defence, slow down and look before passing into the path of the penetrating runner.
2.  Missile: time your run off the potential passer and not from an earlier pass.

What you get your players to do

Put three attackers on three cones as in the top picture. Put two pad holders about 10m in front of the potential “missile” about a metre apart. Have the first attacker run forward, pass the ball and the receiver take the ball up and pass so the missile takes the ball about 2-3 metres in front of the pad holders. The missile has to time his run to meet the ball at full pace. He aims to burst through the pads. Develop by having the missile offload after going through the pads. Take away the cones so the players work out the best distances.