Beating the cover

If a player has made an outside break, they have to either make it to the try line or go as far forward as possible. That means straightening up. This activity develops this skill.

Work on adjusting the line of running once a line break has been made. It’s good for all players to work on.

EXERCISE 1

1. Put a receiver in the first gate.
2. He takes the ball from a feeder and arcs towards the “turning” gate, running through it so he changes angle and runs towards the final gate.
3. You can add a chasing player about 3m behind who tries to touch him. Make sure the players work coming from both sides.

EXERCISE 2

1. Put a defender on one of the three cones numbered 3, 2 or 1.
2. The ball carrier now runs to a corridor of cones before sprinting for the final gate.
3. The defender chases across to touch tackle him.
4. The attacker can choose which cone the defender runs from, scoring more points the closer the defender starts. Adjust the distances to suit the speed of your squad.

EXERCISE 3

1. Put a ball carrier opposite a defender in the narrow channel and an attacker in the wider channel.
2. The ball carrier runs at the defender and fixes him before passing to the attacker in the wider channel.
3. The defender has to work out when to drift off the attacker.
4. The attackers aim to score at the far end.
5. Use touch or full tackling.

TECHNIQUE

• Attack the gap at pace and then turn sharply, with the ball on the outside arm.
• Accelerate away, with confidence.