Develop the running lines and timing off your scrum half as he or she passes or runs from the base of a ruck.

ACTIVITY

1. 9 needs to practise a variety of passes from the base of a ruck
2. Each type of pass draws a defender out of position and brings an attacker onto the defensive line at pace

1. Shout a letter to come forward
2. A 9 runs from one cone to the middle to pick up a ball
3. A player comes from an angle to take a pass
4. 9 chooses a pass to perform, either straight from the ground OR from the pick and run
5. Once 9 has passed, he goes from the side cone back to the middle as you call another player forward
6. Develop by having two “letters” running forward

DEVELOPMENT

1. Develop further by having a 9 run to a dummy ruck
2. A defender comes into place (using touch tackling)
3. Three attackers run lines off 9, who uses the passes and picks they have just practised

WHY USE IT

If your 9 varies his delivery from the side of the ruck using four different types of pass - pop, switch, break and flick - he can draw in defenders and release players into space on the inside or outside (see picture 1). Set up Cones, two ruck pads, lots of balls

HOW TO DO IT

ACTIVITY

Work with a 9 with some balls in front of you.

Put three lines of players 5m away.

The 9 works from side to side, picking up a ball each time.

You call forward a player from one of the lines. The 9 chooses which pass to use, depending on the runner coming towards him (see picture 2). He passes and then moves to the cone on the side of the pass and returns to pick up another ball, while another player moves forward.

This replicates the 9 arriving at the ruck.

DEVELOPMENT

• Develop this by calling forward more than one runner.
• Develop further by putting three attackers at the back of a box.
• Have a 9 move towards a fake ruck (two ruck pads), picking up the ball and passing in any manner to one of the attackers. A defender covers across (see picture 3).

TECHNIQUE

• Flick pass – run out and pass back inside.
• Call the play early – runners must shout they are in position.
• 9 must square his shoulders to fix the defence.