The key to exploiting turnover ball is to recognise it quickly and get your attack organised fast. Use live games to provide your players with examples of turnover ball situations.
Ask them to recognise when turnovers are likely to occur. For example when the opposition ball carrier gets isolated, there is a knock-on in the tackle or a two-man tackle is made.
Have a set call
As soon as the ball is won the nearest player should make the call that turnover ball has been secured. In the picture below the team is set up in defence and the tackler has won the ball.
The scrum half, defending the back of the breakdown, immediately calls “FRANCE BALL” – the turnover call.
Have a plan
Practise different options in different areas of the pitch. Always remember that quick reactions will give you players more options. In your 22 you want a safe option most of the time, either a kick or the forwards hitting the ball up in tight (option 1 in the picture below).
Outside your 22 you can afford to be more adventurous. As a basic rule get the ball two passes away from the turnover before taking contact again.
As soon as the ball is turned over the opposition are likely to concentrate defenders in that area so moving the ball wider can exploit some big spaces (options 2 and 3 below).
“The supporting player starts in front of the ball carrier, while the defender has his back to the attack. When you shout play, with the supporting player walking forward and the defender out of position, the players will have to think quickly to come up with winning solutions.” MORE
Develop ball carriers with some grit and determination to power through the tackle situation. If they don’t break the tackle, at least they provide a good target for their support players. This session creates ways to test their mettle. MORE
Create a fatiguing decision-making exercise for your players. In this 4 v 2 game, the players have 90 seconds to score as many tries as possible but can choose which line to attack each time. MORE
Understand how to create then take advantage of 3 v 2s by isolating and splitting the two defenders. The chaotic starts mean more options and decisions for all the players involved. MORE
