Get players creating a driving maul from their own lineout
Start with a pod of three players – one player (the catcher) has the ball and the supporters bind on making sure they have their feet, shoulders, hips and arms in the right places (see diagram, right).
Once players are comfortable getting into the correct positions, add a fourth player to the pod plus a thrower, then set out three different coloured cones along the touchline at 10m intervals. Put a ball next to each cone.
When you call out a colour, here “Red”, the players run to that cone and line up for a line out, with the lifters/ support players (S) either side of the jumper/catcher (J) and 4 at the back acting as the ripper.
The thrower throws the ball for J to catch and J is sealed off by both support players who drive forward. At the same time, 4 comes round the back and gets in position behind the maul, ready to rip the ball.
Progress to a full lineout with two more players (5 and 6) binding on to 4 once he has the ball.
You will need
Balls
Coloured cones
Got more players?
Run several lineout pods simultaneously.
What to tell your players
“Bind in front of the jumper”
“Keep your feet in line and drive forward”
“Get round the maul quickly to rip the ball”
Do you have a breakdown policy? If not, you should. A policy helps guide players' actions at the breakdown. Alongside accurate skill execution, it can help to win the race to the space over the ball after a tackle. MORE
Improve your players’ footwork before contact and how they protect the ball, so they retain possession. An excellent breakout exercise during a normal session.
The attacker should dominate any contact whether to offload or wait for support. MORE
Need to build up players' contact confidence or create more physical sessions? Here are four tried-and-test methods that help players understand how to adapt. MORE
A ball carrier on the ground aims to hold the ball while another player tries to rip it away. If it is ripped, the ball carrier attacks to win 1 v 1. If they lose their grip, the player on the ground pops up the ball to their team-mate, who aims to score 1 v 1. MORE
Avoid slow ball at the tackle or even losing the ball by making every ball carrier far more active on the ground. Use these two exercises to build up players’ ball placement skills under pressure.
After the tackle is made, the farther away your player can place the ball from the defence, the harder it is for the opposition to disrupt it. Encourage good placement habits with these exercises. MORE