Retain possession in a two-man tackle, so your supporting players can help protect the ball. It should reduce the chances of the opposition using a choke tackle to hold up the ball carrier and create a maul.
Put four numbered players at the corners of the 5m square. 1 and 2 play against 3 and 4.
Call out a number. That player goes around the corner of the larger box and then picks up the ball to attack.
The other three players go around their own corners and then re-enter to play. The pair with the ball aims to score over the far line of the smaller box.
DEVELOPMENT
Set out cones with four attackers (dark shirts) and four defenders (white shirts) as above.
Give the two attackers at the far line a number 1 or 2. Shout out a number and that player has to turn around, retrieve the ball and attack.
The other players move in, playing full-contact rugby. The attack aims to score at the far end.
They have another attempt if they score or make it past the middle set of cones. Otherwise, the teams swap roles.
TECHNIQUE
Don’t go into contact ball first.
Don’t give up ground in the contact.
Supporting player: Drive on the hip of the ball carrier and keep talking.
Don’t teach falling over. Teach the players to bounce themselves and therefore the ball off the ground and back into the game. It reduces the fear of falling by making the players embrace the ground as part of a skill for continuity. MORE
Most controlled mauls are formed at lineouts. Open-field mauls carry more risks for the attacking team, but it’s still worth considering it as a tactic. Here’s how… MORE
The ball carrier uses a strong fend to create space and time to pass the ball to their supporting player while the defender aims to disrupt. They then turn the corner and repeat MORE
Develop your players’ skills around the tackle area so they can retain possession if there’s no chance to offload the ball. It requires accurate execution and you have a chance to observe whether your players can achieve this.
Players react quickly to a tackle to protect the tackled player against the first threat. It focuses on the first support player being the player who last passed the ball. MORE
The battle that takes place after the tackle is one of the most underappreciated areas of the game. The 5 F’s give you some ideas as to what to develop in players to gain an attacking advantage in these scenarios.
In many instances, we see the attacker as a passive participant in the tackle until they get to the ground. However, in a number of games, it’s frequently the actions of the attacker in these scenarios that can make a difference to the result. MORE