Beating the attack to the line

Work on line-speed with specific targets for your defensive line as opposed to the normal
“good line speed”. It will create pressure on the attacking line.

Defensive cohesion is as important as making the tackles themselves. Work on line-speed and togetherness with this session.

1. Put four pad holders on one line and four defenders about 10m away.
2. The defenders should be “inside” their opposite pad by about 1m.
3. You touch a ball and both defenders and pads walk up, with the defenders stepping into and driving back the pads two steps.
4. Note where they meet.
5. Repeat until the line is consistent. Now they both have to jog up. Once the line is consistent again, speed up. The defenders now target a line to meet the bags.

1. Add another pad holder who starts behind the pad line and chooses to enter the line at any point. He shouts the line forward and the exercise repeats itself at the same increases in pace.

1. In the same area, remove the pads from the attackers. They line up as they want.
2. Give the defenders a letter and put them in a small box to the edge of the playing area.
3. Shout out three to five of the letters.
4. The defenders align as they did in the previous exercises and react to the attackers, with a target line in mind. The attack starts on your signal.

TECHNIQUE

• Up together.
• Step into the tackle and drive up.