Work on your counter-attack policies for the back three. This activity covers two phases: first, players must find space from the return, then they need to play away from a quick ruck to exploit an overlap.
This will improve players’ organisational skills so they can attack a blindside after quick ruck ball. Using a small area for the initial kick return develops tactical appreciation.
Put a back three inside the box in their normal kick return set-up.
In front of them put a kicker and three chasing defenders. At the side, stand the receiving team’s 9 and 10. Have the kicker punt into the box.
The back three gather the ball and attack back, using your counter-attack policies .
The defenders aim to touch the ball carrier.
Whether or not the back three make it out of the box, a new ball is put in the middle of the same line as where the defenders are stood.
This represents a ruck. The attackers now realign one way (normally away from where the kicker stood), with the 9 and 10 joining the attack.
The defence puts two or three players in place and the attack aims to beat them.
TECHNIQUE
Attack the village, not the city (move the ball away from their forwards).
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