VIDEO: Two defensive-based conditioning drills

Combine conditioning with skills drills. In these two activities, the players will work on line-speed as a group, then in the next activity, on line speed and a part of tackle technique.

DRILL ONE

1. A line of around six players start on one set of cones. They are about arm’s distance apart.
2. A coach touches a ball on the ground (as an attacking scrum-half might).
3. This triggers the line to race forward to another set of cones. They then realign to another set of cones ready to come forward.
4. They realign backwards and diagonally.
5. The pattern is: 10m forwards, 5m backwards and diagonally two times and finish with one 10m forwards.

DRILL TWO

1. Three players race forward, triggered by a coach touching a ball.
2. They run about 5m towards a tackle tube (or ruck pad holder). They promote their right foot. They complete three right-hand punches on the tube, replicating a right shoulder aggressive tackle.
3. They run backwards and repeat, with a different foot forward.
4. They repeat six times.

This video is part of the DVD from Keith Holifield and Gethin Watts, Skills conditioning and fitness for rugby.