Box it under pressure: game tester

Clear your lines from a ruck or scrum by the side of the pitch with a contestable kick for your winger to chase. Also good from a quick turnover and an excellent tactic on rainy days to return the pressure.

When a 9 kicks from the back of ruck or scrum into the space behind the opposition, it’s called a box kick. It’s normally contestable by the chasers, so needs height. Plus, the 9 needs the correct foot work so he isn’t blocked.

1. Put a 9 behind a ruck pad with a ball on the ground, with three attackers ready to chase forward.
2. Have three defenders on the other side of the ruck pad and another one near the end of the box.
3. Have the 9 pick up and box kick for his chasers.
4. He gets a point for a clean kick and three points for a kick his chasers can challenge for and two further points if they win back the ball.
5. Develop by adding attackers to the back of the ruck pad.
6. The 9 can put them in position to be “blockers”.
7. They have to be behind the ball when the 9 picks up.

TECHNIQUE

• Pick up the ball and take one step back with the eventual kicking foot.
• Step out with the plant foot, with the shoulders and hips facing the touchline.
• Note, the step back can be before the pick up.
• Drop the ball from hip height and kick up and through.