Help players make good decisions at the breakdown on whether to pass, run or ruck depending on how many defenders are threatening the tackle ball.
You want enough players to win quick ball without compromising your chances to launch effective attacks.
ACTIVITY
Put a feeder (F) and ball carrier (BC) 5m apart, with a tackler (T) 2m in front of BC.
Put support players A1 and A2 inside and outside BC and a ruck pad holder either side of T, acting as inside and outside defenders.
F passes to BC who takes on T. Indicate whether you want one, two or no ruck pad holders to come in over the ball.
A1 and A2 then decide whether they need to come in to take out their respective defender (above). If no defender comes in, then A1 comes in to clear the ball to A2 (below).
Develop by changing the starting points of defenders and supporters and removing one or both of the ruck pads from the holders.
TECHNIQUE
Good placement essential from the ball carrier. Ideally he falls and presents away from the inside defender (so his backside is facing that defender).
A1 and A2 run “L-shaped” lines to be able to square up to go through the tackle gate to clear out any defender.
Avoid slow ball at the tackle or even losing the ball by making every ball carrier far more active on the ground. Use these two exercises to build up players’ ball placement skills under pressure.
After the tackle is made, the farther away your player can place the ball from the defence, the harder it is for the opposition to disrupt it. Encourage good placement habits with these exercises. MORE
Put your slow ball ruck plays into more game-like situations. This wrap play exercise is a good starting point, and you can then use it to develop other tactics.
A wrap play turns slow ball into quick ball and allows your 9 to recycle it at pace. MORE
“An attacker and defender run unusual running lines, which map out an R, to create a dynamic 1 v 1 which gives a chance for the attacker to attempt to step inside or outflank the defender” MORE
Expect higher standards from your players, no matter what level they are. Do this by creating one focus for the session, a principle of play they must keep to all the time. MORE
Improve your training sessions with behaviour ideas from top teachers. Jade Pearce, author of What Every Teacher Needs to Know and Dan Cottrell show you how in a rugby context. Doug Lemov, writing in Teach Like a Champion 3.0, says: “The purpose of [preventative and positive classroom behaviour management] techniques is not so much to... MORE