Stay on your feet

Not all mauls are set up from lineouts. Sometimes a player stays on his feet through the first contact and is then held up. He should choose whether to drive on with support, or go to ground. This session works on staying on the feet. By Dan Cottrell

CHALLENGE

Retain possession in contact while going forward, but without being held up.

SET UP

Two tackle tubes, ball and some cones. Ruck pads for the game.

HOW TO DO IT

> Put an attacker with a ball facing two tackle tubes which are about a metre apart, with two defenders to hold them. Make him drive through the tubes, and then into the three defenders behind the tubes.

> Two support players help the drive through. In the meantime, the tube holders run around the end corners of the box and then back into the area.

> The ball carrier and his support players must keep the ball moving and secure, aiming to get over the end of the box. The defenders cannot tackle below hip height.

Developments

> Add three more attackers, who have to form a maul from the first set of three players.

> Start the activity with a short pass from the base of a dummy ruck.

Game situation

> As in the bottom picture, put two pad holders and a player in each section of a box. Get three attackers to run into the box and try to drive through to the far side. The defenders have to stay inside their areas.

> The non-ruck pad holders are only allowed to wrestle for the ball.

TECHNIQUE

> Drive through the contact, staying on your feet and keeping the ball away from further contact.

> Support the ball carrier by binding on to him in contact and then communicate when to bring the ball back.