Attack

Be a line break guru

in Attack

Know the detail behind how teams consistently break the tackle line so your team can dent the opposition defence more often. Here’s Jason Gilmore's analysis of how it happens at the top level. MORE

Train pods to break down organised defences

in Attack, Email Newsletters

Against an organised defence, you can use closely packed groups of forwards to dent the line and then attack the recovering, disorganised defence. Often known as pods, this requires organisation, especially around the roles of the players in terms of carrying the ball and supporting that ball carrier. In its simplest format, after a set-piece like a scrum or lineout, the forwards who were not involved in winning the ball back after the first tackle, realign to take the next pass. This is in the expectation that the backline doesn't penetrate the line the first time. MORE

Attack back with purpose

in Attack, Kicking & Catching

Make more of poor opposition kicks with this session. Also, work on what your defence might do when you do make a poor kicking decision. Most matches have poor kicks. Use these training scenarios to practise your team’s reactions and decision making. MORE

Second touches: a key essential of support

in Attack, Rugby drills

Passers must keep themselves in the game, especially to support a possible offload. Second touches help players have a more defined role in the play. Second touches is a term that describes the action of a player working off the ball after a pass to receive the ball again. This is generally from a loop or run around, where the ball carrier passes the ball and then moves around a second attacker to receive it again. MORE

Think hard lines in attack to create gaps in...

in Attack

Against a defensive line, a change of angle by an attacker can create space. Help your players understand how and when to run these angles. MORE

Reboot or kick out: Round the corner

in Attack, Tactics

Attacking the same way from each ruck, you set up an easy attacking pattern to work with. But does this become easy to defend too? Is it time to rethink this tactic? Lots of teams default to a “round the corner” pattern of play, which is easy for forwards to work to and gives the sense of a plan. But it’s becoming also increasingly easy to defend and reduces attacking threats and efficiency. MORE

Social distancing practice: Playing wide through kicking to the...

in Attack, Kicking & Catching, Return to play

Playing to the corners is part of a territorial game. Tactically it applies pressure on the opposition, can force turnovers or gain field position as the defence struggles to clear. How does this work and how can we put this into a training session. MORE

Social distancing: Keep the width in attack

in Attack, Passing & Handling, Rugby drills

Develop good spacing in the attacking line to spread the defence and then find gaps. This activity starts the process by pulling attackers out of position and forces them to adjust. The development is ideal for the next stage of Return to Play. MORE

Turn your winger into the inside full back

in Attack

Players like Chris Ashton have shown that wingers can come into the line from the blindside and cause havoc. Here’s how to exploit the “inside full back”. MORE

Why four strike moves is enough

in Attack, Rugby coaching

Make best use of the backs in matches – concentrate your training on good skills and fast reactions. MORE