Narrow and wide breakdown scenarios
in Attack, Rugby drills
Use this scenario to create decision-making opportunities around attacking the edge of a defence. The edge is where the end of the line of defenders exists. MORE
Slice and block
in Attack, Rugby drills
Break down an organised defence, by focusing on the space outside their 10. Here are two plays which are easy to set up, but require a good level of skill to run the right lines and time those runs. The angles should give your team a chance to get over the tackle line, if not break the line. MORE
Break or not: What next?
in Attack, Rugby coaching, Rugby drills
Too often we try to practise backs moves until they are perfect forgetting to consider what happens next. Mix up training so you spend time on both supporting a break or realigning to play if a tackle is made. MORE
Three lessons from Gallagher Premiership strike moves
What have I learnt from the strike moves of the Premiership teams? MORE
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
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
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
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
