10 options... pivot plays

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The fly half (10) is known in some parts of the world as the “pivot player”. From his controlling position he can launch his team away from the opposition forwards and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable with his options and this session builds the awareness to appreciate them.

Warm up time: 7-10
Session time: 10-15
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 7-10

What to think about

How far the 10 should stand from the gain line is best judged by working with the 10 in match situations and reviewing his performance. Too flat and the options are rushed or cut out. Too deep and your 10 makes all his plays too early and the defence can adjust. One area to note is the distance covered by 10 between receiving the ball and delivering it. Could he reduce the number of steps forward he takes?

set-up

10 look ahead, look around and call the plays early.
Look to use pop passes, switches, circle balls, changes of angle.
Move defenders with decoy runs, changes in pace.

What you get your players to do

Set up the training area as in picture 1. Put a scrum half (9) and a forward (7) behind the first pad. 7 steps over the ball and 9 passes out to 10 who attacks a pad holder in front of him. He uses any pass to feed a support player either side. Once the pass is completed, attackers realign for a pass from the second pad and repeat the exercise.

7 steps over the ball then 9 passes out and 10 uses different passes to beat the first defender. Reset to beat the next defender.

Development

Develop the practice by changing the pressure exerted by the defenders, having two ruck pad holders standing in the line and using 7 as a support player for an inside pass.

Split into five defenders against 9, 10, a forward (7) and five support players (A, B, C, D and E).

Game situation

Put down four coloured (or numbered) cones. Place a forward (7) over the first cone with 9 behind him. Set up five defenders and five attackers (each with a letter) at each end of the box, plus a 10 inside (see picture 2). Call out a cone, the letters of the attackers you want to attack and the number of defenders to step in to defend (as in picture 3). The 7 puts the ball by the cone you called and steps over when the 9 says so. 10 plays what’s in front of him. Make sure the defenders stay onside by saying the “back foot” of the ruck is a metre behind the cone.

Call out the cone to start from, the players to defend and attack. Then let play develop.

What to call out

“Look at the players you are calling the move to”
“Don’t start your run until the trigger to move – that is either a pass from 9, or 10 moving forwards”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

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