Clever counter rucking

Ball recycling at the breakdown can be so quick that some attacking sides only commit a couple of players. A quick-thinking defender can spot a poorly positioned attacker and push him off balance or disrupt quick ball. This session will teach your players when to counter ruck.

Warm up time: 5
Session time: 8-12
Development time: 8-12
Game time: 8-12
Warm down time: 7

What to think about

Counter rucks have some risk and reward attached to them. When he counter rucks, the defender takes himself out of the defensive line. Your side can counter ruck early in the game to make the attack commit more resources to the breakdown throughout the game. Alternatively, they can hang back from counter rucking until a set moment in a game. Then the element of surprise can work effectively.

set-up

1. Look at the body profile of the attacker over the ball. Leave him if he is well set.
2. Attack over the ball if there is a chance to counter ruck. Get under his chest and drive him back.

What you get your players to do

Stand a tackle tube next to the ruck pad and ball. One player pushes the tube on to the ruck pad and then sits on it. As the pad falls and lands it provides either a good target to drive back or sits too low. A defender opposite the pad decides whether to drive in and push the tube back or leave it alone. Add another ruck pad to add height to the drop or width so the tube can roll a little left or right.