Continuity challenge

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Continuity allows teams to exert pressure. This session challenges the players to think about the shape of the defence and the possible contact points, to anticipate the spaces to attack. The innovative shape of the game situation will force different, possibly unusual, solutions.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

The shape of the playing area in the game situation requires your players to think more deeply about the relative merits of space on the pitch. Possession beyond the gain line (represented by the “try line” in the game situation) is the objective. Contact taken beyond here is easier to win because the defence is moving backwards. Possession beyond the tackle line, inside the “contact zone”, is the next best situation. Continuity is easier when there is contact but only if the ball carrier can offload the ball immediately. Otherwise, there may be a slow ruck or even a turnover. The worst place for contact is behind the tackle line, in the “no contact zone”. Here, the attack would have fewer resources behind the ball carrier and would struggle to win a ruck.

set-up

Pass to space and avoid contact.
Anticipate where the space is and support towards that space.
Keep the ball carrier moving forward.

What you get your players to do

Put a ruck pad holder at the corner of each box (as in the top picture). Start three attackers with a ball at one end of the box. They aim to get through the two boxes without being touched in possession by a ruck pad holder. The far ruck pad holder moves forward on your signal or when the attackers move into his box. The front pad holder cannot move into the other box. A player caught in possession or running out at the side swaps roles with a ruck pad holder.

The attack aims to score without being touched in a possession. The back ruck pad holder moves forward after a short delay.

Development

Start the attackers facing the wrong way and mix up the starting points for the ruck pad holders.
Change the width of the boxes, with the first box staying the same size and the second box getting wider.

Related Files

Advanced-201-continuity-challenge.pdfPDF, 181 KB

The ball carrier (BC) starts 5m from the try line. The ruck pad holders can move forward when the ball carrier moves.

Game situation

Split into four attackers and three defenders with ruck pads. Spread the three defenders evenly across the back of the “contact zone”. The attackers can start anywhere in the “no contact zone”, but the first ball carrier (BC) must start 5m back from the tryline. Once the ball carrier moves, the game starts. The attackers score one point for a try. They get three attempts. The attackers lose all their points and finish their attempts if the ball carrier is touched in the “no contact zone”. If the ball carrier is touched in the “contact zone” he has 1 second to pass the ball. Any infringement or a dropped ball end that attempt. Adjust the diagonal line and change the “contact zone” to create different outcomes.

A touch in the “no contact zone” means game over. The attack should get into the contact zone as soon as possible.

What to call out

“Preserve space by running straight”
“Pass firmly”
“Run from deep positions to maintain momentum”

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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