Exit 22

Practise strategies from your 22m area. You may need to create a couple of rucks to “flatten” the defence (see Things to think about, below) before your kickers are in position to clear the ball. This works on communication, rucking and decision making.

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

What to think about

It is hard to clear the ball when opposition defenders are close to the tackle line and can block a 9’s kick, or charge down a player who is using a clearance punt. “Flattening” the defence means bringing more of their defenders into the line to stop the progress of the attack, creating gaps in their backfield. It also has the consequence of getting defenders in the right mind to make tackles, not rush forward to charge down kicks. This sort of scenario session really helps players understand their roles and the significance of core skills to carry out those roles.

set-up

1. Attack to the sides of each ruck with conviction, but don’t get isolated. You want quick, secure ball.
2. Know where the ball is going from the ruck and follow in to protect and produce secure ball for the scrum half.

What you get your players to do

Put six attackers on one side of the 35m x 20m square, facing four defenders (tackle suits optional). Put another defender in the other part of the box (see picture 1). Get the attack to make “secure” progress down this first side of the box – so no offloading. When there is a ruck, they have to move the ball into the other box and do the same again (see picture 2). If they then win quick ball (in less than three seconds), the player at the back kicks the ball out of the front of the box (as if he was clearing it upfield). If not quick, then the attack have one more chance to achieve quick ball by attacking to the first box again.