Increase your options for 10

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The fly half (10) has a controlling position to launch his team away from the opposition and into open spaces. He needs to be comfortable with the options in front of him and this session works on these options.

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

Work towards breaking the gain line. The best distance is judged by working with the 10 in match situations and reviewing their performances during matches. If 10 is too flat, his options are rushed or cut out. If too deep, 10 makes his plays too early and the defence can adjust. Work on the distance covered by 10 between receiving the ball and delivering it. Could he reduce the number of steps he advances?

set-up

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

What you get your players to do

Set up the training area in a 40m x 15m box as in picture 1. Put a scrum half (9) and a forward (7) behind the first tube. 7 steps over the ball and 9 passes out to 10, who attacks the ruck pad holder in front of him. The pad holder can move in any direction to put pressure on the 10 who looks to feed a support player either side of him. Once the pass is completed, the attacking players realign for a pass from the second tube to beat the second pad holder.

9 passes and 10 passes to either of his support players to beat the first pad holder who can move in any direction. Once the pad holder is beaten, reset at the second tackle tube and repeat.

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 and five support players.

Game situation

Put down four 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 a 40m x 20m box, with the 10 slightly forward (see picture 2). You call out a cone, the letters of the attackers you want to attack and the number of defenders to step in to defend (see 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 defenders stay onside and behind the back foot line. Note: The 7 is there to add some realism to the ball presentation. As you develop, the 7 could move back and forth or sideways like he is being shoved.

Call out the cone to start from, the players to defend and attack. Then let play develop. Make sure players do not go past the back foot line as they will be offside.

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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